Paper 3: People And The Biosphere - Topic 7 Flashcards
What are examples of Biotic and Abiotic things that would be in an ecosystem of a tree?
Biotic Things (Living):
- Trees
- Plants
- Insects
- Animals
- Dead Plants/Insects/Animals
- Bacteria/Fungi/Worms
Abiotic Things (Non-Living):
- Temperature
- Carbon Dioxide
- Sunlight
- Water
- Soil
What is the Biosphere
The Biosphere includes all the Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Lithiosphere, and the Ecosphere.
The biosphere is the natural systems that everyone, everyday, relies on (without thinking) in their lives – for food, water, fuel, resources and our basic standard of living we have become accustomed too. But it is under threat.
What is an Ecosystem
An ecosystem is the study of the living (biotic) and non living (abiotic) aspects of an environment such as a woodland where the living things interact between each other and also with the non living environment they are found within.
What is a Biome
A biome is a large scale ecosystem found across the globe; each biome has its own group of plants and animals and climate which makes it unique and distinctive.
What is the Climate and Vegetation (Plants, Animals, Soil) in the Tundra
Climate:
- Temperatures are low and around 5-10°C dueing summer and lower than -30°C in the winter.
- Prefipitation is also very low - less than 250mm per year. Most of this falls as snow.
- Tundra is found at high latitudes, so it gets near-continuous daylight in the summer (with some cloud cover), and little to no daylight in the winter.
Vegetation:
The climate affects the plants, animals, and soil in tundra regions:
-Plants: The cold climate and lack of light in winter make it hard for plants to grow, and there are hardly any trees. Vegetation includes mosses, grasses, and low shrubs.
-Animals: the cold climate and lack of vegetation means that relatively few animal species live in th tundra. Those that do, include Arctic hares, Arctic foxes, mosquitoes, and lots of birds (some of which migrate south at winter)
-Soil: the sparse vegetation produces little leaf litter, and col, dry climate means that organic matter decomposes slowly, so soil is thin and nutrient poor. There is a layer of permafrost below the soil surface, which an stop water from draining away.
What is the Climate and Vegetation (Plants, Animals, Soil) in the Boreal Forest
Climate:
- Boreal forests have short summers and long winters. In winter, average temperatures are below 20°C and can drop much lower. In summer, average temperatures are about 10°C.
- The precipiation is low and usually less than 500m per year (a lot of it is snow)
- They get lots of daylight in the summer months, but little to nothing in tne winter months.
Vegetation:
The climate affects the plants, animals, and soil in boreal forests:
-Plants: Most trees are evergreen, so they can grow whenever there is enough light. Coniferous trees such as pine and fir are common, as are low-growing mosses and lichen.
-Animals: There re relatively few animal species in boreal forests compared to other forests, because there is less food and animals will need to have more specialised adaptations to survive in the cold climate. Animals that do live there are black bears, wolves, elk, and eagles.
-Soil: The cool, dry climate means that needles from trees decompose slowly, so soils are quite thin, nutrient poor, and acidic.
What is the Climate and Vegetation (Plants, Animals, Soil) in the Temperate Forest
Climate:
- Temperate forests have four distinct seasons. The summers and the winters are cool.
- Rainfall is very high (up to 1500mm per year) and there’s rain all year round.
- Days are shorter in winter and longer in summer - the hours of sun vary throughout the year.
Vegetation:
The climate affects the plants, animals, and soil in the temperate forests:
-Plants: The mild, wet climate supports fewer plant species than tropical forests, but more than boreal forests. Forests are often made up of broad-leaved trees that drop their leaves in autumn (e.g oak), shrubs (e.g brambles) and undergrowth (e,g ferns)
-Animals: The mild climate and range of plants provides food and habitats for mammals (e.g foxes, squirrels), birds (e.g woodpeckers, cukoos), and insects (e.g beetles, moths).
-Soil: Plants lose their leaves in autumn, and the leaf litter decomposes quite quickly in the moist, mild climate. This means that soils are relatively thick and nutrient rich.
What is the Climate and Vegetation (Plants, Animals, Soil) in the Temperate Grasslands
Climate:
-Temperate grasslands have hit summers (up to 40°C) and cold winters (down to -40°). They recieve 250-500mm precipitation each year, mostly in the late spring and early summer. Because they’re further from the equator, the amount of light they recieve varies.
Vegetation:
Rainfall is too low to support many trees in tropical or temperate grasslands, which affect animals and soil:
-Temperate grasslands are dominated by grasses and small plants, and have very few trees. They are home to fewer animal species than tropical grasslands - mammals including bison and wild horses, and rodents such as mole rats. High temperatures in summer mean that decomposition is fast, so soil are relatively thick nutrient rich
What is the Climate and Vegetation (Plants, Animals, Soil) in the Desert
Climate:
- Rainfall is very low (less than 250mm per year). It might only rain once every two or three years.
- Hot desert temperatures range from very hot in the day (e.g 45°C) to cold at night (below 0°C).
- Hot deserts get more daylight during the summer than winter, because there is little cloud cover, they get lots of hours of sunshine everyday.
