✅Geography PAPER1 living with the physical environment Flashcards
What is an ecosystem
An ecosystem is made up of plants and animals and their surrounding physical environment
What is the food chain
The food chain shows how each living thing get food
What is passed on in the food chain
Nutrients and energy
What is a food web
All the connections between the producers and consumers in an ecosystem
What is a producer
Produces convert energy from sun into sugars e.g plant
What is a consumer
They get energy from eating producers or consumers e.g rabbit
What is a decomposer
The breakdown of plant and animal material and it returns it back to the soil
What is the nutrient cycle
Dead material that decomposes and then put nutrients into the soil, plants take the nutrients and consumers eat the plants, consumers die and then they decompose putting nutrients back into the soil
What are natural factors that has caused changes to the ecosystem
Drought, floods, fire, and disease
What are human factors that has caused changes to the ecosystem
Altering drainage of water altering nutrient levels of water,
Give examples of biotic components in an ecosystem
Living features such as plants and animals
Give examples of abiotic components in an ecosystem
Nonliving features such as climate water temperature and light
Example of a food chain
Cactus, mice, scorpion, rattlesnake
How can deforestation affect an ecosystem
Food webs can be destroyed
How can farming affect the ecosystem
It removes all natural vegetation therefore herbivores decrease
Name characteristics of a tundra
Phone the other north and south poles have very few plants and animals that can survive there
Name characteristics of a hot desert
Found 30 degrees north south of equator, hot and dry not a large range of plants or animals due to harsh conditions
Name characteristics of a tropical rainforest
Found near equator, hot and humid, low air pressure, large amount of species and a quarter of medicines come from rainforests
Why does the desert have low levels of precipitation
Because there is high air pressure which means rarely rains because no evaporation is taking place
Why is the tropical rain forest hot and wet
Because there is low pressure which means of evaporation is taking place which means rainfall happens
Why is the tundra dry and cold
Because there is a high latitude and higher pressure which means it is dry and cold
What is the climate like in tropical rainforests
Consistently high temperatures with ranges from 20 to 30° high fluctuating rainfall
How does the rainforest war cycle happen
Heavy daily rainfall happens, trees intercept the rain, rain reaches the ground, trees take up the water, water evaporates, and then rainfall occurs again
What are buttress roots
Big roots that spread across the soil and give trees stability and can be very long
What are Lianas
Vines
What are epiphytes
Small plants that grow on the branches of tall trees
What is found in the under canopy
Dense vegetation trying to grow into gaps into the canopy
What is found in the shrub layer
It is dark, has little light, has fast decomposition
What is an impact of deforestation relating to carbon dioxide
The Amazon store is 100 billion tons of carbon, deforestation will release this back into the environment which contributes to global warming
What are the values of tropical rainforests
Produces oxygen and stored CO2
A quarter of modern medicines come from rainforest material
Tribes have cultural links with rainforests
Home to loads of species
How can equal tourism help manage the rainforest sustainability
Rainforests have promoted their forests for ecotourism, it aims to introduce people to the natural world, and this benefits local communities and educates them to protect the environment
How can selective logging help manage the rainforest sustainably
Only some trees are cut down which is less damaging to the forest and clearing the whole area,
How can reducing debt help manage the rainforest sustainability
Many tropical rainforests are found to be lower income countries would have to borrow money from wealthier countries, this money must be paid back with interest , so poor countries log, farm, and mine the rainforest to make money,
How does education help manage the rainforest sustainably
Educating the International community about the impact of deforestation can encourage people to buy products from sustainable resources, the local people might damage the forest so to overcome this people should be educated about the impact of deforestation so we can help reduce the damage to rainforests and teach people alternative ways to make money and do not damage the environment
What are the soils like in the tropical rainforest
It isn’t fertile as heavy rain washes nutrients away
How do plants adapt to the rainforest
Plants have thick waxy leaves with pointed drip tips these channel rainwater to the point encouraging run-off so it doesn’t damage plants, fungi and bacteria can’t grow inside if there is no standing water,
How do you climbing plants adapt to the rainforest
Climbing plants such as lianas use tree trunks to reach sunlight and wrap themselves up the trees
How to trees adapt to the rainforest
They compete for sunlight by growing tall, they have smooth, thin bark as they is no need to protect the trunk from cold temperatures, smooth surface also helps water run-off, they have a large stable buttress roots to support the tall tree trunks
What is the nutrient cycle
Dead material decomposes and the nutrients are released into the soil, Nutrients are taken up from soil by plants, plants may be eaten by consumers, when the plants or consumers die the nutrients Are returned to the soil
Give another example of a food chain
Blackberry bush, greenfly, ladybird, Sparrow
Why do rainforest have high biodiversity
Because they have stable and productive environments because their climate is constant, plants and animals don’t have to cope with changing conditions and there’s always plenty to eat, there are also a wide range of places for habitats
