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GCSE Geography > Ecosystmes and Tropical Rainforests > Flashcards

Ecosystmes and Tropical Rainforests Flashcards

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1
Q

3 stores of nutrient cycle

A

Biomass (organic matter, living organisms, plants and animals)
Soil (rock particles + organic matter in form of humus)
Litter (waste and dead organic matter)

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2
Q

How can nutrient be lost from litter

A

Surface run off

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3
Q

How can nutrients be lost from soil

A

Leaching

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4
Q

How are nutrients added to soil

A

Weathering of bedrock

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5
Q

How are nutrients added to biomass

A

Rainfall

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6
Q

Describe climate of tropical rainforest

A

High and constant temperature
High rainfall
Rainfall varies across the year

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7
Q

What 4 layers of the rainforest are there

A

Emergents (top)
Canopy
Under canopy
Shrubs/ forest floor

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8
Q

How is a sloth adapted to the rainforest

A

Hair on belly curves towards their back so excess rainwater can run off when they’re upside down to deal with high levels of precipitation
Low metabolism- need to eat very little
Go to toilet at foot of tree to minimise chance of getting caught by predator (jaguars) whilst also providing the tree with fertiliser

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9
Q

What is a decomposer

A

Organism that breaks down plant and animal material and returns the basic nutrients to the soil

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10
Q

What is a food web

A

Complex way of showing connections between producers and consumers

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11
Q

What changes can affect ecosystems

A

Pollution
Settlement development (destroys habitats)
Natural disasters
Weather
Climate change
New diseases/ species/ invasive species

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12
Q

Explain links between components of small scale ecosystem in the UK

A

Biotic components include algae and pond snails
Algae is producer and makes its food through photosynthesis
Pond snails are consumers as they eat the algae as a source of food
Pond snails also rely on water (abiotic feature) for their habitat
Pond snails are consumed by birds e.g magpies

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13
Q

Food chain in Freshwater pond

A

Algae- pond snail- magpy

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14
Q

Biotic features in freshwater pond ecosystem

A

Algae, Pond snail, magpy, grass/ plants

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15
Q

Abiotic features of freshwater pond ecosystem

A

Plant pot, pond water, pond liner, soil, pebbles, rocks

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16
Q

Ecosystem meaning

A

Community of organisms that Interact with each other (and abiotic components) within an environment

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17
Q

Nutrient cycle meaning

A

Recycling of important minerals and elements like nitrogen within an ecosystem for the growth of plants and animals

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18
Q

What is a detritivore

A

Animal that feed on dead organic material e.g slugs and worms

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19
Q

What is detritus

A

Organic matter produced from decomposition of organisms

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20
Q

Reasons for why bees are declining

A

Pesticides used on plants/ crops can be harmful to them including from growth of agribusiness
Climate change (more extreme weather leads to decline in bee population)
Building settlements over green spaces removes their habitat
Spread of parasites e.g varroa destructor

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21
Q

What parasite feeds on bees and weakens them

A

Varroa destructor

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22
Q

Why are bees important (and Therfore their decline is bad)

A

Essential for food production (pollinate crops to provide more food e.g peas, wheat, barley)
Create genetic variation- keep ecosystems stable to prevent plants and animals from going extinct

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23
Q

Simple food chain with bees

A

Lavender-> bees-> crab spiders

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24
Q

Another word for global ecosystems (large scale)

A

Biome

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25
Q

What biome do more than half the world’s plants and animals live in

A

Tropical rainforest

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26
Q

What % of the Earth’s surface do rainforests cover

A

6%

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27
Q

Where are tropical rainforest located

A

Within the Tropics along the line of the Equator
Found in South America, Central Africa and South of Asia

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28
Q

4 examples of tropical rainforest biomes

A

Borneo rainforest
Amazon rainforest
Sumatran rainforest
The Congo Basin

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29
Q

What is the rainforest soil like

A

Orange
30-40 m deep
Very thin layer of humus at top
Low in nutrients
Wet from precipitation

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30
Q

What colour is the rainforest soil

A

Orange

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31
Q

How deep is rainforest soil

A

30- 40m

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32
Q

What 5 levels does rainforest soil consist of

A

Litter
Humus
A horizon
B horizon
C horizon

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33
Q

What % of sunlight does the forest floor receive

A

2%

34
Q

What are the conditions like on the forest floor

A

Dark (only receives 2% sunlight)
Damp
Warm and humid so rapid decay (dead plants and animal matter decompose very quickly into humus)
Few plants as only specially adapted plants and animals can survive here

35
Q

What % of sunlight reaches the under canopy

A

5%

36
Q

How tall are tress in the emergents layer

A

40-60m high

37
Q

How tall are trees in the canopy layer

A

30m

38
Q

How tall are trees in the under canopy

A

20m high

39
Q

Why do trees and plants have large leaves in under canopy

A

Only 5% sunlight reaches here
Lots of chloroplasts to absorb as much sunlight as possible for photosynthesis

40
Q

What layer of rainforest is most biomass and biodiversity found in

A

Canopy

41
Q

2 examples of animals found in emergents layer

A

Certain monkeys
Eagles
Bats
Butterflies

42
Q

What challenges does the pitcher plant face and how has it adapted to overcome these

A

Competition for nutrients as lack of sufficient nutrients in soil
Sweet smelling nectar to attract tree shrew- they make droppings into the plant as they drink which can be used for nutrients
Insects attracted by nectar so fall in and drown then decompose to provide nutrients

43
Q

What does the pitcher plant have that attracts tree sheep and insects

A

Sweet smelling nectar

44
Q

Why is it good if the sweet smelling nectar on pitcher plant attracts tree shrew and insects

A

Tree shrew- make droppings on the plant as they drink which can be used for nutrients
Insects- fall into nectar and drown and decompose to provide nutrients

