Geography - Biomes & Ecosystems Flashcards
Types of Biomes
- tropical rainforest
- tropical savannah
- desert
- chaparral (Mediterranean)
- grassland
- temperate deciduous forest
- temperate boreal forest
- artic and alpine tundra
Tropical Rainforest
- very hot and wet
- located on or around the equator
- known for its biodiversity
Artic & Alpine Tundra
- covers 1/5 of land on earth
- below freezing at night year round
- meaning of name “land with no trees” {Lapland}
Biotic
- living things
- biotic animals in a freshwater ecosystem:
- aquatic plants
- fish
- algae
- birds
Abiotic
- non-living things
- abiotic animals in a freshwater ecosystem:
- sun (light)
- water
- air
- stones
Producers
- organisms that make their own food
- photosynthesis
- first tropic level
Primary consumers
- herbivores
- second tropic level
Secondary consumers
- large carnivores
- feed on primary consumers
- third tropic level
Why does the weight of biomass get smaller?
- not all plants are eaten by herbivores
- not all the prey is eaten by carnivores
- much of what animals eat is excreted
- hunting takes a lot of energy (movement)
- animals are constantly using energy just ‘staying alive’.
Nutrient Cycle
water and air penetrate soil => plant matter breaks down into soil => decomposers break down organic matter => soil stores nutrients => plants absorb nutrients & grow
- biomass => litter => soil
Interdependence
the dependence of two or more things on each other.
Biomes - abiotic factors:
- Climate (temperature and precipitation)
- Relief (steepness of the land)
- Geology (type of rocks)
- Soils (fertility)
- Vegetation (type and coverage)
Factors affecting Biomes
- Latitude
- Proximity to the sea
- Altitude
- Wind
- Cloud Cover
Animals in a rainforest
- Sloth
- Toucan
- Piranha
- Harpy Eagle
- Anaconda
Biodiversity
the variety of organisms living in a particular area (both animals and plants).
Why are TRF so biodiverse
- High constant temperatures with very little range (26oC to 30oC).
- High levels of rainfall (convectional) around 2000mm per year.
- High humidity.
- Good levels of sunlight all year.
- Constant growing season.
- High nutrient levels.
Soil in rainforests
- not very fertile
- thin & lacking nutrients
Layers of a rainforest
- floor layer
- shrub layer
- under canopy
- canopy
- emergent
Emergent
- sun level = 100%
- 40m-50m
Canopy
- sun level = 75%
- 30m-40m
Under canopy
- sun level = 50%
- 20m-30m
Shrub Layer
- sun level = 25%
- 0m-20m
Deforestation in Brazil
Exploiting resources:
- logging
- mining
Clearing the forest:
- Commercial crop farming
- Road building
Deforestation
- destroys ecosystems & habitats
- trees absorb carbon dioxide
- burning trees releases carbon dioxide (carbon footprint)
