✅🟢Living World Flashcards
Give an example of a small scale ecosystem in the UK
A pond
Whats a biotic factor
Living factor
Eg. Bacteria / plants / trees / animals / deck powers
What’s an abiotic factor?
Non-living factor
Eg. O2 levels / CO2 levels / light intensity / nutrients / soil pH / temperature
Ecosystem meaning
Community of plants / animals that interact with each other and their physical environment.
Producer meaning
An organism / plant that’s about to absorb energy from the sun through photosynthesis + make their own food (glucose) - bottom of the food chain
Primary Consumer meaning
Creature that eats plant matter to obtain energy
Secondary consumer meaning
organisms that eat primary consumers for energy.
Tertiary consumer meaning
an animal that obtains its nutrition by eating primary consumers and secondary consumers - usually the last on the food chain
Decomposed meaning
organism that breaks down dead organic material
Give a way energy is lost at each level in the food cahin
Respiration
Not all of the animal / plant can be digested (faeces)
Not all of the animal / plant is eaten (bones)
Explain the role of decomposers
Fungi + bacteria return nutrients by breaking down dead organisms / animal waste.
Allows for produces to keep growing as they require the nutrients that the fungi / bacteria breakdown
How much energy is obtained in each level
10%
Climate and soil Interdependence
Climate provides rain / dissolved nutrients
Soil releases O2 and N2 (part of the N2 and O2 cycle)
Soil and vegetation interdependence
Soil provides minerals + water
Vegetation provides nutrients when it’s been decomposed
Vegetation and climate Interdependence
Vegetation provides O2
Climate determines what type of vegetation can grow / if the vegetation will survive
Vegetation and animals Interdependence
Vegetation provides food / shelter
Animals provide fences which provides nutrients / seed dispersal
Animals and climate Interdependence
Climate determines what anima can live in that certain area / of the animal will survive
Tundra
Near south and north poles
Very few plants / animals survive here
Coniferous forest
Scandinavia / Russia / Canada
Evergreen thrive in this cool temperate climate
Temperate deciduous forest
Europe / USA
These trees lose their leaves every year and thrive in mild and wet conditions
Temperate grassland
Hungary / South Africa / Argentina
Grass / trees that thrive in a temperate continental climate of moderate rainfall / mild conditions
Evergreen hardwood (Mediterranean)
Mediterranean Sea / Perth + Melbourne in Australia
smaller trees
Deserts
Tropics of Cancer / Capricorn
Very hot and dry. Plants and animals are specially adapted to love in the harsh conditions
Tropical rainforest
Found near the equator
Climate is hot / humid. Many different plant / animal species can be found here
Savanna grass land
Central Africa / southern India / Northen Australia / central South America
Long grasses and a few scattered trees are found in these hot/dry conditions
Physical characteristics of a tropical rainforest - climate
Very wet with over 2,000 mm of rainfall per year.
Very warm with an average daily temperature of 28°C. The temperature never drops below 20°C and rarely exceeds 35°C.
The atmosphere is hot and humid.
The climate is consistent all year round. There are no seasons.
Physical characteristics of a tropical rainforest - soil
Most of the soil is not very fertile.
A thin layer of fertile soil is found at the surface where the dead leaves decompose.
Nutrient cycling is very rapid due to the humid conditions that help dead matter to decompose quickly. Bacteria and fungi also help to break down dead matter and return nutrients to the soil.
It is red in colour because it is rich in iron.
Due to heavy rainfall the nutrients are quickly washed out of the soil.
Physical characteristics of a tropical rainforest - plants / animals
The warm and very wet climate provides perfect conditions for plant growth.
The wide range of plant species supports many different animals, birds and insects.
Species have adapted to the conditions of the rainforest, eg trees and plants have shallow-reaching roots to absorb nutrients from the thin fertile layer in the soil.
