fragile environments Flashcards
what is a fragile environment
environment that is vulnerable / sensitive to change and may find it difficult to recover from natural or human-induced changes
what is an ecosystem
where a community of plants and animals interact with each other and their physical environments
what are biomes
large ecological areas defined by abiotic factors such as climate, relief, soils vegetation
local factors that influence distribution of ecosystems
- altitude (higher=colder=less vegetation)
- climate: rainfall, light intensity,
- soil types: rich or low in nutrition, acidity
characteristics of world’s fragile environments
natural events eg volcanic eruptions, tropical storms
many human induced events eg deforestation, intensive agriculture, urbanisation
reasons for fragile environments in tropical rainforests
- deforestation
- infertile soil, leach nutrients out of soil
- vulnerable to climate change
reasons for fragile environments in coral reefs
- pollution
- tourism
- vulnerable to warming oceans
reasons for fragile environments in arid and semi-arid environments
- lack of moisture, rainfall -> regeneration slowed down
reasons for fragile environments in tundra and alpine environments
- low temp so regeneration is limited
- vulnerable to climate change eg warming
three processes that influence global distribution of fragile environments
- deforestation
- desertification
- climate change
5 impacts of desertification
- soil degradation
- less agricultural output
- malnutrition, famine and starvation
- ## migration and conflict
what is desertification
the spread of desert like conditions to previously productive regions
natural causes of desertification
- changing rainfall pattern
- intensity of rainfall
- soil erosion, leaving bare soil
human causes of desertification
- population increase
- agriculture, over grazing and cultivating
management of desertification
- education
- water conservation : recycle water, desalination, harvesting storm water (developed countries)
- use of fertilisers
- alternative farming techniques
agriculture methods to reduce desertification
- magic stones (rows of stones on slope)
- agroforestry
- drip irrigation
-water spreading weir
causes of desertification in sahel
- climate change
- population increase
- deforestation
- overcultivation and overgrazing
impacts of desertification in sahel
- migration and conflict
- lack of agricultural output > food insecurity > death of animals and people
- lose farmland on a large scale
management strategies in sahelt
- small stone walls
- reforestation (the great green wall)
what is deforestation
cutting down of trees
main resource exploiting activities in the Amazon
- mineral extraction
- logging
- energy development
- illegal trade in wildlife
impacts of deforestation in tropical rainforests
- global warming, climate change
- loss of biodiversity
- flooding, disruption to water cycle
- loss of carbon sink
- increased wildfires
3 impacts of climate change
- rise of sea levels
- more hazards
- ecosystem changes
3 impacts of rising sea levels
- coastal flooding, drowning cities
- contaminated drinking water
- more hazards