45
Q

What challenges does the rubber tree face

A

Low levels of sunlight (in under canopy only 5% sunlight) and high rainfall and humidity (coils leas to algae growth and therefore damaged leaves)
High number of predators like insects that eat the leaves

46
Q

How are rubber trees adapted to TRF

A

Lots of ridges, drip tip and waxy surface (help leaf drain water off surface to prevent wilting with high levels of rainfall)
Leaves far apart around stem to prevent shadowing each other and blocking sunlight- maximise how much sunlight each leaf gets
Large surface area with lots of chlorophyll to absorb as much sunlight as possible

47
Q

Why are the leaves on rubber trees far apart

A

Prevent leaves blocking sunlight from other leaves- maximises amount of sunlight each leaf gets

48
Q

How are epiphytes adapted to the TRF

A

Leaves formed in basket shape
Catch leaves which fall from the tree and then decompose to provide nutrients
Hang roots in air to get nutrients and water as there is a lack of nutrients in the soil
Grow fruits which birds eat and then make droppings at the bottom of the trees to help fertilise it so that it can grow

49
Q

Where is Malaysia located

A

Northern hemisphere, south east Asia, southern end of South China Sea
Neighbouring countries: Thailand (north west), Singapore (south west), Indonesia (south east)
Capital city: Kuala Lumpur

50
Q

5 causes of deforestation in Malaysia

A

Farming
Building new roads and settlements
Logging
Mining
Dams and reservoirs

51
Q

2 key products that Malaysia commercially farm

A

Palm oil
Soya beans

52
Q

Which country is the largest exporter of palm oil in the world

A

Malaysia

53
Q

1 example of mining in Malaysia

A

Chini- mine for maganese

54
Q

In the 1980s what type of wood did Malaysia become the largest exporter of

A

Tropical wood
(logging causes deforestation)

55
Q

What dam did Malaysia build

A

Bakun Dam

56
Q

How big is the Bakun Dam in Malaysia

A

Size of Singapore (140km long)

57
Q

How big is the Bakun Dam in Malaysia in Km squared

A

700 km squared

58
Q

Why did Malaysia build the Bakun Dam

A

Green cheap renewable energy (hydroelectric power) so helps tackle climate change
Employment
Source of fresh drinking water
Tourist attraction
Controls flooding

59
Q

Why can trees being removed cause flooding

A

More rainfall can reach ground is nothing (trees) is in way to intercept it
Nutrients are leached (washed away) out of soil
Soil is eroded and less fertile
Unprotected soil is exposed to direct sunlight
Soil becomes dry and compacted so hard for rain to soak in
Therefor flooding can occur

60
Q

2 animals that have lost habitat due to deforestation

A

Orangutans
Pygmy elephants

61
Q

How can deforestation lead to extinction

A

Loss of habitat e.g orangutans and Pygmy elephants
Animals forced to leave their home and migrate to other areas/ territory
More animals in small region means more competition for food and territory (survival)
Animals get outcompeted

62
Q

What does slash and burn mean

A

To set on fire
(A way of removing trees as part of deforestation)

63
Q

What gas do forest fires release

A

Carbon dioxide

64
Q

Why can deforestation have a negative impact on the local economy (in terms of tourism)

A

Looks unattractive so less tourist visit and less people spend money

65
Q

What is sustainable development

A

Development that meets the needs of the current generation without compromising the needs of future generations

66
Q

What is the ‘Heart of Borneo’ initiative

A

Declaration made by government in Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia 2007 to conserve biodiversity including protecting parks, encouraging selective logging and ecotourism in the Heart of Borneo (main part of island that remains intact (undamaged)

67
Q

What is selective logging

A

A way to manage deforestation through carefully deciding which trees are cut down in a way that they will be able to regrow and will cause minimal impact on the rainforest

68
Q

True or false, Malaysia use a selective logging system to manage the rainforest

A

True (Introduced 1977)

69
Q

Explain the selective logging management system

A

1) only people with special licenses can cut down trees
2) 3-6 months after felling survey is carried out to check which trees have been cut
3) 2 year after felling plan on how to restore forest to make up for what has been cut down
4) 5-10 years after felling regeneration work done by forestry officials (replacement trees planted)
5) 30- 40 years after felling cycle repeats
6) 2 years before felling study in place to know which trees to cut down
7) 1 year before felling trees marked with arrow on to show which way they should be cut down

70
Q

In selective logging why are trees marked with an arrow on them

A

Show which way the tree should be cut down to prevent it damaging other trees

71
Q

How long is the selective lodging cycle

A

40 years

72
Q

How does selective logging help prevent soil erosion

A

Ensures canopy of trees remain to intercept heavy daily rainfall to prevent it striking ground and eroding it

73
Q

The Heart of Borneo was a declaration made by which 3 countries

A

Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia (in 2007)

74
Q

What is the sloths’ predator

A

Jaguar

75
Q

What international agreement helps sustainably manage rainforests

A

FSC

76
Q

How do the FSC (international agreement) help to manage rainforests sustainably

A

10 principles must be seen when they visit the rainforest before the trees can be felled and the FCS symbol is then stamped onto products from these trees e.g paper

E.g protect Indigenous people’s rights

77
Q

How many principles do the FSC have

A

10
E.g indigenous rights

78
Q

One key indigenous tribe in Malaysia

A

Iban tribe
(In Borneo in Mulu National Park)

79
Q

Brief facts about Mulu National Park

A

Located in Malaysia
Has ecotourism to help protect outstanding biodiversity
E.g local tribe (Iban tribe) get paid as tour guides as they get transported up river and go on trek
On Borneo Island

80
Q

Ecotourism meaning

A

Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the wellbeing of local people

GCSE Geography (11 decks)

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