Structure of a tropical rainforest
Ground level Shrub layers Under canopy Man canopy Emergent
Describe the ground level
contains less vegetation due to the dark, damp conditions, a thick layer of decomposing leaves and the buttress root of trees (roots grow sideways)
Soil quality is poor and any nutrients are recycled quickly
1 in 10million seeds grow to reach the top layer
Describe the shrub layer
dense and dark with small plants
Describe under canopy
contains younger trees and saplings competing for light in dark conditions
Describe main canopy
the ‘roof’ of the forest. Contains tall trees, climbing plants like vines and lianas,fruits and seeds / shields the understory from sunlight + weather
80% of rainforest life is found here
Describe emergent layer
contains the tallest trees emerging out of canopy
Very sunny - only the strongest / tallest pants reach this level
Plants here are normally evergreen meaning they don’t lose their leaves
Effects of deforestation
Reduces number of trees which causes loss in habitats
decreased transpiration - drier climate
decrease in O2 production - global warming
How’s a spider monkey adapted / where do they live
Central America / South America / North Mexico
Emergent layer
Able to hang with their tail (like an extra limb) so they’re able to reach out for food.
Tail helps them balance + move around forest faster
Hook like hands to help trap prey
How’s a sloth adapted / where do they live?
Central / South America
Canopy layer
Curved feet to grab onto branched
Long limbs, arms longer than legs - grasping branches is easy for them
Long claws that hang to branches
Brown algae fur - camouflage
Move very slowly allowing them to stay unseen by predators
How are buttress roots adapted to the rainforest?
Massive ridges to help support the base of the tall trees and help transport water
Large surface area aids gas exchange of O2 and CO2
How are lianas adapted to live in rainforests?
Woody creepers rooted ti the ground but carried by trees into the canopy where they have leaves + flowers to maximise the sunlight they receive
How are leaves with flexible bases adapted to live in rainforests?
Flexibility in their base helps leaves turn to face the sun
What’s subsistence farming?
A type of agriculture produce food and materials for the benefit only of the farmer and his family
What’s commercial farming?
Farming to sell produce for a profit to retailers or food processing companies
What’s logging + effect on Amazon?
The business of cutting down trees and transporting the logs to sawmills
Timber from Amazon used to make homes / furniture - sometimes selective logging is used to do Thsi which is bad
What’s the soil erosion effect?
Removal of top soil (most fertile + nutrient rich) faster than it can be replaced due to natural (water/wind action) animal, human activity
What’s deforestation?
The chopping down and removal of trees to clear an area of forest
What’s selective logging?
The cutting out of trees that are mature or inferior to encourage the grown of the repeating trees in a forest of wood
More sustainable than logging
What’s mineral extraction + effect on Amazon?
The removal of solid mineral resources from the earth (ores eg. iron / diamonds / solid fuels)
Forests are cleared to make way for large mines, the Brazilian part of the Amazon has mines that extract iron,copper,gold etc.
List some causes of deforestation
Substance/commercial farming Logging Road building Mineral extraction Energy development Settlement Population growth
List some impacts of deforestation
Economic development
Soil erosion
Contribution to climate change
Amazon rainforest - climate change impact
Burning the forest releases greenhouse gasses like CO2 - that adds to global warming
Loss of trees prevents CO2 being absorbed
The Amazon also helps to drive the global atmospheric system. There is a lot of rainfall there and changes to the Amazon could disrupt the global system
Amazon rainforest - economic development
Brazil has used the forests to develop their country.
It has many natural riches that can be exploited.
Brazil has huge foreign debt and lots of poor people to feed so they want to develop the forest - many Brazilians see deforestation as a way to help develop their country + improve peoples standard of living
Amazon rainforest - soil erosion
Amazon soils aren’t fertile and are quickly exhausted once forest is cleared. Farmers use artificial fertilisers when in the past the nutrient cycle would’ve done this naturally.
The lack of forest cover means that soils are exposed to rainfall - this washes huge amounts of soil into rivers in the process of soil erosion (water pollution)
Values of Tropical rainforests
Biodiversity - rainforest contains 50% of plant / animal species
Trees take in CO2 / act as a carbon sink
Trees contribute to O2 content
Regulate climate
Maintains water cycle - trees transport
25% of medicines come from the rainforest
Provides resources
Stabilise landscape equilibrium
Indigenous tribes live in rainforests
What’s sustainable use of the rainforest?