Vegetation:
The climate affects the plants, animals, and soil in deserts:
-Plants: Plant growth is sparse due to lack of rainfall. A few plants do grow, e.g cacti, thornbushes.
-Animals: Relatively few animals species live in hot deserts - those that do are adapated to cope with the harsh climate. Animals that live there include lizards, snakes, insects, and scorpions.
-Soil: The sparse vegetation means that there is little leaf litter, and the dry climate means that organic matter is slow to decompose. As a result, soils are mostly thin and nutrient poor.
What is the Climate and Vegetation (Plants, Animals, Soil) in the Tropical Grasslands
Climate:
-Tropical grasslands have quite a low rainfall (800-900mm per year) and distinct wet and dry seasons. Temperatures are highest (around 35°C) just before the wet season and lowest (about 15°C) just after it. They are found around the equator, so they get lots of sunshine all year round.
Vegetation:
Rainfall is too low to support many trees in tropical or temperate grasslands, which affect animals and soil:
-Tropical grasslands consist mostky of grass, scrub, and small plants, with a few scattered trees (e,g acacia). They are home to lots of insects, includimh grasshoppers, beetles, and termites. Larger animals include lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, and antelope. Grass dies back during the dry season, forming a thin, nutrient rich soil, but nutrients are washed out of the soil during the wet season.
What is the Climate and Vegetation (Plants, Animals, Soil) in the Tropical Forest
Climate:
- The climate is the same all year round, there are no definitive seasons
- It’s hot (the temperature is usually between 20-28°C and only varies by a few degrees over the year). This is because near the equator, the sun is overhead all year
- Because tropical forests are found near the equator, day length is the same (about 12 hours) all year. This means forests get plenty of sun. Rainfall is also very high (around 2000mm per year). It rains everyday, usually in the afternoon.
Vegetation:
The climate affects the plants, animals, and the soil in tropical forests:
-Plants: Most trees are evergreen to take advatage of the continual growing season. Plants grow quickly and are adapted to take in maximum light.
-Animals: The dense vegetation peovides lots of food and different habitats, so there are lots of different species of animal, for example gorillas, jaguars, anacondas, tree frogs, and sloths. There are lots and lots of species of insects and birds.
-Soil: Plants grow quickly and shed leaves all year round. These decompose wuickly, so there’s a constant supply of nutrients in the soil, and these nutrients are cycled quickly.
How is the Tropical Forest Biome distributed Globally?
Tropical rainforests can be found either side of the equator (low latitude) and are usually between 15°N and 15°S, meaning they are inside the tropics of cancer and capricorn. They are found in locations such as S. America, W. Africa and SE Asia. An anomaly appears to be Madagascar where the rainforest is approx. 20°S and central Africa where there is no rainforest but it is between 15°N and 15°S.
How is the Tundra distributed Globally?
The Tundra biome is only found in the highest of latitudes in the North. The biome mainly makes up Northern America (where is starts above 60°), Northern Europe and Northern Asia (where it starts around 70°N), and the Southern limit of this biome follows the Northern edge of the coniferous belt. An anomaly to this would be in Eastern Siberia, where the Tubnra is extended south to 60°N in Kamchatka.
How is the Boreal Forest distributed Globally?
The boreal forest accounts for 1/3 of the planet’s forests and is found just below the Tundra biome in the upper Northern latitudes of around 50°N and 60°N (just outside the Arctic Circle). It also lies above what is mostlh a temperate deciduous forest just below it. This biome streches around the top of North Amierica and Northern Eurasia, but there is a small anomaly beside the eastern coast in North America, where the Boreal Forest streches a little below the 50° in latitude, which is the most southernly point of this biome.
How is the Temperate Forest distributed Globally?
Temperate forests are generally found at the more mid-latitude regions (between the polar and tropical regions) which is between 20° and 50° in both hemispheres, as this is where there is enough precipitation to support the growth of trees, as well as the climatic conditions being right. They are mostly found in Eastern North America, Northeastern Asia, as well as Central and Western Europe. A very slight anomaly to this that a very small part of the temperate forest biome sneaks into the tropic of cancer in to the very east of Asia.
How is the Temperate Grassland distributed Globally?
Temperate Grasslands can be found in countries like Argentina, the USA, and South Africa, but this biome cam actually be found on every continent, apart from Antarctica (means it’s in Australia, Africa, South America, North America, Europe and Asia) and you can usually find this biome either bordering a Temperate Forest or a Desert. Another thing that you will notice is that temperate grasslands are usually located outside of the tropics, while the tropical grassland will be inside of the tropics; this will be the reason of this biome only really being prevalent between 25°-55° North and South of the Equator. An anomaly of the general trend is the fact that a temperate grassland biome can be found in part of Brazil on the outskirts if the Amazon
How is the Tropical Grassland distributed Globally?
