Living World Flashcards
What is an ecosystem?
a community of living organisms that share an environment
What are the types of components in an ecosystem?
biotic components are the living features of an ecosystem (animals, fish, plants)
abiotic components are the environmental factors. (climate, soil, water, temperature, light)
What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?
A food web includes all of the living features in an environment but a food chain only includes one flow of nutrients
Describe the nutrients cycle of the Epping forest
Biggest amount of Biomass
2nd biggest store of soil
smallest of leaf litter
Where are rain forests located?
Mainly found at very low altitudes between the tropics.
North of South America e.g Amazon
Where are tundra biomes, grasslands, and desserts found?
tundra= very high altitudes, Top of Russia and North America grasslands= most of the world Africa desserts= Australia, West Africa
Describe the climate of a rain forest
constant high temperatures (av 27 C)
constant high rainfall (over 2000mm annually)
Describe the nutrient cycle of a rain forest
A very high amount of biomass (dense vegetation)
Small amount of poor infertile soil
Very tiny tiny amount of litter
How are epiphytes adapted?
Epiphytes grow on other trees (aerial roots) so they can get sunlight
How are some of the trees adapted for the rain forest?
They have straight and branchless trunks at lower levels to help reach the sunlight and conserve energy whilst growing tall. Also, buttress roots give the trees stability.
How are sloths adapted?
can digest toxic leaves and have special thumbs to allow them to hang upside down.
Name four causes of deforestation
- cattle ranching-> space for cows/plants
- palm oil production-> found in majority of our food
- logging-> chopping trees down to use their wood
- farming-> large areas converted into farms (mainly big companies)
- firewood collection-> NEEs’ main energy supply
Impacts of deforstation
SOIL
soil erosion- with the forest gone, the top soil is washed away -> little hope of growing anything
CLIMATE CHANGE
trees are a store of carbon, cutting them down and burning them releases CO2 into atmosphere- increase in greenhouse gases- enhanced greenhouse effect.
What are goods?
physical things that can be obtained directly from the forest
What are services?
benefits that the rainforest can offer to both people and the environment
