Living World Flashcards
Define ecosystem
A community of plants and animals that interact with each other in their physical environment
Define biotic
Relations to living things
Define abiotic
Relating to non-living things
Define producer
An organism or plant that absorbs energy through the sun
Define consumer
A creature that eats herbivores and or plant matter
Define Decomposer
An organism, such as bacteria or fungus, that breaks down dead tissue which is then recycled to the environment
What are some factors that would impact a fresh water pond?
-climate change (heating or cooling)
-increased number of heron
-people
-disease impacting trees
How can frost affect trees?
Frost could freeze the wood of the trees, this creates energy loss as the wood being frozen means it can’t produce energy
What are characteristics of a temperate grassland?
Location:
30-40 degrees north and south of the equator
Seasonal climate
Climate:
Hot summers
Cold winters
What are characteristics of a temperate/deciduous forest?
50-60 degrees is l north of equator
England,wales
Climate:
Four seasons
Cold winters and hot,wet summers
What are characteristics of a tundra region?
Location:
From the arctic circle to about 60-70
degrees north
Siberia,Russia
Climate:
little rainfall
Tundra environments are very cold with very little precipitation,which mainly falls as snow
Temperatures remain below 0
Layer of permanent frozen ground known as permafrost
What are characteristics of a Taiga/Boreal forest?
Location:
Roughly 50-60 degrees north of the equator
Climate:
They have four seasons
Cold winters and hot,wet summers
Trees are coniferous
What are characteristics of a tropical rainforest?
Location:
Close to equator
Brazil,peru
Climate:
High temperatures
Heavy rainfall
Hot and wet all year round
What are characteristics of a savanna?
Location:
Between 15-30 degrees North and south of the Equator (between the tropics)
South Africa
Dry and wet seasons rainfall is still relatively low
Climate:
Warm temperatures
20-30 degrees wet and dry seasons
What are characteristics of a desert?
Location:
30 degrees north or south from the equator
Algeria, Egypt
Climate:
Dry climate, less than 250ml of precipitation per year
Buttress roots
Rainforest soils are very thin and therefore shallow roots are needed to soak up nutrients in these thin soils.
Since trees in the rainforest grow very tall-many over 30m tall in the canopy layer- very wide roots form to give these tall trees extra stability in the shallow soils.
Stilt roots
In a similar way to buttress roots, these provide tall rainforest trees with support as they are anchored in the shallow rainforest soils.
Red leaves
Young rainforest plant saplings may have these to give them protection from the sunlight whilst their internal organs for photosynthesis are still developing. They act as a sunscreen by reflecting red light whilst the leaf is still young.
Lianas
These plants have their roots in the ground and use other trees to climb up into the rainforest canopy to maximise the sunlight they receive. Many start life in the canopy before sending roots down to the ground.
Leaf angling
Leaves are often arranged at different angles so that a plant avoids shading it’s own leaves- important in rainforests where competition for log by is intense.
Drip tips
Leaves are often have a waxy surface with pointed tops at the end to enable excess rainwater to run-off easily. This is important because it prevents the growth of algae, which if able to grow would block out sunlight and reduce a plants ability to photosynthesise.
Epiphytes
These plants live on the surface of other plants, mostly tree trunks and branches. This allows them to make the most of the sunlight in the canopy layer.
Thin bark
Rainforest trees don’t need thick bark to prevent moisture like those in temperate deciduous forests - there is always plenty of rain and this moisture is available. Therefore bark is often thin and smooth - the smoothness may also make it more difficult for other plants to grow on tree surfaces
High pressure down
Air sinks
High pressure up
Air rises
the global pattern of the tundra ecosystem
The global pattern of tundra ecosystems is that it’s from the arctic circle to 60-70 degrees north of it thus why temperatures in these biomes. Are typically below freezing. Tundra ecosystems also are biomes with high pressure, air sinks so there is less rainfall.