Tropical Grasslands (also know as savannas) are found in the north and south, mainly of tropical rainforest biomes and inside of the tropics, so they do not go outside of around 23°C away from tne equator (North and South). The largest expanses of the tropical grasslands are in Africa, in countries like Kenya and Tansania. Another example can be that tropical grassland can be found in Brazil in South America too. An anomaly to the distribution of Tropical Grasslands is the Southern tip of Madagascar, which contains a small part of tropical grassland outside of the tropics, which is contrary to the general trend.
How is the Desert distributed Globally?
Deserts are mainly found between 15° and 35° North and South of the equator, and can be found in Africa, North and South America, as well as Asia and Australia. An example of one of the most well known deserts is in Northern Africa, which is the Sahara Desert, and another example can be Great Victoria Desert. An anomaly to the distribution of deserts is the desert biome on the very east of South America where the desert biome in in lower latitude than 15°South, and possibly gets as low as 5° South.
What Local Factors affect Biome Distribution: Altitude
Altitude:
Temperatures fall at a rate between 0.5°C and 1°C for every 100m gained in altitude when climbing up a hill or mountain fir example. Mountains are also more exposed to the wind, and precipitation is usually greater at highr altitudes. In addition, slopes become steeper and soils thinner. These factors mean that firest biomes will decreasw with alititude, becoming stunted, and then replaced by hardier species like grasses. On the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, very close to the equator in Tanxania in East Africa, the biomes change from tropical rainforest on the lower slopes, through srubland with scattered bushes to a tundra-like fozen ‘desert’ with little life other than mosses, lichens and a few tough grasses near the top.
What Local Factors affect Biome Distribution: Rock Type
Rock Type:
Some rocks are harder than others. For example, granite is a very hard rock but chalk is a very soft and wears easily.
Some rocks, such a sandstone or chalk, let water soak through them. They are called permeable rocks.
Other rocks, such as marble slate, do not let water soak through them. They are called impermeable rocks.
Limestone rocks produce alkaline soils and, due to their permeability, are relatively dry. These factors lead to beech tree replaceing oak as the dominant species in some areas, or even prevent tree growth altogether (such as on the limestone pavements of Yorkshire)
What Local Factors affect Biome Distribution: Soil Type
Soil Type:
Soils are a mixture of tiny particles of rock, dead plants and animals, air and water. Different plants grow better in different types of soil, which affects the biome and the produce humans can derive from it.
- Sandy soil is pale coloured with a lot of small air gals. Water drains through sandy soil easily so it usually feels quite dry. Plants must have some tolerance to drought. Sandy soils support rye, barley and some root crops
- Clay soil is an orange or blue-ish sticky soil with very few air gap. Water does not drain through it easily. When it rains, puddles stay on top of clay soil for a long time. It hold nutrients well and supports wheat, beans and grass.
What Local Factors affect Biome Distribution: Drainage
Drainage:
If drainage is poor, soil gets waterlogged and only plants adapted to wet conditions can grow there. Very wet areas may be home to aquatic species of plants and animals.
How do the Biotic and Abiotic components of Biomes interact?
The biotic components are the living parts of a biome - e.g plants (flora) and animals (fauna).
The abiotic components are the non-living parts - e.g soil, water, rock, atmosphere.
The different components interact with each other, for example:
1) Water avaliability affects the plants that can grow - e.g if the soil is very dry, only desert plants such as cacti will be able to survive. Plants take in water from the soil and release it into the atmosphere, providing moisture for further rainfall
2) The type and density vegetation that grows affects the type of soil that forms, and the type of soil that forms affects the type of vegetation that can grow - e.g dense vegetation cover and lots of leaf fall means that lots of nutrients will be added to the soil, which can support more plant growth.
3) Some organisms cause biological weathering. This is when rocks in the ground sre broken up into smaller pieces by living things, e.g tree roots breaking rocks up as they grow.
Compare the vegetation characteristics of boreal and temperate forests (3 marks)
The boreal forest supports a few types of trees evergreen trees, like fir and pine, while it’s cold conditions are only really habitatable for plants like moss and lichen, whereas in the temperate forest is home to more plants and trees than the boreal forests, as there are more hospitable conditions in this type of forest. Furthermore, there are also many more species of animalsthe temperate forests for the fact that there is more food and more proactive ecosystem found in the tenoerate forests, when comapring to the boreal forests as well. Lastly, the soil in the temperate forests are much more nutrient rich than the boreal forest, as leaves that fall of trees in autumn can decompose quicker than the needles and pines would in the boreal forest to make a much soil with a variety of nutrients, which get a variety of plants, and then a variety of animals.
What is the Biosphere and what different things does the Biosphere provide for us?
1) The biosphere includes all parts of the Earth that are occupied by living organisms - it’s the plants, animals, bacteria, and fungi as well as the soil and water they live in.
2) Living organisms provide loads of goods that people need to survive. These are used by indigenous people (people who are native to the area) and others who live locally. For example:
- Food
- Medicine
- Building Materials
- Fuel
What and how do people rely on the Biosphere for Food
Many indigenous people get of their food directly from plants an animals. Some forage for food, picking wild fruit, vegetables and nuts, hunting and trapping animals and catching fish. Others grows food for their own use, e.g growing cereals, fruit and vegetables and raising livestock.
