Paper 1 - The Living World

Question 1

What is an ecosystem?

Answer 1

It’s a unit that includes all the biotic (living) parts (plants and animals) and the abiotic (non-living) parts (soil and climate…) in a area.

Question 2

Name the organisms in an ecosystem

Answer 2

1. Producers
2. Consumers
3. Decomposers

Question 3

What is a producer?

Answer 3

It’s an organism that uses sunlight energy to produce food.

Question 4

What is a consumer?

Answer 4

It’s a organism that gets its energy by eating other organisms

It eats producers and other consumer.

Question 5

What is a decomposer?

Answer 5

It’s a organism that’s gets it energy by breaking down dead material

E.g - dead producers, dead consumers or fallen leaves. Bacteria and fungi are decomposers.

Question 6

What happens when dead material is decomposed?

Answer 6

1. Nutrients are released into the soil.
2. The nutrients are then taken up from the soil by plants.
3. The plants may be eaten by consumers.
4. When the plants or consumers die the nutrients are returned to the soil.

This is known as the nutrients cycle.

Question 7

What’s a food chain and food web?

Answer 7

1. It shows what eats what.

2. It shows lots of food chains and how they overlap.

Question 8

Explain the climate in a tropical rainforest.

Answer 8

1. It’s the same all year round so there are no definite seasons.
2. It’s hot (20-28), this is because it’s near the equator.
3. rainfall is high (around 2000mm per year). It rain almost everyday, usually in the afternoon.

Question 9

Explain the soil in the rainforest.

Answer 9

1. It’s not very fertile as heavy rain washes nutrients away.
2. There are nutrients at the surface due to decayed leaf fall. This layer is very thin as decay is fast in the warm moist conditions.

Question 10

Explain the plants in a topical rainforest?

Answer 10

Most trees are evergreen (they don’t their leaves in a particular season) to take advantage of the continual growing season. Many trees are really tall and the vegetation cover it dense - very little light reaches the forest floor.
There are lots of epiphytes (plants that grow on other living plants and take nutrients and moisture from the air) e.g - orchids and ferns.

Question 11

Explain the animals in a rainforest

Answer 11

They’re believed to contain more animal species than any other ecosystem. (Gorillas, jaguars, anacondas, tree frogs and sloths).
There are also loads of species of insects and birds. Many animals are brightly coloured and make a lot of noise.

Question 12

Explain the people in a rainforest

Answer 12

They’re home to many people, who adapted to life there over many generations. They make a living by hunting and fishing gathering nuts and berries and growing vegetables in small garden plots.

Question 13

How are plants adapted to rainforests?

Answer 13

1. Tall trees competing for sunlight have big roots called buttress roots to support their trunks.
2. Plants have thick, waxy leaves with pointed tips called drip-tips to channel the water so it runs off and doesn’t damage the leaf. Also there’s no standing water for fungi or bacteria.
3. Many trees have smooth, thin bark as there is no need to protect the trunk from cold temperatures. It also allows water to run of easily.
4. Climbing plants, such as lianas, use the tree trunks to climb up and get the most amount sunlight.
5. Plants drop their leaves gradually throughout the year, meaning they can go on growing all year round.

Question 14

How are animals adapted to rainforests?

Answer 14

1. They have strong limbs so they can climb and leap (howler monkeys).
2. Some animals are camouflaged so they can hide from predators (leaf- tailed gecko)
3. Some can swim so they can get across rivers (jaguars).
4. Some are adapted to the low light levels on the forest floor, where as others have a sharp sense of smell and hearing, so they can detect predators without seeing them.
5. Many are nocturnal (sloths). They sleep through the day and feed a night when it’s cooler. This helps them save energy.

Question 15

Name the reasons why tropical rainforests are chopped down

Answer 15

1. Population pressure - as the population in the area increases, trees are cleared to make land for new settlements.
2. Commercial logging - trees are felled to make money. Road building for logging also requires more tree clearance.
3. Commercial farming - forest is cleared to make space for cattle grazing, or for huge palm oil or soya plantations.
4. Subsistence farming - forest is cleared so farmers can grow food fro themselves and their families.
5. Mineral extraction - minerals (e.g - gold and iron ore) are mined and sold to make money.