What are some features of an organism and how it’s adapted to the rainforest if you are given a picture in the exam
Strong limbs, short pointed wings to fly, camouflage, good sense of smell and hearing, nocturnal, swimming
Why is the Amazon being cut down for comical farming
To make space for coal or huge plantations, call ranching is one of the main causes of deforestation
Why is the Amazon been cut down for mineral extraction
Gold iron and copper on mind and exported to help boost countries development, explosives are sometimes used to clear and make deep pits to be dug for mineral deposits
How can deforestation affect climate change
Trees remove CO2 from the atmosphere so cutting down trees will release its carbon into the atmosphere which can cause global warming
Outline one economic impact of deforestation
Mining industry has created jobs for lots of people, mining company in countries employees people,
How does conservation help with sustainable management for tropical rainforests
Countries have set up a national parks and reserves within rainforests, in these areas damaging activities are restricted, as a result countries have set funds which governments and businesses can invest in the money can be used to enforce restrictions on damage and sustainable use of rainforest
What is the climate like a hot desert
Little rainfall, temperatures are high and extreme, soil limits fertility, plant growth is sparse, some animals have adapted to the harsh environments
How do plants adapt in hot deserts
Plant roots along to reach deep water supplies, plans have flashy stems for storing water, they contain toxins to protect them from predators
How do animals adapt to hot deserts
Nocturnal animals stay cool by sleeping when temperatures are hot, they live underground, this stuff back to breakdown water,
What is the soil like in a polar and tundra environment
Ice sheet cover soil so no soil is exposed, so it is thin and acidic and not very fertile, beneath the soil is a Layer permafrost which is holding trapped greenhouse gases
What is the climate like in Polar and tundra environment
Very cold, precipitation is low,
What are the plants like in a polar and tundra environment
Few plants such as lichens and mosses,
What are animals like in polar and tundra environment
Few species in this ecosystem, polar bears penguins whales seals
How have plants adapted to cool dry climate
They become inactive to survive the cold, they are low growing to provide protection from the wind, shallow roots because of permafrost, small to limit moisture
How do animals adapt to cold climate
They are well insulated, for example thick fur and multiple layers of skin, hibernation to survive winter, animals migrate to warmer areas in the winter, camouflage so predators don’t sneak up on them
Why do cold environments have low biodiversity
Global warming, species have adapted to Paula and violins and can’t go anywhere called us so when climate rises this can cause risk of extinction
How is energy a development opportunity in Alaska
Over half of Alaska’s income comes from oil and gas, Alaska can make money by shipping and trading with countries
How is mineral resources a development opportunity in Alaska
Materials such as gold silver and other halls of mind in Alaska, this can be exported and sold for money which could rise the economy
How can tourism a development opportunity in Alaska
Tourists are attracted by Alaska’s scenic wilderness areas, it brings tourists from around the world and bringing money and generating employment for people
How is extreme temperatures a challenge to development in Alaska
It’s very cold and has extreme weather such as snow and strong winds, exposure to extreme cold makes working outside and dangerous so opportunities for development are limited
How is inaccessibility a challenge to development in Alaska
Some areas may be remote and mountainous making access typical and expensive which limits development in winter travel may be dangerous roads may be iced and ground may be too soft
How is building and infrastructure a challenge to development in Alaska
Buildings and infrastructure is used to cope with either soft or frozen ground and can be expensive and difficult, this construction can only take place in the summer, people try to overcome these challenges for example trans-Alaskan oil pipeline or raised on stilts to prevent it melting.
What four strategies help balance economic development
International agreements, using technology, conservation groups, the role of governments,
Explain how international agreement strategies are needed
Cold environments are protected by international agreements for example Antarctica, the treaty signed by multiple nations have a limited visit us to ensure peaceful non-military activities this prohibits nuclear activities and prevents cruise ships and this allows tourism but animal controlled way that won’t hurt on the fragile ecosystem of Antarctica
Explain how using technology strategies are needed
Heated buildings can melt permafrost leading to subsidence which can cause building to collapse and pipes to crack, modern construction methods can minimise environmental impacts, for example building on gravel beds and prevent buildings warming the ground
Explain how conservation groups are strategies that are needed
Conservation groups such as the WWF pressured governments to protect cold environments, this can lead to sustainable development that doesn’t damage at risk areas
How does the role of the governments provide strategies that are needed
Unregulated development can cause damage to the environment for example mining can pollute water, and oil pipelines can disrupt animal migration, Government passed laws such as the wilderness act to protect wilderness areas from development this means development can take place somewhere else reducing conflict over land use in wilderness areas
