Living World - Ecosystems Flashcards
ecosytem
interactions between living things + non-living things in 1 location
biome
large regions of the world with similar living organisms
abitiotic
non-living things
bitiotic
living things
consumer
creature that eats plants/animals
decomposer
an organism that breaks down dead tissue, then recycled to enviornment
foodchain
hierarchy of plants and animals with food
food web
connections between different organisms that are each other’s food sources
nutrient cycling
- organisms extract minerals needed for growth from soil/water
- pass them on thru food chain
producer
organism that absorbs energy thru photosynthesis
example
small ecosystem
epping forest
* close to london = accesible
* biodiverse
deciduous tree
loses leaves during autumn = conserving energy
biomass
- living or recently dead matter
- biomass decreases as food chain goes up bc it is lost from feces, respiration etc
factors disrupting the food chain
- droughts
- storms
- forest fires
- deforestation
- climate change
= decrease in consumer, soil being washed away when exposed
biome distribution
altitude
- temperatures decrease 0.5C/100m up
- tough grass replaces trees @ steep mountainsides
biome distribution
relief
inland areas in rain shadow = less rain
coasts = more rain
biome distribution
ocean currents
effects temp and moisture of areas
deserts
- close to tropics of cancer + capricorn (sahara, aussie)
- hot and dry
- drought resistance crops
tropical rainforest
- found along equator
- warm and wet
- evergreen forest
temperate grassland
- 40-60º north of equator
- cold winters + warm summers
- short tussock + feather grasses
mediterranean
- 30-40º n of equator
- dry warm summers, mild wet winters
- drought resistance trees + evergreen shrubs
deciduous forests
- high latitudes
- cool dark winters, rain
- deciduous trees
coniferous forests
- 60º n of equator
- v cold winters + no sunlight for many months
- coniferous trees
tundra
- arctic circle
- cold and dry + below 0 temps
- tough, short grasses in waterlogged conditions