P1 SB The Living World 🌿 Flashcards
What are ecosystems?
Natural systems made up of plants, animals and the environment. Complex interrelationships between living + non-living components
Biotic = ?
Living factors eg plants / animals
Abiotic = ?
Non-living factors eg climate / soil
Large scale / global ecosystems are defined by what?
The dominating vegetation
KEY EXAMPLE: Avington Park lake. Where is it?
A country estate near Winchester, Hampshire
Avington Park lake is of ______ and _____ importance
Historical
Ecological
What was the issue at Avington Park lake?
Lack of maintenance = accumulation of silt + vegetation growth
What was a positive of what had happened at Avington Park lake?
It created excellent habitats for birds
What was a negative of what had happened at Avington Park lake?
The view of the lake from the house had been lost
When was the restoration carried out at Avington Park lake?
2014
What were the outcomes of the Avington Park lake restoration?
The view was restored, and new habitats were created to attract birds and water fowl
What is a producer?
An organism that converts energy from their environment into sugar
Eg plants
What is a primary consumer?
Something that gets its energy from producers
Eg herbivores
What is a secondary consumer?
Something that gets its energy by eating a primary consumer
Eg a carnivore
What do decomposers do?
Return nutrients to the soil
Eg bacteria / fungi
_____ one component of an ecosystem ____ all other ____
Changing
Impacts
Components
Example of changing a component:
If perch were added to a pond, they would eat more of the…
Smaller fish and animals such as frogs
The Mediterranean biome is found where?
40-45 degrees N of equator
Some other locations with similar climate, eg California, South Africa, western Australia
What are summer and winter like in the Mediterranean climate?
Hot, dry summers and mild winters
What kinds of plants can be found in Mediterranean climate?
Olive + fruit trees
Why is the polar climate so cold?
Cold air sinks at the north and south poles —> low temps and dry conditions
Where is temperate grassland found?
30-40 degrees N + S of equator
Eg prairies in N America, steppes in E Europe
Temperate grasslands are mainly used for what?
Grazing animals
Tropical rainforest is found…
Near the equator