Living World Flashcards
what is an ecosystem
all the biotic and abiotic parts of an environment.
biotic=animals, plants, bacteria, fungi, insects
abiotic=rocks, sun, weather, water, air, soil, climate
what are producers
Organisms that make their own food using light energy, used for photosynthesis
what are consumers
organisms that get their energy from eating other organisms (producers/other consumers) primary, tiertary, secondary
what are decomposers
organisms that get their energy from breaking down dead matter eg dead producers (fallen leaves) or dead consumers. usually bacteria and fungi
what are scavengers
organisms that feed on dead animals
explain nutrient cycling
animals and plants die and decompose, returning nutrients to soil. plants absorb these nutrients and use them to grow. animals then eat these plants, taking in the nutrients they contain
explain the slapton ley reed beds ecosystem
Lagoon in south devon, separated from sea by a shingle barrier. common reed a main producer. eels and fish use reeds for shelter. birds (herons) feed on fish and nest in reeds. bearded tits feed on reed seedheads. consumers eg moth larvae and voles feed on reeds. insects lay eggs in water, fish feed on larvae
explain the polar ecosystem
Arctic/antarctic, greenland= low temperatures and dry conditions, cold, icy (-50 degrees) dark. short growing seasons, little vegetation. arctic foxes, arctic hares
explain the tundra ecosystem
Northern europe (russia) and canada. low growing plants (mosses, lichens, shrubs) adapted to cold, windy and dry conditions. reindeer, wolves. ground is frozen, permafrost, little rainfall.
explain the savanna grassland ecosystem
(between tropics) india, east africa, north australia. distinct dry and wet seasons. low rainfall. grasses, few trees, some animals (lions, giraffes, elephants, rhinos, leopards)
explain the temperate grassland ecosystem
south brazil, turkey, central USA. more variation in temperature, less rainfall, no trees, just grass, higher latitudes
explain the tropical rainforest ecosystem
brazil, central america, south east asia, high temperatures, heavy rainfall, no seasons. cover 6% of worlds surface 50% biodiversity, 25% of medicines.
explain the desert ecosystem
australia, west USA, central and north america. 15-35 degrees north and south of the equator. little rainfall, hot in day, cold at night. shrubs and cacti, >250mm a year. 1/5 of earths surface.
explain the taiga/boreal ecosystem
canada, scandinavia. 50-60 degrees north. coniferous forests. pine needles hard to decompose-little nutrients in soil, 10 degrees temperatures. moose, wolves, bears. cold and dry summers, mild and moist
explain the temperate decicuous forest ecosystem
uk, francem germany, mid latitudes, distinct seasons, temperate. warm summers, mild winters, rainfall, trees lose leaves=nutrients in soil.
explain the mediterranean ecosystem
greece, spain, south west australia, hot, sunny and dry summers, mild winters. pressure belts, olive and fruit trees eg lemon, oranges
