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GCSE Geography [AQA] > PAPER 1 - The Living World > Flashcards

PAPER 1 - The Living World Flashcards

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1
Q

What is an ecosystem?

A

Biotic organisms interacting with abiotic components in a physical environment.

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2
Q

What is a decomposer?

A

An organism that breaks down dead material into nutrients for the soil.
(E.g. fungi & bacteria)

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3
Q

What is biomass?

A

The total amount of living things

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4
Q

What is eutrophication?

A

Excessive richness of nutrients in a body of water, due to run-off from the land, which causes a dense growth of plant life.

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5
Q

Why is the soil in tropical rainforests thin, poor, and not very fertile?

A

When the litter is decomposed, the nutrients don’t stay in the soil for long as they are recycled rapidly by the biomass.

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6
Q

How is energy lost at each trophic level?

A

Energy is left in the bones or feathers which cannot be eaten by other consumers.

Energy is also lost through…
. Movement
. Respiration
. Excretion

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7
Q

How many lakes and pond are there in Epping forest? What does this mean?

A

Over 100 lakes and ponds

This means that there are various plants and animals so there is lots of biodiversity

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8
Q

How many species of fungi are there in Epping forest? Why?

A

700 species of fungi

Due to the large amount of dead wood from trees

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9
Q

What are some of the types of trees in Epping forest?

A

Oak, ash, elm, beech, etc.

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10
Q

Where is Epping Forest located?

A

South England
To the north east of London

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11
Q

The M25 runs through Epping Forest, what does this mean?

A

Disruption to wildlife
Air and noise pollution

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12
Q

What are deciduous trees?

A

Trees that loose their leaves.

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13
Q

What are the human and physical causes that change ecosystems?

A

Deforestation

Agriculture:
. Removal of hedgerows
. Fertilisers - which can lead to eutrophication
. Draining ponds

Extreme weather

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14
Q

What is the climate like in the Amazon rainforest?

A

Average temperature: 27°C
Average rainfall: 2500mm

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15
Q

What are the 4 layers in tropical rainforests

A

Shrub layer / Forest floor
Under canopy
Canopy
Emergent layer

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16
Q

In the Amazon Rainforest, how many species of ________ are there?

  • birds
  • plants
  • insects
A

1000 species of birds
60,000 species of plants
10 million species of insects

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17
Q

How many plants and animals are there in The Amazon Rainforest? (%)

A

50% of all plants & animals live in the Amazon rainforest

Home to 20% of species on earth

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18
Q

How big is the Amazon Rainforest?
And where is it located?

A

2.1 million square miles

Southern hemisphere, just below the equator
In the north of South America
Brazil, Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru

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19
Q

What are the human causes of deforestation

A

Commercial farming
Subsistence farming
Cattle ranching (80%)

Settlement & population growth
Road building
Logging

Mineral extraction
Energy development

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20
Q

Explain how soil erosion is an impact of deforestation. Why is this dangerous to the environment?

A

The roots of plants/trees bind soil together. So, cutting down trees leads to soil erosion.

. Soil can be destroyed in hours but takes thousands of years to from.
. 7% of The Amazon Rainforest has been lost in the last 50 years.

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21
Q

Explain how loss of biodiversity is an impact of deforestation

A

Deforestation destroys food webs and individual species become endangered and extinct.

Around 140 organisms are lost everyday due to deforestation.

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22
Q

Explain how climate change is an impact of deforestation

A

Trees absorb carbon dioxide and emit oxygen
Deforestation increases the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

Trees give off moisture through transpiration
Deforestation reduces the moisture in the air resulting in a drier climate because there are less clouds due to evaporation & condensation

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23
Q

Explain how economic and social development is an impact of deforestation

A

. Development of land for mineral extraction, agriculture, and energy development will increase jobs directly (construction) and indirectly (support industries).

. Companies will pay taxes to government, which will be used to improve education, health care, infrastructure, etc.

. Palm oil and rubber provide new material for industries.

Economic development leads to increased taxes which will lead to social development

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24
Q

What percentage of the world’s cancer fighting drugs come from The Amazon Rainforest?

A

25% of all cancer fighting drugs come from The Amazon

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25
Q

How is The Amazon Rainforest valuable to people?

A

Indigenous tribes living there
Creates jobs

Wood resources
25% of all cancer fighting drugs come from The Amazon

20% of the world’s oxygen
20% of all fresh water

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26
Q

How is The Amazon Rainforest valuable to the environment?