Sustainable uses of the rainforest are uses that allow current generations to make a living from the forest without Dana fungi the forest for future generations to use
Management schemes in place to help rainforest (5)
- Clearing of intact rain forests is prohibited
- Sustainable management plan
- Sensitive forest area are to be preserves
- The rights of indigenous groups are to be protected
- Workers are assured of fair working conditions
What’s debt reduction?
Countries are relieved of some of their debt in return for protecting their rainforests
Debt reduction positives
Win,win for environment and poorer countries as they have a portion of their debt erased and the environment gets protected
Debt reduction negatives
Not all poorer countries will oblige to the cause
If their debt is too big to be paid the deal is difficult to make
What are international agreements?
International tropical timber agreement 2006.
Promotes trade in legal and sustainable managed forests
National agreements about the use of tropical hardwoods positives
71 countries signed worldwide agreement
Looks at the entire system / supply chain / every level
FSC certificate given that acknowledges their efforts
National agreements about the use of tropical hardwoods negatives
More complex on global scale as not everyone will listen
Depends on the consumers if they choose to buy well sourced items.
Cost of signing up / gaining certificate
Selective logging and replanting explained
Controlling what you cut down - only cut down trees that have commercial value / are mature. This maintains large parts of the Forrest and every tree that’s cut down is accounted for.
They use directional felling
Tree census done
Selective logging and replanting positives
Maintains health of soil.
Maintains habitat / shelter for wildlife + biodiversity.
Anyone who’s logging must be licensed + it’s a preside and controlled activity.
Only commercially viable trees chopped down
Directional felling used
Selective logging and replanting negatives
When trees fall it could damage other wildlife even if directional felling is used.
Could be expensive to countries.
Needs lots of government officials to enforce it into the law.
Always get illegal loggers.
What’s ecotourism?
Nature based tourism which conserves the environment and sustains the well being of local people
What’s conservation and education?
The protection, preservation, management or restoration of tropical rainforests and ecological communities that inhabit them.
Includes national parks.
Hot desert characteristics - climate
30° N/S of the equator
Every content but Europe has them - they’re in dry continental interiors
Less than 250mm rain per year
No seasons
Temperature up to 50°C
Hot daysm cold nights
Hot desert characteristic - soil
Low / No organic content just made up of pieces of rock and sand.
In Low lying areas waters only close to surface, it’s often saline (salty)
Why does it get so cold in the desert at night?
Day - sand’s radiation of the sun’s energy heats the air and causes temperatures to soar.
Night - most of the heat in the sand quickly radiates into the air and there is no sunlight to reheat it, leaving the sand and its surroundings colder than before.
Also no clouds for insulation = cold nights
Why do desert areas receive little rain?
As air approaches the tropics it sinks and warms up again, sinking air prevents cloud formation so there’s very little rain as it’s a high pressure zone.
Continental areas - air blows over land masses and becomes dry
Western side - colder ocean = less evaporation / rain
Rain shadow of mountains
Sanguaro cactus adaptations
When it rains they collect water using their spines and horizontal roots, that water is then stored in the stem until the next set of rain comes
The spins prevent any animals from stealing any water from the stem as the spines would cause discomfort to any animal trying to eat the cactus
Spins instead of leaves reduce SA:V ratio - less water evaporation
Can lose up to 82% of its water before it dies because of dehydration
Lives up to 200 years - grows very slowly, fully grown they can be 18m and have lots of arms
Large fleshy stem to store water
Thick waxy skin to prevent water loss
Their stoma only open at night preventing transpiration (water loss)
Camel adaptations
Long eyelashes / hairy ears / closing nostrils keep out sand
Thick eyebrows which stand out + shade eyes from sun
Wide feet - don’t sink into sand
Can go a week without drinking water / can drink gallons of water in 1 go
Can go moths without food - store fat in their humps
Body temperature can change to avoid losing water through sweat
Camouflaged well - brown coloured fur
Thick fur - warm at night
Why do deserts have low biodiversity?
