P1 ecosystems Flashcards
what is the definition of an ecosystem
- a natural system that is made up from plants, animals and the environment in which they live.
what are the components of an ecosystem and how are they linked
- climate, water, soil, plants, animals and people
- they are closely interlinked and depend on each other for survival
- if one component changes there will be knock on effects within the ecosystem
what are the two types of components in an ecosystem
- biotic- such as plants animals and bacteria
- abiotic- such as climate, water and soils
what is the case study for a small scale ecosystem
- Epping forest or Reigate heath
give information on Epping forest in Essex
- ancient deciduous woodland in the northeast of London
- several native species including oak, elm, ash and beech
what are the main producers of the Epping forest
- a lower shrub layer of grasses, brambles, and bracken
what are the main consumers of the Epping forest
many insects, mammals, amphibians and birds
what are the main decomposers of the Epping forest
over 700 species of fungi
how do people have a role to play in the Epping forest
- Epping forest has been managed for centuries, initially as a hunting forest for royalty, then for its timber, and now for recreation and conservation
- many trees have been coppiced ( cut down to ground level) or pollarded ( cut down to shoulder level) to encourage new straight growth of timber
- visitors pick fruits and berries, helping to disperse the seeds
what is the definition of a food web
a complex hierarchy of plants and animals that rely on each other as a source of food within an ecosystem
what is the definition of a food chain
the direct links between different organisms that rely on each other a source of food
what is nutrient cycling
- there are 3 main nutrient stores
- and several flows responsible for transferring nutrients between he stores
- there are also flows to and from the abiotic components, such as a rock
what 2 sources are nutrients derived from
- rainwater, washing chemicals out of the atmosphere
- weathering of rocks, releasing chemicals into the soil
why are food chains and food web extremally important
- help understand the possible impacts of change within an ecosystem
- the sudden removal of one species or massive growth of another can have huge impacts on other components within the ecosystem
what are the natural impacts of change on an ecosystem
- extreme weather events such as floods and droughts
- fires caused by lightening strikes
- climate change and global warming
- spread of invasive species or introduction of alien species
what are the huma impacts of change of an ecosystem
- land use change, such as deforestation and hedgerow removal
- alteration to water and soils, such as land drainage or adding fertilisers
- hunting or trapping of animals or birds
- introduction of alien species
what is the primary factor affecting the pattern of global ecosystems
- climate
- this is why most global ecosystems form latitudinal belts across the world
what is a variation in the pattern affecting global ecosystems
- reflect other factors such as warm and cold ocean currents, the distribution of land and sea, and the pattern of surface winds
- these factors result in small scale variations in weather and climate, which impact on ecosystems
- e.g the UK experiences a temperate maritime climate, due to the prevailing southwest winds and the presence of the north Atlantic drift.
what is the location and characteristics of a coniferous forest
- roughly 60 deg north
- cold and dark winters
- warm summers
- coniferous trees are cone bearing and many are evergreen so that they can photosynthesise immediately after the winter
what is the location and characteristics of a deciduous forest
- roughly 50 deg north, natural ecosystem for the UK and western Europe
- deciduous trees shed their leaves in winter to retain moisture
- climate is more moderate
- mostly mild and moist condition with some extremes of temp
what is the location and characteristics of a desert
- roughly 30 deg north and south of the equator close to the tropics of caner and Capricorn
- sinking air in these latitudes suppresses rain formation, leading to arid conditions
- hot in the daytime and cooler and night, due to lack of cloud cover
- plants and animals have to very well adapted to deal with these conditions
what is the location and characteristics of the Mediterranean
- roughly 40-45 deg north , centred on the Mediterranean, isolated pockets in south Africa and Australia
- hot and dry summers
- wet and mild winters
- vegetation includes citrus fruit trees, olives and oaks
what is the location and characteristics of a polar/tundra
- arctic and Antarctic and high latitudes such as Canada and Siberia
- extremally cold throughout the year in polar regions
- cold winter but quite warm brief summers in tundra regions
- limited precipitation
- tundra is very fragile and easily damaged by human activities e.g oil exploration
what is the location and characteristics of temperate grasslands
- roughly 30-40 deg north and south of the equator in continental interiors
- continental conditions result in hot summers and cold winters
- low rainfall
- ideal conditions for grasses and grazing animals
what is the location and characteristics of a tropical rainforest
- close to the equator, widespread across Asia, Africa and south America
- concentrated energy from the sun heats the moist air
- which rises to produce rainfall
- along with high temps means ideal conditions for plant growth
- rainforests cover 6% of the earths land surface
- over 50% of the worlds plants and animals live in this ecosystem
what is the location and characteristics of a tropical grassland (savanna)
- between 15-30 deg north and south of the equator
- distinct wet and dry seasons
- fires are common in the dry seasons usually ignited by lightening strikes
- herds graze these areas, along with predators such as lions
