Living World Flashcards

(40 cards)

1
Q

How much of the amazon rainforest has been deforested?

A

750,000km2

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2
Q

Where is the amazon rainforest?

A

South America

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3
Q

Causes of deforestation in the amazon rainforest?

A
65-70% commercial cattle farming
20-25% small scale subsistence farming
5-10% commercial farming
2-3% logging
1-2% other eg mining
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4
Q

Economic impacts of deforestation in the amazon rainforest

A

+ creates jobs for locals eg 3100 in Peru mine
+ economic growth ($6.9 billion in 2008 from cattle in Brazil)
+ taxes paid to be used for improvements in services
+hydroelectric power is cheap and renewable
- destroys the livelihood of indigenous

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5
Q

Environmental impacts of deforestation in the amazon rainforest

A
  • loss of biodiversity
  • increase in Co2
  • soil erosion = flooding
  • decrease in soil fertility
  • pollution
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6
Q

Management strategies for the tropical rainforest

A

Selective logging and replanting, conservation and education, ecotourism and international agreements, debt reduction

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7
Q

What is an ecosystem?

A

A natural system made up of plants, animals and the environment (biotic and abiotic)

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8
Q

Producers:

A

Concert energy from sunlight to produce food (create their own energy)

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9
Q

Consumers:

A

Get energy from eating producers or other consumers

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10
Q

Decomposers:

A

When dead material is decomposed, they release nutrients into the soil

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11
Q

What is nutrient cycling?

A

When nutrients are transferred throughout the ecosystem.

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12
Q

What are large scale global ecosystems?

A

Biomes

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13
Q

What are the characteristics of a TROPICAL RAINFOREST and where are they distributed?

A

Temp: av= 27C
rainfall= 2000mm
close to equator

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14
Q

hot desert

A

low rainfall = 250mm yr
high daytime temp
30 degrees N and S of equator

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15
Q

tundra

A

low temp= can drop to -20
low rainfall
arctic circle = 60-70 degrees N

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16
Q

TR

A

warm temp
heavy rainfall
infertile soil
dense vegetation

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17
Q

how plants adapt to TR climate

A
tall to reach light
drip tip, waxy so water drains
thick buttress so trees stay steady
wide root network to get nutrients form soil
climbing plants using trees to get light
18
Q

how animals adapt to TR climate

A

gripping tail to live in canopy
camouflage to hide in shrub layer
suction pads to grip onto trees
nocturnal to avoid the heat of the day

19
Q

biodiversity=

A

the variety of plant and animal species in an ecosystem

20
Q

TR facts

A

50% of species
28% of worlds oxygen
25% of medicines
sources of clean water

21
Q

characteristics of tundra and polar

A
cold - polar >-0, tundra<10
low rainfall
layer of permafrost
thin soil
few vegetation
few species of animals
22
Q

how do plants adapt to tundra/polar climate

A
become dormant in cold winters
low growing
hairy stems to insulate
thin waxy leaves to reduce water loss
shallow roots
short growing season
23
Q

how do animals adapt to polar/tundra climate

A

well insulated with thick fur and blubber
hibernate to conserve energy
white fur for camo
survive on limited food

24
Q

biodiversity in cold environments

A

low + fragile

=small changes= big impact

25
where is alaska
west of Canada northern part is in arctic circle American state
26
development opportunities in alaska
fishing energy development mineral extraction tourism
27
development challenges in alaska
extreme temps accessibility building infrastructure provision
28
fishing in alaska
``` employs 10% of Alaskans 18500 jobs $6 billion to state economy BECAUSE: 3000 rivers 3 million lakes 10868km of coastline ```
29
problems of fishing in alaska
seasonal | currently sustainable but becoming higher demand for fish globally
30
energy development in alaska
``` more than 50 hydroelectric plants geothermal energy now used lots employed by oil industry BECAUSE: valleys perfect for HEP generation coastline is in pacific ring of fire= geothermal ```
31
problems of energy development in alaska
valleys have to be flooded= destroyed ecosystems | oil spills
32
mineral extraction in alaska
1/5 of alaskas mining wealth comes from gold
33
problems of mineral extraction in alaska
toxic chemicals produced to process gold = can be leaked into ecosystems environmental campaigns
34
tourism in Alaska
attracts 1.2 million summer visitors BECAUSE: range of tourist activities eg whale watching
35
problems of tourism in Alaska
seasonal transport= co2 infrastructure has to be built waste
36
why is extreme temp a challenge in alaska
difficult to produce crops living conditions= hard to adapt difficult land to build on
37
why is accessibility a problem in alaska
solifluction (top layer unfreezes and slips off hill)= cutting places off makes transporting goods difficult thermokarst (annual freezing and unfreezing)= difficult travel
38
why is building infrastructure a problem in alska
roads have to be built on gravel pads water, sewerage and gas have to be built over ground airport runways painted white to reflect sun
39
why should cold environments be protected
useful for research vital for biodiversity indigenous livelihood
40
management techniques to protect cold environments
technology eg transalaskan pipeline government action international agreements eg the Antarctic treaty conservation groups eg WWF