A

Carbon store - fight climate change
Air purification
Protects against soil erosion
Habitat to many plants and animals

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27
Q

Explain how selective logging is a strategy to manage rainforests sustainably

A

Logging is only cutting down trees when they are fully grown, in order to stop soil erosion.

Not popular as it is time consuming and expensive.

28
Q

Explain how ecotourism is a strategy to manage rainforests sustainably

A

Ecotourism is tourism that involves local communities in its development, in order to reduce negative impact on the environment. It is designed to be low impact and small scale.

. Gives local people jobs
. Fragile, unspoilt areas are protected
. Activities in natural areas
. Educational

29
Q

Explain how education & conservation is a strategy to manage rainforests sustainably

A

The (world wildlife fund) WWF supports projects to conserve protected areas (e.g. national parks)

which can be used for education, scientific research, and sustainable tourism.

30
Q

Explain how international agreements are a strategy to manage rainforests sustainably

A

Debt Reduction-
Most countries with tropical rainforests are NEEs or LICs who are in large debts. So HICs make agreements to reduce debt if they protect the rainforests. (E.g. USA reduced €13.5 million of Brazil’s debt in 2010)

31
Q

How are spider monkeys adapted to live in tropical rainforests?

A

Spider monkey:
Long tails & arms for faster swinging on trees, helps escape from predators quicker

32
Q

How are toucans adapted to live in tropical rainforests?

A

Toucan:
Strong beaks to open nuts (guaranteed food)

33
Q

How are poison fart frogs adapted to live in tropical rainforests?

A

Poison dart frog:
Brightly coloured means they are poisonous and this scares off predators

34
Q

How are red eyed tree frogs adapted to live in tropical rainforests?

A

Red eyed tree frog:
Small so they can escape faster
Colour changing for camouflage
Red eyes & brightly coloured body to confuse prey (called startle colouration) and predators which delays attack

35
Q

How are epiphytes adapted to live in tropical rainforests?

A

Epiphytes:
Grow on other plants
High up in the canopy, where there is more sunlight (photosynthesis)

36
Q

How are drip tip leaves adapted to live in tropical rainforests?

A

Drip tip leaves:
There is heavy rainfall so they are made to drip the water off quickly
Leaves are downward pointing and waxy

37
Q

How are buttress roots adapted to live in tropical rainforests?

A

Buttress roots:
Large rigid roots give tall trees stability
Soil is thin and poor so the roots are shallow

38
Q

How are lianas adapted to live in tropical rainforests?

A

Lianas (vines):
Roots in the soil but climb high up to the canopy
Competition for sunlight (photosynthesis)

39
Q

What is the climate like in the Thar desert?

A

Average temperature: 40°C
Average rainfall: 250mm

40
Q

Where are the majority of hot deserts located?

A

Hot desserts are located in a band along the north and south of the equator, near the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.

41
Q

What is the soil in hot deserts like?

A

Thin, sandy, rocky and generally grey in colour.

They are very dry; when it rains they soak up the water very quickly. Due to lack of rainfall, the surface of soil appears crusty.

Heat caused water to be drawn up to the surface by evaporation. As the water evaporates, salts are left behind on the surface of the soil.

42
Q

How are camels adapted to live in hot deserts?

A
  • Hump that stores fat (energy reserve)
  • Concentrated urine to retain as much water as possible
  • Two rows of lashes protecting against sand and heat
  • Nostrils close to keep out sand
  • Small ears that close to keep out sand
  • Thick leathery pads on knees and feet to protect against hot sand (when resting)
  • Long & strong legs to carry their heavy body
  • Large, wide, & flat so they don’t sink into sand
  • Thick fur and under wool for warmth at night and insulation against sun during day
43
Q

How are meerkats adapted to live in hot deserts?

A
  • Thin fur due to heat
  • Live in burrows to protect from heat
  • Dark patches around eyes to prevent glaring from the sun
  • Clear protective membrane on eyes as a shield from sand
  • Have a wider view to see predators and prey
44
Q

How are kangaroo rats adapted to live in hot deserts?

A
  • Can jump a feet to escape predators
  • Camouflage well
  • Diet primarily consists of seeds
  • Can convert fat from seeds into water (almost no need for water)
45
Q

How are scorpions adapted to live in hot deserts?

A
  • Small & fast to escape from predators and catch prey
  • Hid rubber rocks or burrow into sand during day to protect against heat
  • nocturnal
  • Feet can detect movement underground
  • Hair can also detect movement
46
Q

How are cacti adapted to live in hot deserts?