Pond food chain
Sun-pondweed-water insects- fish -heroine
Evapotranspiration
Heavy daily conventional rain - trees intercept rain - some rain reaches the ground - trees take up water - water evapotranspirates- heavy daily con…
(Loops)
Litter
Decomposes very quickly
Soil
Lots of litter decomposes into it
Emergent layer
-Top layer-
Trees can grow to around 35 - 65 metres
Examples of animals: Harpy eagle, scarlet macaw
Examples of trees: Jungle
Canopy
Second layer
Trees can grow from around 10-30 metres
Examples of animals:
Sloths,Orangutans,Toucans
Examples of trees:
Understory
Third layer
Most trees grow to around 14m
Examples of animals: Snakes,Jaguars
Examples of trees: palm trees
Forest floor
Bottom layer
Examples of animals: wild pigs, insects
Examples of trees: there are large leafed shrubs and saplings
What’s the temperature like in deserts?
Temperatures are extreme because of the lack of cloud cover - it can reach 45 degrees then drop below 0 at night
How much rainfall is there in deserts?
Less than 250 mm per year
How has the poison dart frog adapted for the tropical rainforest?
Poison dart frogs have toxins in their skin to kill predators- large biodiversity = many predators
Poison dart frogs have green skin- to camouflage
How has the spider monkey adapted for the tropical rainforest?
Long, strong limbs
Long tail
They use their strong limbs and long tail to swing from many trees to get around easier
How have piranhas adapted for the tropical rainforest?
Piranhas have sharp teeth and travel in schools - eat/ hunt prey
How have sloths adapted to the tropical rainforest?
Sloths have brown fur as camouflage and live in high trees- hide from predators
How have giant ant eaters adapted to the tropical rainforest?
Giant anteaters have Long,spiky tongues and sling claws, to eat pret
Where is the Amazon rainforest?
The Amazon rainforest is located in South America, in Brazil
What is leeching?
The removal of soluble nutrients
What is rapid decomposition?
Fast decomposition caused by a large biomass.
What is deforestation?
Deforestation is the cutting down of trees
What is commercial farming?
Large scale farming for profit
What is subsistence farming?
Farming on a small scale to produce enough food for the farmer and their family.
What does the tropical rainforest do for us?
Produces a 1/5 of the air we breathe
Contains 20% of the worlds fresh water
What is the trans Amazonian highway?
A highway build on an area of deforestation that runs for 3200 kilometres.
Amazon rainforest statistic on forest fires:
-In august 2019, over 30,000 fires were burning in the Amazon
Fact about rainforest deforestation in the last 50 years:
In the last 50 years, 70% of the Amazon has been deforested
How is soil being impacted?
Evidence:
Cultivated land loses 90 tonnes of soil per hectare (a hectare = 10,000m^2)
Explanation:
Fast water and run off causes flooding and Erosion.
Dust storms form and dry the soil
Evaluation:
Soil is being compromised due to agriculture,this will impact farmers negatively. But positively impact the economy
How is climate change impacted?
Evidence:
20% of the Amazon has been cut down for agriculture
The captured carbon in the rainforest accounts for all of the carbon emitted on earth since 2009
Explanation:
Green house gases are released from the trees when they’re cut down so more solar radiation is being trapped causing the earth to get hotter.
Evaluation:
Deforestation has a large negative impact on climate change however positively impacts brazils economy
How is loss of biodiversity impacted?
Evidence:
A tenth of the worlds species are thought to live in the Amazonia.
10% of the Amazon rainforest has been set on fire.
Explanation:
Many animals have died due to deforestation such as Orang-utans.
Evaluation:
Deforestation is having a negative impact on animals in the rainforest.
Economic positives deforestation: (I)
Evidence:
In 2018, experts appealed 6.7 billion for the countries economy from beef
Explanation:
The production/export of beef from Brazil has earns them the title of the world largest beef exporter which greatly benefits the economy
Evaluation:
Exporting beef will positively impact the economy
Economic positives deforestation: (II)
Evidence:
$8.2 billion a year from now inner and timber
Explanation:
Deforestation allows for profitable resources
Evaluation:
Exporting rubber and timber will positively impact the economy and make lots of money.
Economic positives deforestation: (III)
Evidence:
204,000 jobs with 66,000 direct jobs produced
Explanation:
Deforestation creates jobs for people helping them to make a living
Evaluation:
Deforestation is having a positive impact on the economy and providing more jobs
What is found at the pond margin of a pond ecosystem?
