Paper 1 Section B - The Living World

Question 1

Alpine regions

Answer 1

Cold, mountainous regions with snowy conditions and warmer summers.

Question 2

Biodiversity

Answer 2

A large variety of animal and plant life living in the same ecosystem.

Question 3

Climate

Answer 3

The long term weather conditions of an area.

Question 4

Environmental fragility

Answer 4

The concept of an ecosystem being so sensitive to change that even
small changes within the environment can have large and potentially destructive impacts.

Question 5

Interdependence

Answer 5

The concept of multiple things depending on each other for survival.

Question 6

Permafrost

Answer 6

Ground that is permanently frozen for at least two consecutive years.

Question 7

Polar regions

Answer 7

Areas surrounding the poles (90°N and 90°S).

Question 8

Soil

Answer 8

The upper layer of the Earth which is composed of organic matter and other materials.

Question 9

Tundra regions

Answer 9

Areas at high latitudes, characterised by permafrost, low temperatures and short
growing seasons.

Question 10

Wilderness

Answer 10

An area that is untouched by humans, and therefore remains unaffected by human
activity.

Question 11

Abiotic components

Answer 11

Non-living environmental factors that have influence over the ecosystem
(e.g. climate, light exposure, soil type).

Question 12

Biome

Answer 12

Also known as a global-scale ecosystem; a large, distinct region of the Earth with similar
climate, soil, plants and animals.

Question 13

Biotic components

Answer 13

Living organisms that interact with the environment and other organisms
within an ecosystem.

Question 14

Coniferous forest biome

Answer 14

A biome located at high latitudes, characterised by conifer trees and a
cold climate.

Question 15

Consumers

Answer 15

Organisms that receive energy from consuming (i.e. eating) living organisms.

Question 16

Decomposers

Answer 16

Organisms that break down organic material and release the nutrients back into
the ecosystem.

Question 17

Desert biome

Answer 17

A biome located around 30° north and south of the equator, characterised by
extremely low precipitation levels and extreme daily temperature fluctuation.

Question 18

Ecosystem

Answer 18

A natural system in which a community of plants and animals interact with each other
and their physical environment.

Question 19

Eutrophication

Answer 19

The growth of algae in a body of water due to excess nutrients, leading to the
depletion of oxygen in an aquatic ecosystem.

Question 20

Food chain

Answer 20

A linear relationship showing the biotic interactions within an ecosystem, from a
producer to a final consumer.

Question 21

Food web

Answer 21

A representation of the interactions between multiple producers and consumers within
a specific ecosystem, shown through a series of different food webs.

Question 22

Mediterranean biome

Answer 22

A biome located 40-45° north of the equator (and in isolated spots south
of the equator), characterised by mild, moist winters and hot, dry summers.

Question 23

Nutrient cycling

Answer 23

The transfer of nutrients through an ecosystem, from the decay of organic
material into the production and energy of living organisms.

Question 24

Producers

Answer 24

Organisms that convert energy from the environment (mainly sunlight) into sugars
(glucose).

Question 25

Savanna biome

Answer 25

A biome located around 15-30° north and south of the equator, characterised by high temperatures, very dry summers and very wet winters.

Question 26

Temperate deciduous forest biome

Answer 26

A biome located around 40-50° north and south of the equator, characterised by deciduous trees (trees that shed their leaves) and moderate precipitation.

Question 27

Temperate grassland biome

Answer 27

A biome located in non-coastal areas around 30-40° north and south of the equator, characterised by low precipitation and grasses as the major vegetation.

Question 28

Tropical rainforest biome

Answer 28

A biome located near the equator, characterised by very high precipitation and sustained warm temperatures.

Question 29

Tundra biome

Answer 29

A biome located in the far northern hemisphere, characterised by very cold conditions and permanently frozen soils.

Question 30

Biodiversity

Answer 30

A large variety of animal and plant life living in the same ecosystem.

Question 31

Buttress roots

Answer 31

Large, thick tree roots that grow above the ground in tropical rainforests.

Question 32

Camouflage

Answer 32

An animal adaptation where animals purposefully look like their surroundings to hide from predators.

Question 33

Canopy

Answer 33

The layer of a tropical rainforest where the tops of trees touch, forming a dense area of vegetation.

Question 34

Carbon sink

Answer 34

Something that absorbs more carbon dioxide than it emits, causing a net loss of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Question 35

Cattle ranching

Answer 35

The rearing of cows on large areas of land, usually to produce meat to sell for a profit.

Question 36

Clear felling

Answer 36

A form of logging where all trees in an area are cut down.

Question 37

Commercial farming

Answer 37

Agriculture that is intended to create surplus produce to sell for a profit.

Question 38

Debt-for-nature swaps

Answer 38

Agreements where one country reduces the amount of debt owed by another country in return for the owing country putting efforts into environmental conservation.

Question 39

Decomposers

Answer 39

Organisms that break down organic material and release the nutrients back into the ecosystem.

Question 40

Drip-tip

Answer 40

An adaptation of a leaf where the end of the leaf is tapered, allowing rainwater to drip off.

Question 41

Ecotourism

Answer 41

Tourism that aims to have reduced environmental impact and supports conservation efforts, making it sustainable.

Question 42

Epiphytes

Answer 42

Plants that live on the surface of other plants, receiving nutrients from these plants.

Question 43

Hydroelectric power

Answer 43

Energy harnessed from the movement of water.

Question 44

Interdependence

Answer 44

The concept of multiple things depending on each other for survival.

Question 45

Latosol

Answer 45

An iron-rich, infertile soil found in tropical rainforests.

Question 46

Leaching

Answer 46

A process in soils where minerals are washed away by water (usually rainfall).

Question 47

Lianas

Answer 47

Woody vines found in tropical rainforests; their roots grow on the forest floor, but the vines stretch high into the canopy.

Question 48

Logging

Answer 48

The process of cutting down trees for wood.

Question 49

Nutrient Cycling

Answer 49

The movement of nutrients between organic and inorganic components of an ecosystem.

Question 50

Plantations

Answer 50

Farms where crops are grown in large amounts with the intention to sell for a profit.

Question 51

Selective logging

Answer 51

A form of logging where only certain trees are cut down to reduce the environmental effects of logging.

Question 52

Subsistence farming

Answer 52

Agriculture that is intended to produce only enough food for the farmer and their family to eat.

Question 53

Transmigration

Answer 53

A government scheme that aims to move people from overpopulated urban areas to underpopulated rural areas.

Question 54

Tropical rainforest

Answer 54

A warm, wet, biodiverse ecosystem located within the Tropics.

Question 55

Understory

Answer 55

The layer of a tropical rainforest that lies beneath the canopy but above the forest floor.