LW - ecosystem Flashcards
What is an ecosystem?
The living and the non living parts of an environment and the interrelationships that exist between them eg a pond
What are Biomes?
Global scale ecosystems eg a tropical rainforest
What are adaptions?
The ways that plants evolve to cope with environmental conditions such as lots of rainfal
What are producers?
Organisms that get their energy from a primary source such as the sun.
What are consumers?
Organisms that get their energy by eating other organisms.
What is a food chain?
A line of linkages between producers and consumers.
What is a food web?
A diagram thats shows all the linkages between producers and consumers in an ecosystem.
What are scavengers?
Organisms that consume dead animals or plants.
What are decomposers?
Organisms such as bacteria that break down plant and animal material.
What is nutrient cycling?
The recycling of nutrients between living organisms and the environment.
Impacts of change in a freshwater pond
- Natural factors including environmental change (floods, fire, droughts)
- Human induced change (drainage, reclamation, fish stocking)
Characteristics of the vegetation in Temperate deciduous woodlands
- Soils are rich and fertile
- Weathering is active (lots of nutrients)
- Annual leave fall - organic matter enriches soil
*Common soil found is a brown soil
Adaptions in the deciduous woodlands
- Trees shed their leaves in the autumn due to reductions in light and heat which helps them conserve water.
- Trees are broad-leaved which means their is a great deal of water loss through the holes on the underside of the leaves.
- Bluebells and dandelions commonly flower in the early spring so they get more sunlight, due to the dark conditions in the woodlands.
What is stratification?
The four layers of the woodlands:
- the top - fully grown trees which act as an umbrella.
- sub layer - saplings and small trees eg Hazel.
Describe temperate deciduous forests
- Found across much of north-west Europe, Eastern North America and parts of East Asia.
- Occur in these regions due to being well suited to the moderate climate.
- Rainfall distributed evenly throughout year- summers not too hot and winters not too cold.
- Long growing season
Characteristics of the vegetation in Temperate deciduous woodlands
- Soils are rich and fertile
- Weathering is active (lots of nutrients)
- Annual leave fall - organic matter enriches soil
*Common soil found is a brown soil
Adaptions in the deciduous woodlands
- Trees shed their leaves in the autumn due to reductions in light and heat which helps them conserve water.
- Trees are broad-leaved which means their is a great deal of water loss through the holes on the underside of the leaves.
- Bluebells and dandelions commonly flower in the early spring so they get more sunlight, due to the dark conditions in the woodlands.
What is stratification?
The four layers of the woodlands:
- the top - fully grown trees which act as an umbrella.
- sub layer - saplings and small trees eg Hazel.
- the herb layer - bluebells, ivy and bracken
- ground layer - close the soil surface. Damp and dark ideal conditions for moss to grow.
Case study for deciduous woodland- facts about EPPING FOREST
Size: 19km long, 4km wide. It covers an area of 2,500 ha
Location: Runs north-east of London on a high gravel ridge.
Vegetation: 70% woodland (mostly beech trees) including grassland and marshes.
History on Epping forest
- Kings and queens since the norman time used the forest to hunt deer.
- Local people also had access to it so they could graze their animals & collect wood.
- In 19th century local landowners made attempts to buy parts of the land but this was later dismissed.
What is the legal protection in Epping forest?
In 1878 the Epping forest act of parliament stated the “the conservators shall at all times keep Epping forest unenclosed and unbuilt on as an open space for the recreation and enjoyment of the people”
Give an example of sustainable management in Epping Forrest
- Pollarding - trees cut above shoulder height to encourage new growth.
- Allowing old trees to die and collapse naturally.
- Maintaining pond.
What is pollarding?
Cutting trees at shoulder height and the level of the grazing animals. Pollarded trees reshoot at this height producing new wood and ensuring a supply of wood for generations.
What are the commercial uses of the Epping forest?
- Training areas for bike racers
- Used to be a motorbike speedway
- Paid day-walking
- Fitness instructors
What are the recreational uses of Epping forest?
- Walking
- Horse riding
- Cycling
- Fishing
What are the conservation uses of Epping forest?
The Epping forest century trust help to conserve the forest by…
- clearing ponds
- clearing bracken and other invasive shrubs
- improving/rebuilding forest trails
- clearing dense holly growth to allow light to reach the forest floor
Epping forest facilities for the public
- Car parks
- Toilets
- Visitor centre
- Refreshment facilities
