Fragile Ecosystems Flashcards
What is the difference between an ecosystem and a fragile ecosystem?
Ecosystems can regulate themselves after change, fragile ecosystems are vulnerable to change
What is an ecosystem?
A collection of parts that are linked together to form a working unit
What are ecosystems that can regulate themselves and return to normal after change called?
Resilient Ecosystems
What are some ways an ecosystem can be changed?
Natural disaster, pollution and climate change
What are coral reefs made of?
Coral polyps
What are coral polyps?
Tiny marine animals like a small jellyfish
How does one polyp become a reef?
It attaches to a rock on the sea floor and divides into thousands of clones
What age are some of the oldest reefs?
50 million years old
Where in the world are coral reefs found?
The Red Sea, Africa, India, Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines
At what depth are coral reefs found?
Less than 150 meters
Why are Coral Reefs in shallow water?
So sunlight can reach the algae
What is the purpose of algae on coral reefs?
They provide the coral with food and give them their vibrant colours
How much marine life do coral reefs support?
25%
Why are coral reefs of great value to humans?
Rich fishing, source of medicines and money from tourism
Where is the Great Barrier Reef?
The North-east coat of Australia
What is the largest coral reef in the world?
The Great Barrier Reef
How big is the Great Barrier Reef?
2000 km
How much of the worlds surface do Rain forests cover?
2%
What percent of species do Rain forests contain?
50-70%
Where are Rain forests located?
Around the equator
Why are Rain forests ideal for vegetation growth?
They have high temperatures and rainfall
What are the layers of the rainforest?
Emergent
Canopy
Understory
Forest floor
How tall are emergents?
50 metres
How tall are canopy trees?
30 metres
How tall is the understory?
10 metres
Give an example of an emergent tree?
The Kapok tree
What type of vines are found in the canopy?
Lianas
What is found in the understory?
Plants needing less light and sapling of canopy and emergent trees
What is found on the forest floor?
Humus
How long does it take for the litter to decompose
6 weeks
What is deforestation?
The cutting down or felling of a large number of trees
What are reasons for deforestation?
Logging, mining, cattle ranching and clearing space for roads & buildings
How do we protect the rainforests?
Sustainable logging, protected areas and education
What are some effects of deforestation?
Animals go extinct, global warming, soil erosion, loss of medicines
