Ecosystems distribution factors, Ecosystem processes and relationships, Succession

Question 1

What do we mean by the word ecosystem?

Answer 1

The links between plants, animals and non-living things around them such as rocks, soil, water and climate.

Question 2

What is a biome?

Answer 2

A large-scale ecosystem where climate, vegetation and soils are broadly the same within the area.

Question 3

Why is rainfall significant in the distribution of all biomes?

Answer 3

Different biomes have different patterns and amounts of rainfall therefore it creates their differences. E.g. a place that has less than 25 cm of rain per year is described as a desert.

Question 4

Why is temperature significant in the distribution of all biomes?

Answer 4

Latitude (How far north or south you are on the earth) and Altitude (How high) if rainfall is reliable can create distinctive ecosysteme e.g. Mountains have very distinctive ecosystems as they temperature falls by 1 degrees C for every 200m of altitude.

Question 5

What other three factors are important in the distribution of biomes?

Answer 5

Relief
Geology
Soils

Question 6

What are the living parts of an ecosystem called?

Answer 6

Biotic

Question 7

What are the non-living parts of an ecosystem called?

Answer 7

Abiotic

Question 8

Succession is…

Answer 8

The development of ecosystems over time through succession

Question 9

Using the words below (they are in order) describe the stages of succession in a short paragraph

Hardy Pioneer species
Weathered rock
Plant decay
Increase Nutrients
Plants grow
Insects
Animal
Deeper soils
Bigger more variety of plants
Dominant species
Climax community

Answer 9

Hardy pioneer species colonise a bare area of ground. Weathered rock and plant decay increase nutrients so plants grow this supports insects and animal life. Deeper soils are created this means bigger and more variety of plants live in the area. Over time dominant species such as the Oak tree will invade to complete the succession and the climax community.

Question 10

In 6 short sentences summarise how the nutrient cycle works.

Answer 10

Rocks that are weathered puts nutrients into the soil.
Rainfall adds water.
Plants absorb (suck up) nutrients through their leaves and roots.
Animals gain nutrients by eating plants and other animals.
When plants and animals die they are broken down (decomposted) by fungi and bacteria.
Nutrients returned to the soil.

Question 11

The sun is the source of all energy for life on earth

Answer 11

True

Question 12

What is a food chain?

Answer 12

The connections between different plants and animals that rely on each other as their source of food.

Question 13

What is a food web?

Answer 13

The linking of lots of food chains together.

Question 14

Plants are…

Answer 14

Producers

Question 15

Herbivores eat plants these are…

Answer 15

Primary Consumers

Question 16

Carnivores eat herbivores these are…

Answer 16

Secondary Consumers

Question 17

Why does the number of living organisms decrease at each stage of the food chain?

Answer 17

Energy is lost used up in transpiration, movement and breathing.

Question 18

Why is the water cycle pictured on the right important when looking at ecosystems?

Answer 18

As the water travels around the cycle it is absorbed by plants and consumed by animals.

Question 19

Ecosystems are carbon stores. Where is this carbon stored?

Answer 19

Trees, Plants, Animals, Leaf litter, fallen trees, decaying wood, insects.

Question 20

How much carbon is stored and where it is stored is influenced by the climate because…

Answer 20

Climate affects the rates that plants grow.

Question 21

What are nutrient flows?

Answer 21

The movement of minerals from one store to another.