Question 16

Name the environmental impacts of deforestation

Answer 16

1. With no trees to hold the soil together, heavy rain washes away the soil (soil erosion). This can lead to landslides and flooding.
2. Without a tree canopy to intercept rainfall and tree roots to absorb it, more water reaches the soil. This reduces soil fertility as nutrients in the soil are washed away, out of reach of plants.
3. Trees remove CO2 from the atmosphere. Also, burning vegetation to clear forest produces CO2. So deforestation means more CO2 in the atmosphere, which adds to the greenhouse effect. Deforestation is responsible for at least 15% of global CO2 emissions each year - more than all the worlds annual transport emissions combined.

Question 17

Name the economic impacts of deforestation

Answer 17

1. Logging, farming and mining create jobs.
2. Lot of money is made from selling timber, mining and commercial farming.
3. In the long term, deforestation can destroy the resources that countries depend on (e.g - timber). It also reduces the attractiveness of the area to tourists.
4. The livelihoods of some local people are destroyed - deforestation can cause the loss of the animals and plants that the rely on to make a living.

Question 18

Explain the rate of deforestation

Answer 18

It’s very high - roughly 130, 000 km2 per year.

Globally the rate seems t be slowing down but in few places it’s increasing (Borneo and Nigeria).

Overall, deforestation in Brazil and Indonesia accounted for almost half of the global total between 2001 and 2014, though Brazil has reduced its deforestation rate since 1990.

Question 19

What is the main threat to the rainforests?

Answer 19

Deforestation

Question 20

Why do we need to protect rainforests?

Answer 20

1. To preserve the high biodiversity, which is helpful for both animals and people.
2. Many products (coffee, rubber, chocolate, medicines) are sourced from there, so if species become extinct , it will be hard to discover new medicines and create the one we already have.
3. It may help reduce the greenhouse effect.

Question 21

What is meant by tropical rainforest being sustainably managed?

Answer 21

They can e sustainably managed in a way that allows people today to get the things they need, without stopping people in the future get what they need.

Question 22

Name the ways rainforests can be sustainably managed.

Answer 22

1. Selective logging
2. Replanting
3. Ecotourism
4. International hardwood agreements
5. Education
6. Conservation

Question 23

What is meant by selective logging?

Answer 23

• Only some trees (older or inferior ones) are felled.
• This is less damaging to the forest as only a few trees are taken from each area so the forest still have the support to regenerate, and be used in the future.
• The least damaging forms are horse logging and helicopter logging, instead of huge trucks.

Question 24

What is meant by replanting?

Answer 24

• This is when new trees are planted to replace the ones that are cut down.
• This means there will be trees for people to use in the future.
• In some countries there are laws in place so companies have to replant trees.

Question 25

What is meant be ecotourism?

Answer 25

• It’s tourism that minimises damage to the environment and benefits the local people.
• Only a small number of visitors are allowed into an area at a time. Making sure waste is disposed of properly.
• It provides an income for the local people, which also means they don’t have to do logging.

Question 26

What is meant by international hardwood agreements?

Answer 26

• Hardwood is a general term for wood from certain trees. Usually dense and used for furniture.
• The high demand for this wood means the trees are becoming rarer.
• The agreements are in place to try and stop illegal logging

Question 27

What is meant by education of rainforests?

Answer 27

• Education of the impacts of deforestation can encourage people to buy products that are certified from sustainably managed sources.
• Telling local people alternative ways to make money.

Question 28

What is meant by conservation?

Answer 28

• Many countries have set up national parks and nature reserves within rainforests.
  In these areas damaging activities are restricted, however a lack of funds means its difficult to police.

Question 29

What are the stages of the nutrients cycle?

