Living World Flashcards
What is a biomes?
A large scale ecosystem. Eg. Tropical rain forests
What is an ecosystem?
A unit that includes all the living parts and the non living parts in an area
What are the three clasifications for organisms living in ecosystems?
Producers, consumers and decomposers
What is a producer?
An organism that uses sunlight energy to produce food
What is a consumer?
An organism that gets it’s energy by eating other organisms
What is a decomposer?
An organism that gets energy by breaking down dead material.
Eg. Bacteria or fungi
Why are decomposers so essential?
When dead material is decomposed, nutrients are released to the soil. These nutrients are essential to the producer, then the healthy producer is consumed by the consumer
Where are tropical rain forests and hot deserts found?
Near the equator because of the heat
Where are temperate deciduous forests found?
Europe and the USA because of mild and wet weather
An example of a temperate deciduous forests?
The new forest. Covers 375 sq km of Hampshire in the UK
How is the temperate deciduous forest economically active?
The production of timber
Farming
Tourism (20 million a year)
How is the temperate deciduous forest sustainable?
Cleared areas are replanted on
Footpaths are provided
Wildlife is protected
Educates visitors on how to treat the forest respectfully
Where and how big is the amazon rainforest?
Mainly Brazil however covers other South American countries.
It is 5.5million km squared
Why is the amazon rainforest so important?
50percent of animals come from there
Supplies 25percent of the world water and oxygen
Home to American tribes
Source of wood and medicines from trees and plants
What do humans do to the amazon rainforest?
Logging, farming, mining, roads and settlements
What are the advantages and disadvantages of human interference in the amazon?
Ad: billions of pounds for local countries
Jobs provided
Dis: locals (Amerindians) disturbed.
Climate change
How is the amazon being made sustainable?
Replanting, banning trees from being cut
Tourism brings in money and jobs
The USA financially help
What does the Mojave desert do economically? (USA)
Commercial farming, ranching and mining
Tourism (Las Vegas, Grand Canyon)
Welcomes and advertises for the retired
What challenges does the Mojave desert face? (USA)
Rapid population growth
Water supplies short
Farming causes soil erosion
How is the Mojave desert being used sustainably? (USA)
Mojave water agency helping people get the right amount
People are paid to remove grass lawns
National parks protect the environment
Hotels in Las Vegas using water more sustainably
What are the traditional ways of life for people in the Thar dessert? (Pakistan)
Farmers rear sheep, goat and cattle for much of there supplies
Water is from wells
What challenges does the Thar desert face? (Pakistan)
Population pressure, soil erosion, lack of water
What Is happening in the Thar desert to solve problems?
Aid agencies are providing dams and water supplies
