Ecosystems & Cold Environments 🌿 Flashcards
What is an ecosystem
And ecosystem is a community where rocks, soil, vegetation, animals, humans, water, the atmosphere and climate all interact
Ecosystems are made up of biotic and abiotic things
What are biotic things
Living things eg. Plants and bacteria
What are abiotic things
Non-living things eg. Climate and soil
What is a food chain
A simple diagram of the flow of energy between the producers and consumers
What is a food web
The interconnections of the food chain with many other species within the ecosystem
What is decomposition
The breaking down of dead organic material
This process is essential in order to release nutrients back into the soil
What are some of the causes of hedgerow loss in the UK
Larger agricultural machinery
Desire for larger profits
Move from low intensity to high intensity arable farming
Initially driven by need for more food
What are the 3 elements in the nutrient cycle
Litter, biomass, soil
Methods used to manage Epping Forest
Pollarding trees
cattle grazing re-introduced to a small area
volunteers to clean and maintain footpath
recreation is controlled
How many biomes can the earth be divided into
8
What are the physical characteristics of rainforests
Warm weather causes air to rise and evaporate causing large amounts of rainfall
What are the 2 ways in which the rainforest copes with heavy rain
Interception
Drip and flow
How high is the canopy off the floor
30m
How high is the emergent layer off the forest floor
50m
How high is the understory off the forest floor
10m
Name 3 plant adaptations in the rainforest
Buttress roots
Drip tips
Leaf angling
What is leaf angling
Leaves arranged at different angles so the plant avoids shadowing its own leaves - important because competition for light is intense
What are drip tips
Pointed tips and waxy surface enable water to run off easily
What are buttress roots
Rainforest soils are very thin and therefore shallow roots are needed to soak up nutrients in these thin soils
buttress roots also form to give tall trees extra stability in the shallow soils
What is interdependence
The idea that within an environment or ecosystem things become totally dependent on one another being there and working 
What are the 3 main causes of deforestation in the rainforest
Cattle ranching
Logging
Agriculture
What resources does the rainforest provide
Sugar Rubber Cocoa Oxygen production Medicines
What is sustainable management
Meeting the needs of the current population without compromising the needs of future generations
What is conservation
Means that natural resources such as timber can still be used, but must be used sustainability
What is protection
Means that the environment should be untouched and humans should not interfere so ecosystems can find their own balance
What are the 2 strategies for rainforest sustainability
Conservation
Protection
What methods can be used to sustain the rainforest
Selective logging and replanting conservation and education eco-tourism international agreements about the use of tropical hardwoods debt reduction e.g. conservation swaps agroforestry
What is permafrost
Permafrost are areas of ground which are permanently or semi permanently frozen for 2 or more years
What are the benefits of Alaska’s onshore oil fields
They are safe from earthquakes
brings in money and employment
some of the pipeline passes underground in order to not disturb the Caribou
What are the costs of Alaska’s onshore oil fields
Took 5 years to build and costed $US 8billion
debate over whether they should begin drilling foil in neighbouring areas
destroys habitats
any oil spilled can that kill wildlife
migrant workers take the majority of the jobs
What is a wilderness area
Wilderness areas are unspoiled, remote and isolated regions which have limited human activity (currently)
Why is the Tundra’s food web so basic
The soils are infertile, the climate is extreme and so not much can survive
How have plants adapted to permafrost in the tundra
They have shallow root systems because otherwise permafrost would be a barrier to root growth 
How have plants adapted to poor drainage in the tundra
Favours hardy organisms such as moss which can tolerate the melting of the active layer
How have plants adapted to low insolation in the tundra
Most shrubs are perennials and flowers are cup shaped to catch weak sun rays and direct them to the centre
How have plants adapted to strong winds in the tundra
Plants don’t grow higher than 40 cm and grow close together to avoid cold winds
They also grow hairs is to capture the heat
How have snowshoe hares adapted to the tundra
Fur can change colour depending on the season to blend in
large back feet for larger surface area and support when walking on snow
How have musk oxen adapted to life in the tundra
Fur is very long, thick and hollow to trap warm air
Huddle in numbers to keep warm and protected their young
How have caribou adapted to the tundra
Double coat
adapted to consume all different things to survive when there is nothing to eat
split hooves allows a larger surface area so they don’t sink into the snow
How has the Alaskan wolf adapted to life in the tundra
To fur coats creates a layer of of trapped warm air
large feet to allow them to walk on snow
What are the benefits of Alaska is onshore oilfields
They are safe from earthquakes
brings in money and employment 
Rising oil prices in the Middle East left the US desperate to improve its energy security
What are the costs of Alaska is onshore oilfields
Took 5 years to build and costed $US 8 billion
debate over whether they should begin drilling for oil in nearby areas
destroys habitats
any oil spilled can kill wildlife
What are the three ways cold environments are conserved
Conservation groups (NGO’s) governments international agreements
What percentage of indigenous tribes have died since the arrival of Europeans in the 16th century?
80%
How many tribes are now left in the Amazon
240-330
Why is oil and gas production important to the residents of Alaska?
Industry provided 100,000 jobs (1 in 7 Alaskans)
Oil and gas contribute 1/3 of the states annual earnings of around US$40 billion
What are the pros of tourism in Antarctica
Many guidelines = environmental impact is minimised
No evidence that tourism has negatively impacted wildlife
Tour operators have codes of conduct eg. Not going within 5m of wildlife
Tourists can learn about the threats of climate change
What are the cons of tourism in Antarctica ?
Ecosystem is fragile - tourism could disrupt the delicate balance
Tourists may unknowingly brings seeds of plants from other areas
Threat of pollution from oil spills eg. 2007
Where is Luleå?
Sweden
What is in Luleå
What solution does Luleå have to the lack of renewable energy in the wilderness?
Lies near a hydroelectric power station - cheap power
What solution does Luleå have to the temperature required for the machines in the wilderness?
Located on the edge of the Arctic circle - equipment will cool itself at no cost
What solution does Luleå have to the cost of land and amount of space required in the wilderness?
Land is cheap and there is a lot of it available due to difficult access and remoteness
What solution does Luleå have to the requirement of flat land in the wilderness?
Luleå is built on a flat, glacially eroded valley floor
What solution does Luleå have to the requirement for employees for low skilled jobs in the wilderness?
Little job availability in the area so people will take the jobs immediately
What treaty was signed in Antarctica
Antarctica Treaty of 1959