A
  • Widely spread roots to collect water
  • swollen stem that stores water called succulent
  • Thick waxy coating on stem to reduce water loss
  • Reduced leaf size to reduce water loss
  • Leaves developed into spikes to give shade and protection from predators
  • Spikes can water from moisture in air
  • Seeds can stay dormant for years but germinate quickly when rains
47
Q

How are date palms adapted to live in hot deserts?

A
  • Up to 20 meters tall
  • Widely spread roots to collect water
  • Covered in tough spines for protection from animals
  • leaves grow fast and talk so animals can’t eat them
  • Dates are at the top so animals can’t reach them
48
Q

How are aloe vera adapted to live in hot deserts?

A
  • Have spikes to prevent loss of water
  • Sticky water inside waxy leaves
49
Q

Where is the Thar desert located?

A

It is in the northern hemisphere on the continent of Asia. It is in north western India near its border with Pakistan.

50
Q

How is tourism an opportunity in the Thar desert?

A
  • also called the golden city
  • tens of thousands of visitors daily

Locals provide food, accommodation, and act as tour guides

  • historical fort in Jaisalmar
  • desert safaris on camel
  • dune bashing
  • annual desert festival in the winter
51
Q

How is energy development an opportunity in the Thar desert?

A

Bhadala solar plot:
. more than 5000 hectares
. millions of solar panels

37 wind turbines:
. avoids around 50,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually

Large oil field discovered in Barmer District

52
Q

How is mineral extraction an opportunity in the Thar desert?

A

marble
. used in the construction industry

limestone
. used in India’s steel industry
(2nd largest globally)

feldspar
. used in ceramics
. important in Indian culture

phosphorite
. used in fertilisers
. agriculture is prevalent in India

53
Q

How is agriculture an opportunity in the Thar desert?

A
  • mostly subsistence farming
  • commercial farming has become possible due to irrigation
  • agriculture is undependable in the area - after the rainy season at least 33% crops fail
  • Indira Ghandi canal revolutionised how crops thrive in this area
54
Q

How is extreme temperature a challenge in the Thar desert?

A
  • temperatures sometimes exceed 50°C in the summer
  • working (farming) is difficult
  • high rates of evaporation lead to water shortages
  • some plants & animals have adapted but some (cattle) need shade for protection
55
Q

How is accessibility a challenge in the Thar desert?

A
  • vast barren areas
  • very limited road network
  • high temp causes tarmac to melt
  • strong winds can blow sand onto roads
  • many places only accessible by camel
  • public transport is overcrowded and unreliable
56
Q

How are water shortages a challenge in the Thar desert?

A
  • population and farming industry has grown, so water demand has increased
  • low annual rainfall of 250mm
  • and high temp & strong winds which increase evaporation
57
Q

What are the sources of water in the Thar desert?

A
  • natural ponds (tobas) and man made ponds are unsanitary
  • few intermittent (poor quality) rivers and streams which only flow after rainfall
  • water can be obtained from underground sources (aquifers) using wells but it is salty and poor quality
58
Q

What is irrigation?

A

Irrigation is the artificial application of water to the soil through various systems of tubes, pumps, and sprays

59
Q

How much land in the Thar desert is under irrigation?

A

Over 3500 km^2 land is under irrigation

The Indira Gandhi canal, constructed in 1958, revolutionised farming.
It also provides drinking water.

60
Q

What is desertification?

A

When land is gradually turned u to desert. Usually on the edges of an existing desert.

UN definition: land degradation in typically dry areas

61
Q

What are the causes of desertification?

A

Increased temp
Decreased rainfall
Drought
Climate change
Overgrazing
Urbanisation

62
Q

How does population growth cause desertification?

  • deforestation for firewood
  • cattle populations to increase
  • overcultivation
A

Population growth causes increased deforestation for firewood. Deforestation means there are no tree roots to hold the soil together. Additionally the leaves of trees no longer protect soil from weathering. This results in soil erosion and desertification.

Population growth also causes cattle populations to increase, which means the grassland gets overgrazed and the roots get eaten as well as grass. The decrease in vegetation results in less protection for the soil. This causes soil erosion and desertification.

63
Q

Cause of desertification

A
64
Q

How does water & soil management mitigate desertification?

A
65
Q

How does planting trees mitigate desertification?

A
66
Q

How do magic stones mitigate desertification?

A

GCSE Geography [AQA] (8 decks)

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