Answer 29

1. Decaying vegetation decomposes rapidly releasing nutrients.
2. Nutrients enters the soil surface but don’t get chance to sink in.
3. Shallow roots quickly take up the nutrients.
4. The nutrients helps the trees grow rapidly.
5. The trees shed their leaves all year.

Question 30

Describe the climate in polar regions?

Answer 30

1. Temperatures never normally go above 10, and winters are normally below -40 and can get to -90.
2. Rainfall and snowfall is low - no more than 100mm a year.

Question 31

Describe the climate in tundra regions?

Answer 31

1. The temperature in the warmest month get to around 10 and winters can reach -50.
2. Rainfall and snowfall is low - 380 mom a year or less (mainly summer).

Question 32

Describe the soil in polar regions?

Answer 32

1. Covered by ice sheets so no soil is exposed.

Question 33

Describe the soil in tundra regions?

Answer 33

1. It’s thin, acidic and not very fertile.
2. There is normally a layer of permanently frozen ground called permafrost beneath the thin soil.
   It contains large amounts of trapped greenhouse gas.

Question 34

Describe the plants in polar regions?

Answer 34

1. There are few plants - some lichens and mosses on rocks, and maybe a few grasses.

Question 35

Describe the plants in tundra regions?

Answer 35

It includes shrubs, sedges, reindeer mosses, liverworts, grasses and several species of lichen.

Question 36

Describe the animals in tundra regions

Answer 36

1. Lemmings, artic hares, wolves and reindeer.

Question 37

Describe the animals in polar regions

Answer 37

1. Polar bears, penguins and marine mammals, such as whales, seals an walrus.

Question 38

Describe the people in tundra regions

Answer 38

1. They’re hoe to many people, including indigenous peoples, and oil and gas workers in larger towns.

Question 39

Describe the people in polar regions

Answer 39

1. Almost uninhabited apart from a few scientists for short periods of time.

Question 40

How have plants adapted to the cold environment?

Answer 40

1. Most plants become dormant to survive the cold, dark winters.
2. They’re small and round shape to provide protection from the wind.
3. Most have shallow roots because of the permafrost.
4. Leaves are generally small to limit the amount of moisture lost.
5. They have a adapted growing season of just 50-60 days.

Question 41

How have animals adapted to the cold environment?

Answer 41

1. They’re well insulated (fur, blubber) to reduce the amount of energy they have to use to keep warm.
2. Some animals hibernate (ground squirrels) to conserve energy and survive the winter.
3. Ones that don’t hibernate can survive on limited food.
4. Many birds migrate to warmer places during the winter.
5. Many animals have white coats to camouflage them.

Question 42

Why are wilderness areas worth protecting?

Answer 42

1. They provide habitats for plants and animals.
2. Scientists can study plants and animals in their natural habitats.
3. They’re the last remaining areas that haven’t been altered by human activity.

Question 43

Why do cold environments take a long time to recover?

Answer 43

Because they’re fragile.

1. Plant growth is very slow - if they’re damaged (vehicle tyres) they take a long time to to regrow.
2. Species are highly specialised so find it difficult to adapt to change, especially quickly.

Question 44

Name the strategies used to help balance conservation with economic development.

Answer 44

1. Use of technology
2. Conservation groups
3. International agreements
4. Role of governments

Question 45

What is meant by use of technology (cold)

Answer 45

1. Development can cause problems that can be solved by modern technology (heated buildings can melt permafrost).
2. Modern construction methods can help minimise environmental impacts (elevating pipelines).

Question 46

What is meant by conservation groups (cold)

Answer 46

1. They pressure governments to protect cold environments that are at risk or have been damaged.
2. Greenpeace encourage sustainable management.

Question 47

What is meant by international agreements (cold)

Answer 47

1. The 1959 Antarctic treaty, signed by 12 nations limits visitors landing at one site to 100 at a time, prohibits nuclear activities and ensures peaceful non-military activities.

Question 48

What is meant by role of government (cold)

Answer 48

1. They can make laws to protect the cold environments.