There is plenty of oxygen and light here. Plenty of shelter for the plants and insects, for small animals to eat here.
What is found at the pond surface of a pond ecosystem?
Plenty of oxygen and light is here. Animals breathe through their gills,lungs or skin here.
What is found above the pond surface of a pond ecosystem?
Birds and animals breathe oxygen. Food is found in or on the water, or in the margins.
What is found on the pond surface of a pond ecosystem?
There is little oxygen or light here. There is plenty of shelter (rotting plants and stones) and food. Decomposes and scavengers live here.
What is found mid-water of a pond ecosystem?
Animals breathe through gills or skin. Fish are the main predators. Food is found on the surface or in the pond.
What is the nutrient cycle-model answer:
The nutrient cycle is the flow of nutrients between 3 stores in an ecosystem;the litter,soil and biomass. The biomass (abiotic features in the ecosystem) passes nutrients to the soil when it dies. Decomposes break down the nutrients in the litter and this gets passed into the soil. Through plant uptake, the biomass uses the nutrients for growth.
Strategy: selective logging:
Positives:
-Helps maintain ecosystems of forest
-virtually no differences
-canopy is protected
-more valuable trees
Negatives:
-takes time to select trees
-less money is made
Strategy: international agreements:
Positives:
-ensures sensitive rainforests are preserved
-sustainable wood
-rights of indigenous people
-countries must sign agreement
Negatives:
-less profit
-maintaining constantly
-doesn’t have a global impact
Strategy:debt reduction:
Positives:
-protects atmosphere and hydrosphere
-incentive to conserve forest
-countries protect trees in order to pay off debt
Negatives:
-People may exploit
-expensive for government
Strategy: eco tourism:
Positives:
-conserves environment and local economy
-promotes value of protection
-built from local resources (smart wood label)
-encourages tropical rainforest stewardship
Negatives:
-disrupts ecosystems
-environmental benefits outweighed by travel there
What is depression
Low atmospheric pressure:
Areas of depression usually have chaneable weather
What are anticyclones?
They are high pressure
-spin around in a clockwise direction
-cause different weather in winter and summer
What is a desert?
An area that has less than 250mm of rainfall per year
What are xerophytes?
Plants that have adapted to living in dry, hot desert environments.
What are succulents?
Plants that have some parts that are more than normally thickened and fleshy, usually to retain water.
What does the word arid mean?
Evaporation exceeds precipitated (it is dry)
Describe deserts:
30 degrees north and south of the equator, dry continental interiors, mostly away from coasts
Describe the air pressure in deserts:
The air pressure is high as the air is sinking so there are no clouds causing sun rays to be concentrated causing high temperatures at day. At night it’s very cold as there are no clouds to trap heat.
How do mountains cause desertification?
Rain shadow means that mountains block areas from receiving moisture.
What’s the soil in deserts like?
Desert soils are thin, sandy, rocky and generally grey in colour. Desert soils are very dry. When it does rain they soak up the water very quickly. The surface of the soil may appear crusty. This is due to the lack of rainfall. As it is so hot, water is drawn up to the surface of the soil by evaporation. As the water evaporates, salts are left behind on the surface of the soil.
What are the adaptations of the jerboa for the desert climate?
-Jerboas have long ears to cook them down
-jerboas have long feet to move in the soil
-Jerboas have tails for balance on the sand
What are the adaptations of the camel for the desert climate?
-camels have long eyelashes
-camels have rubber lips to eat prickly things
-camels have humps used to store fat
-camels have pods on their feet so they do not sink into the sand
What are the adaptations of the cactus for the desert climate?
-Cacti have spikes instead of leaves so animals don’t eat it
-cacti have thick waxy skin to seal moisture
-cacti have a fleshy stem to store water
What is zonation?
The change in species over space
Human factors
How humans affect an ecosystem
Biotic factors
-competition, interaction with other plants and animals
Abiotic factors
-sunlight
-wind speed
-inundation
-soil pH
-soil fertility and humus
