Living World Flashcards
What type of biome is the UK in? Name its characteristics - Living World
Temperate deciduous
4 distinctive seasons, trees lose leaves in winter
What is it called when factors of eco systems affect one another? - Living World
Interdependence
What is an example of interdependence? - Living World
In an ecosystem, if conditions were to stop vegetation from growing, the primary consumers would not have enough food to provide enough energy to sustain the life of larger predators, leading to the death of other animals
Where are rainforests located? - Living World
Rains forests are located in Africa, Asia, South America and in Australasia. They are mainly between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.
How does global atmospheric circulation work?
Along the equator, the sun’s rays are strongest and the air heats. The warm air rises, causing an area of low pressure. The rising air carries moisture, which condenses and forms cumulonimbus clouds. The hot air spreads away from the equator, and sinks, heating and creating dry, arid areas.
How are howler monkeys adapted to rainforests? - Living World
Howler monkeys have very strong limbs. It is needed to let them hunt in the canopy. It does this by allowing them to swing through trees for long periods of time to hunt and evade predators
How are leaf tailed geckos adapted to rainforests? - Living World
Leaf tailed geckos can camouflage into their surroundings. This allows them to hide from predators that may eat them
How are emergent trees adapted to rainforests? - Living World
Emergent trees have buttress roots. These are needed to support 50+ metres of tree, and to absorb minerals. They are large and therefore sturdy, and have large surface areas to intake minerals from the soils at ground level.
How are Lianas adapted to rainforests? - Living World
Lianas have curved growth, which support their growth up a tree. This means that the vines can curve round a tree, supporting and meaning they can reach higher up to where more light is, so they can photosynthesise more.
What impacts would deforestation have on soil? - Living World
The soil would become fragile as no roots would be able to hold it together. Without trees, the soil will have no minerals, and therefore could become permanently infertile.
What impacts would deforestation have on plants? - Living World
Lots of minerals needed for growth of plants would not be present. More plants would have access to light. Lianas require trees to support growth.
What impacts would deforestation have on animals? - Living World
Some animals rely on trees for habitats, like birds and howler monkeys. Also, without transpiration, there could be drought, leading to even less vegetation
What percentage of the world’s oxygen does the Amazon provide?
The Amazon provides 20% of the world’s oxygen
Why is mining a cause of deforestation? - Living World
Large areas of trees are cleared for mining metal ores like tin, iron, copper, lead and zinc
How is logging a cause of deforestation? + what solution is there? - Living World
Large areas are logged for furniture, paper, card
Selective logging can be used to allow trees to regrow (SUSTAINABLE)
How is population growth a cause of deforestation? - Living World
Mass influx of population means people cut down trees to make space for shanty towns.
How much did the Amazon population grow by between 2010 and 2012? - Living World
100,000 people
Name an example of how farming causes deforestation in the Amazon - Living World
43% of Mato Grosso was cut down in the 1980s, replaced with cattle ranches
What positives and negatives are there of building dams in the Amazon? - Living World
+ hydroelectric power is a renewable resource of energy
- it involves flooding large areas of the rainforest, resulting in the destruction of ecosystems
Name the 3 steps of soil erosion in deforested areas - Living World
- Trees can not intercept rainwater before reaching the soil
- The soil isn’t protected, therefore nutrients are washed away, the soil becomes infertile
- Vegetation doesn’t grow, so no roots are there to hold the soil together. The soil is vulnerable to wind erosion
What percentage of the world’s medicines come from the rainforest?
75%
What is debt reduction? - Living World
Some nations offset debts from countries in return for deforestation not taking place
Which country selectively logs? - Living World
Malaysia
What is a desert? - Living World
An area with less than 250 mm of rainfall/year
Where are Deserts located? - Living World
Mainly between 40° NandS of the equator, in Asia, Australasia, NandS America
What are desert soils like? - Living World
Very sandy and stony, infertile due to a lack of organic matter.
Evaporation brings salts to the surface. Soaks up water rapidly after rainfall.
How is the Fennec Fox adapted to deserts? - Living World
The Fennec Fox has very large ears, needed because there is very little food available in the desert. Sensitive ears allow them to better hunt animals in the ground.
How is a desert camel adapted to the desert? - Living World
A desert camel can alter their body temperature by 6°c either way. This is needed to help them cool down in the day and heat up at night. They can also survive 3 months without water, which allows them to survive in dry periods
How does the Saguaro Cactus survive in deserts? - Living World
Their stomatas only open during the night, leading to less water lost through the transpiration stream. Allows them to maintain water in hot conditions
How is the Joshua Tree adapted to deserts? - Living World
The Joshua Tree has very deep roots which allows for maximum water absorption. This is needed to due the relative absence of water. Shiny leaves reflect the sun to keep the plant cooler.
Where is the Thar Desert located? - Living World
The Thar desert is located in Western India, covering most of Rajasthan and including the city of Jaipur. It’s the most densely populated desert in the world
What positives are there of deforestation? - Living World
Can pay off debts and help develop the country economically
HEP can be created as a renewable resource
Farming can be very productive. Brazil is the 2nd largest soy bean producer
Taxes paid by workers help govt improve services in rural areas
What opportunities does energy make in the Thar Desert? - Living World
Wind - the Jaisalmer Wind Park was constructed in 2001
Solar - perfect conditions in the desert at BHALERI
How does tourism create opportunities in the Thar Desert? - Living World
Desert Safaris on camels, a desert festival in winter, meaning tourists spend money at taxed places, putting money in local economy
How does farming create opportunities in the Thar Desert? - Living World
Commercial farming possible because of the Indira Ghandi canal, irrigation can happen where previously not
WHEAT, COTTON, MAIZE, MUSTARD
Subsistence farming
How does mineral extraction create opportunities in the Thar Desert? - Living World
Feldspar is used in ceramics
Phosphorite is used for fertiliser
MARBLE QUARRIED NEAR JODHPUR
How does the temperature create challenges in the Thar Desert? - Living World
Can reach 50°c in summer, making working conditions hard
Livestock need shade to protect from intense sun
High evaporation leads to water scarcities
How does low water supply lead to challenges in the Thar Desert? - Living World
Higher population = higher water demand
Rivers flow intermittently
Water has to come from aquifers (BAD QUALITY)
How does inaccessibility create challenges in the Thar desert? - Living World
Public transport limited to overcrowded buses
Many places only accessible by camel
High temperatures lead to melted tarmac
What is desertification? - Living World
The degradation of land over time so that land becomes dry and less productive until desert
What causes desertification? - Living World
Population growth - more food required to feed
Overcultivation - too many animals graze on land, all grass eaten
Exposure - soils are left exposed to wind and rain (soil erosion)
Fuelwood - trees logged to provide for fuelwood
Temperatures - mean that water evaporates from the soil faster
What is appropriate technology? - Living World
Technology which is suited to the needs, skills, wealth of the people in a local area
What are 2 examples of appropriate technology?
Joheds stop rainwater, allowing it to infiltrate the soil rather than allowing it to runoff
Khejri trees help to replenish minerals in the soil through transpiration
Irrigation channels used to take water directly to crops
