Living worlds Flashcards
Describe how the nutrient cycle works.
- When dead material decomposes, nutrients are released into the soil.
- Then the nutrients are taken up by the plants. The the plants are eaten by consumers.
3.When the plants or consumers die, nutrients return to soil - Process continues in a cycle. The transfer of nutrients is called nutrient cycling.
Describe the pond bottom and what live there?
Little light and oxygen E.g. decomposers (bacteria)
Which animals live there in mid water?
Most fish (predators) here
Describe the pond surface and which animals live there?
Lots of light and oxygen
E.g. Ducks, tadpoles
Describe the pond margin and which animals live there?
Sheltered habitats for animals
E.g. Frogs
Which animals live above the pond surface?
E.g Kingfishers (type of bird), Dragonflies
What is Eutrophication?
The process in which water or parts of it become overly enriched with minerals or nutrients.
Causes of Eutrophication?
-Runoff and erosion ( from poor land use)
-Nitrogen compounds produced by cars and factories
When warm air rises it creates low or high pressure?
Low pressure
When cool air sinks it creates low or high pressure?
High pressure
1.Climate of the Tropical Rainforest
2.Why is it so hot?
3.Why is it so wet?
- Hot and wet humid throughout year.
- The suns rays shine directly onto earths surface at the equator
- The hot, wet air rises, cools and condenses causing convectional rainfall
What is the soil like in the rainforest and why?
Poor soil as no nutrients below taken up by vegetation.
Animal adaptations in the rainforest.
Sloth: (Found in main canopy)
-Long claws/ arms to help climb trees
Toucan: (Found in main canopy)
- Bright bill to attract mates
Poison dart frog: (Found on the forest floor)
-Poisonous skin so if predator tries to eat it, they will get poisoned
Plant adaptations in the rainforest
Drip tip: (Found on forest floor)
- Leaves with pointed tip to channel the water straight to the roots and so the weight of water doesn’t damage leaves
Lianas: (Found in under canopy)
-Grows up trees to get sunlight and get taller
Buttress roots: ( Found on the forest floor)
-Wide base to grow tall and take up nutrients.
Causes of deforestation, what % and how each cause deforestation.
80% Cattle ranching- More demand for fast food
10% Commercial agriculture- Crops such as pineapple, oil are grown
5%- Small scale agriculture- Cutting or burning areas of the rainforest for small farms
3%- Logging-Cutting down trees to sell wood
2%- Urbanisation- People run out of places to live so have to cut down the rainforest to build houses
Impacts of deforestation.
(Positives (only economic) and negatives)
Positives:
Economic- Lots of money made from selling wood.
Negatives:
Economic- In the long term, can destroy recourses of that country
Environmental- Animals loose their habitat
Social- Native tribes have been forced to move
Why the rainforest is important?
80% of food comes from there
25% medicines
Sustainable strategies (6 or 9 mark question).
What is the strategy?
Explain?
Advs and Disadvs?
Local, National or International?
Selective logging- (National) Ensure the rainforest canopy is preserved- trees grow until fully grown so younger trees can mature
Adv: Protects ground from erosion.
Disadv: Removes habitat
Ecotourism (Local)- Volunteers help out in the rainforest- preserve the rainforest
Adv: Visitors help the environment
Disadv: To some extent some areas could be ruined by people being there
Education (International)- A protected area so no one can cut down the rainforest- People know how to treat the rainforest
Adv: Can lead to rainforest being protected
Disadv: Some people may break rules and go in
- Why are deserts dry?
- Why are they so hot?
- They are high pressure and the equator has lost moisturiser
- The suns rays are more concentrated
Plant adaptations in the desert?
Ephemerals- Bright flowers to attract pollinators
Acacia tree- Thorns to stop animals eating the leaves
Saguaro cactus- Spikes protect cacti from animals wanting to use its stored water
Animal adaptations in the desert?
Long- eared jerboa- Large ears to loose heat and live underground to keep cool
Camel- 3 eyelids and long eyelashes to protect eyes from sandstorm
Thorny devil- False head hides real head from predators
Opportunities in the Thar desert
Mining-gypsum and feldspar used in medical industry
Tourism- desert safaris on camels
Subsistence farming- Small scale, for family
Name of rainforest case study and where is it located
Amazon rainforest. In south America
Name of desert case study and where its located
Thar desert. Between India and Pakistan
Challenges in the Thar desert
Extreme temperatures- Can exceed to 50 degrees. Barely any water and houses will get warm
Water supply- Only 120-140mm a year- Farms need water for crops and to feed animals.
Inaccessibility- Cant get to the desert as sand in the way
What is desertification?
Process of land turning into desert the quality of soil declines overtime.
Things that cause desertification
Overgrazing due to farmers becoming less nomadic (moving around less)- farmers rely on water and land so don’t regularly move to new fertilized areas.
Soil erosion- Overuse of land remove nutrients from the soil
Deforestaion- Soil is exposed to rain so nutrients get washed away, leaving soil infertile
Strategies to reduce the risk of desertification
What is the strategy?
Explain?
Advs and Disadvs?
Afforestation- Planting more trees so soil improves
Adv: Dead leaves add more nutrient to the soil
Disadv: Expensive and takes a long time for trees to grow
Bunds- Small stone walls built along a slope to trap water
Adv: Improves quality of soil
Disadv: Not much rainfall
Energy efficient stoves- Using appropriate technology
Adv: People arent cutting down as much fuel wood
Disadv: Still use wood, just less
