Ecosystems revision Year 8

Question 1

What are the 4 climate regions?

Answer 1

Hot desert
Deciduous Forest
Tropical Rainforest
Tundra

Question 2

Where in the world do you find tropical rainforest?

Answer 2

Near the Equator.

Question 3

Where in the world would you find The Arctic Tundra?

Answer 3

Near the North Pole.

Question 4

What is the climate like in the rainforest?

Answer 4

Hot and wet.

Question 5

What is the climate like in the Arctic Tundra?

Answer 5

Cold and dry.

Question 6

What do we call the layer of permanently frozen soil in the tundra?

Answer 6

Permafrost.

Question 7

What is the climate like in the deciduous forest climate region?

Answer 7

warm summers, mild winters, rain all year round.

Question 8

What is the climate like in the desert region?

Answer 8

Hot and dry.

Question 9

What does ecosystem mean?

Answer 9

A natural unit made up of living things and their non-living environment; for example a forest, a coral reef.

Question 10

Define the term Biome.

Answer 10

A very large ecosystem.

Question 11

What are the 4 layers of the rainforest?

Answer 11

Emergent layer
Canopy
Under canopy or understory.
Forest floor or shrun layer.

Question 12

The soil in the rainforest is deep but only the top few inches contain nutrients. Why?

Answer 12

When plant and animal material falls on the forest floor it is quickly broken down by decomposers (insects, worms, bacteria). This releases nutrients. These are taken up quickly by plant and tree roots before they can soak deep into the soil.

Question 13

How are trees in the emergent layer specially adapted to their environment?

Answer 13

They grow very tall to reach sunlight.
They have special buttress roots to stop them falling over.
Their roots grow near the surface to get maximum nutrition.

Question 14

What are epiphytes and where do they live in the rainforest?

Answer 14

They are plants which live on trees in the canopy. Orchids are epiphytes.

Question 15

What are lianas and where can they be found in the rainforest?

Answer 15

They are vines and they live on trees in the emergent layer.

Question 16

Name one way plants in the shrub layer (forest floor) have adapted to their environment?

Answer 16

They have large leaves to gather sunlight, as it is dark in this layer.

Question 17

What does biodiverse mean?

Answer 17

Has many species of plants and animals.

Question 18

Name a rainforest animal and explain how it has adapted to its environment.

Answer 18

A sloth lives in the canopy. They have adapted by having large claws to help them to cling on to the branches. Their hair id filled with green algae which allows them to be camouflaged to hide from predators.

Question 19

Name 3 threats to the rainforest.

Answer 19

Deforestation for logging.
Large areas being burned and cleared for farming palm oil.
Large areas being cleared for cattle ranching.

Question 20

Explain how deforestation in the rainforest may contribute to climate change.

Answer 20

Less trees = less carbon dioxide being taken up.
Disturbing peat bogs releases carbon into the atmosphere.
This all leads to more Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas which contributes to climate change by keeping the Earth warm.

Question 21

How are plants in the Arctic Tundra adapted to their environment?

Answer 21

They can carry out photosynthesis with very little light and in cold temperatures.
They grow low to the ground and close together for protection from cold and wind.
They send out runners to spout new plants instead of having seeds as the growing season is very short.

Question 22

How is an Arctic fox adapted to its environment?

Answer 22

It has shorter legs, tail, ears and snout to reduce heat loss.
It has a thick coat.
Its fur turns white in winter and brown in summer to help it to hide.

Question 23

How is a musk oxen adapted to its environment?

Answer 23

It has a thick shaggy coat with fluffy hair underneath to keep it warm.
It has short legs to reduce heat loss.
They huddle together in herds for warmth and safety.

Question 24

Name some of the indigenous people of the tundra.

Answer 24

Inuit
Nenets
Enets
Sami

Question 25

Name 3 reasons why the Arctic Tundra is under threat.

Answer 25

Hunting
Extraction of oil, gas and metal ores
Global warming