Lesson 2

Question 1

Name 3 characteristics of the taiga nutrient cycle

Answer 1

• soils are thin, acidic and low in nutrients
• litter accumulates as decomposition occurs only in the summer
• plants grow in the short summer
• plants grow slowly due to the short growing season and low-nutrient soil

Question 2

Is biodiversity in the Taiga higher/lower than biodiversity in the tropical rainforest? Why?

Answer 2

• biodiversity in the taiga is much lower than in the tropical rainforest:
• deforestation- illegal logging and poaching
• acid rain is a human-made threat
• pests and diseases increasing
• nuclear waste
• fires are easy started (global warming)

Question 3

What is the definition of biodiversity?

Answer 3

The variety of different living species in an area

Question 4

Name 3 characteristics of taiga soils

Answer 4

• soils are shallow due to lack of decomposition and weathering caused by the cold
• poor in nutrients
• acidic due to leaching from rainfall

Question 5

What does the model of the mineral nutrient cycle show?

Answer 5

Differences between ecosystems in terms of nutrients stored in, and transferred between three compartments

Question 6

What does the thickness of arrows represent in the nutrient cycle?

Answer 6

Proportion of nutrient transfers between the components of biomass, litter and soil

Question 7

What is the largest nutrient store in the taiga nutrient cycle?

Answer 7

Litter- due to the slow decomposition of needle-like leaves from coniferous trees

Question 8

Give some reasons why biomass is relatively low

Answer 8

• only one latter of coniferous trees
• little undergrowth
• limited variety of speicies
• needle-like leaves

Question 9

Why is the taiga forest simple with less layers?

Answer 9

Few plants can cope with the extreme weather

Question 10

What does the term ‘leaching’ mean?

Answer 10

Nutrients draining away from soil by the rainwater