Because they have harsh living conditions that only certain plants / animals are able to adapt to and survive.
Increasing desertification; reduces biodiversity
Global warming makes desert environments more harsh - high temps
Deserts - interdependence on leaves
Leaves provide shade - reduce air temps up to 20°C than in the udon so the soil stays cooler
Canopy of leaves intercepts rainfall and allow it to slowly drip into the ground - without this the raindrops would strike the soil + erode small soil particles
Roots of plant bind soil + prevent erosion
Plants prevent surface of soil being baked in the heat, without vegetation cover more moisture in the soil is drawn up + evaporates
Thar desert development opportunities - energy
Coal - lots of coal deposits in part of thar desert, there also energy plant has been constructed
Oil - Barmer district discovered large oilfield which could transform local economy
Wind - Jaisalmer Wind Parl - India’s largest wind farm
Solar - sunny / cloudless skies, that desert offers ideal conditions for solar power generation
Thar desert development opportunities - mineral extraction
Desert region has valuable reserves of minerals which are used all over India.
Gypsum - plaster for construction industry/ cement
Kaolin - whitener in paper
Feldspar - ceramic making
Phosphorite - fertiliser
Limestone / Marble - construction + steel industry
Thar desert development opportunities - tourism
That desert has beautiful landscapes that’s popular with tourism’s.
Desert safaris on camels / desert festival help in winter
Local people benefit by providing food / accommodations / acting as guides / looking after camels
Thar desert development opportunities - farming
Most people living in the desert are involved in subsistence farming.
Commercial farming has grown recently + has been made possible by irrigation, the construction of the Indira Ghanaian Cana, in 1958 has revolutionised farming. More crops can be grown in more areas
What’s irrigation?
Artificial application of water to soil to aid crop production
Provides drinking water to locals / provided irrigation to crops+plants
Thar desert development challenges - extreme temperatures
little humidity to block suns rays = daytime is very hot but at night temperature drops as there’s little cloud cover and no sunlight so the sand loses its heat very fast.
Heat creates stress in plants and crops
Hot = water evoirwtes = water shortages
Need for shelter for livestock
Farmers can’t work in very high temperatures during the day
Thar desert development challenges - water supply
High rates of evaporation leas to water shortages which affect people/plants/animals
Large demands for water = low annual rainfall / store drinking water in natural and man made ponds
Salinisation - salty water
Thar desert development challenges - inaccessibility
Restricted / limited - hard to move around desert land scape so there are little roads
Storing winds blow sands over buildings - reduce infrastructure stability
Thar desert development challenges - soil erosion
Low rainfall + strong winds - soils blown away
Low organic matter / low minerals - easily eroded
Salinisation
Too much water - water logging
Causes of desertification – climate change
Temperatures are hotter
Rainfall is less reliable / varies more
Causes of desertification – population growth
Water table drops
Salinisation
Overgrazing
Demand for transport / farmland / water / fuel wood
How does water and soil management prevent reduce the risk of desertification?
Jordan:
Local people have built low stone walls to stop water running down slopes after heavy rainfall
This water is used to irrigate newly planted shrubs that are well adapted to semi desert environments (Atriplex)
Atriplex hold together soil + provide grazing for sheep/ goats
As soil conditions improve, plants have started to grow which attracts birds and butterflies to the area
How does tree planting prevent reduce the risk of desertification?
Thar desert:
Roots bind the soil together
Leaves and branches provide shade, grazing, fuelwood.
How does appropriate technology prevent reduce the risk of desertification?
Many people living on the edge of deserts are poor. Appropriate technology must be cheap and able to be constructed out of materials that are readily available.
West Africa:
‘Magic stones’ used to reduce soil erosion, using basic tools in the truck to transport the stones, local people have built lodestone walls along the contours of slopes.
When rain washes down the hillside the walls trap the water and soil helping to Increase crops up to 50% / reduce desertification
