Paper 3 Flashcards
Biome def
A large scale global ecosystem with distinctive vegetation
Ecosystem def
All the living and non-living components in an area and their interactions (biotic and abiotic conditions)
Biotic components e.g.
Flora, fauna, bacteria
Abiotic factors e.g.
Climate (temperature and rainfall - determine what species survive), soil (type - provides nutrients to support different plants), water (amount available - determines what plants and animals can be supported)
Natural causes of changes to ecosystems
Drought, flood, fire, disease
Changes to ecosystems by humans
Fish stocking, afforestation/deforestation, altering drainage, changing pH of water, altering nutrients levels of water (fertilisers leaching results in eutrophication)
What is the distribution of biomes determined by?
Climate
What is climate determined by?
Latitude, air pressure and wind
Order of biomes
Tundra, taiga, temperate deciduous Forest, temperate grassland, mediterranean, desert, tropical rainforest, tropical grassland
Tundra
North and south poles. Very few plants and animals. Very cold. Icy caps
Taiga
Coniferous forest. Russia and Canada. Evergreen trees. Cool temperate climate
Temperate deciduous forest
Europe and USA. Trees lose leaves
Biosphere
The part of the earths surface and atmosphere that is occupied by living organisms
Boserup
Believed that, as the population increased, so would cultivation methods (growing food) so that the population could increase safely. Positive views
Malthus
Believed that, as population increased, food supply would struggle to keep up and there would be death, war and famine as a result to reduce the population to a safe number. Negative views
