PEE 2.2 Ecosystems and Ecosystem Services

Question 1

– a large, relatively distinct region
with a similar climate, soil, plants, and
animals, regardless of where it occurs in
the world.

Answer 1

BIOME

Question 2

Are most likely to occur
in the absence of human disturbance or
other disruptions, according to average
annual temperature and precipitation.

Answer 2

Terrestrial biomes

Question 3

Biomes where annual precipitation is low and often scattered unevenly throughout the year.

Answer 3

Deserts

Question 4

Biomes that occur primarily in the interiors of continents, in areas that are too moist for deserts
to form and too dry for forests to grow.

Answer 4

Grasslands

Question 5

Lands that are dominated by trees.

Answer 5

Forests

Question 6

Aquatic portions of the biosphere that can support life

Answer 6

AQUATIC LIFE ZONES

Question 7

three major Marine life zones:

Answer 7

❑ Coastal zone
❑ Open sea
❑ Ocean bottom

Question 8

The warm, nutrient-rich, shallow water that extends from the high-tide mark on land to the
gently sloping, shallow edge of the continental shelf. It makes up less than 10% of the world’s
ocean area, but it contains 90% of all marine species and is the site of most large commercial
marine fisheries.

Answer 8

Coastal Zone

Question 9

Where a river meets the sea. It is a partially enclosed body of water where seawater mixes with the river’s freshwater, as well as nutrients and pollutants in runoff from the land.

Answer 9

Estuary

Question 10

Freshwater that flows or is stored in bodies of
water on the earth’s surface.
Precipitation that does not sink into the ground
or evaporate

Answer 10

Surface water

Question 11

Body of freshwater surrounded by land
and whose water does not flow.

Answer 11

Standing-Water Ecosystems

Question 12

3 Standing-Water Ecosystems

Answer 12

LAKES
PONDS
INLAND WETLANDS

Question 13

Standing-Water Ecosystems

Question 13

2 TYPES OF INLAND WETLANDS

Answer 13

Marsh
Swamp

Question 14

Dominated by grasslike plants

Answer 14

Marsh

Question 15

Dominated by woody trees
or shrubs

Answer 15

Swamp

Question 16

Freshwater ecosystem in which
water flows in a current.

Answer 16

Flowing-Water Ecosystems

Question 17

2 Types of Flowing-Water Ecosystems

Answer 17

RIVERS
STREAMS

Question 18

Human Impacts on Freshwater Aquatic Ecosystems

Answer 18

1. Dams and canals restrict the flows
2. Flood control levees and dikes built along rivers
3. Cities and farms add pollutants
4. Many inland wetlands have been drained or filled to grow crops or have been covered with concrete, asphalt, and buildings.

Question 19

Five-point plan through ecosystems approach:

Answer 19

1. Map the world’s terrestrial ecosystems and create an inventory of the species contained in
   each of them, along with the ecosystem services they provide.
2. Identify terrestrial ecosystems that are resilient and can recover if not overwhelmed by
   harmful human activities, along with ecosystems that are fragile and need protection.
3. Protect the most endangered terrestrial ecosystems and species, with emphasis on
   protecting plant biodiversity and ecosystem services.
4. Seek to restore as many degraded ecosystems as possible.
5. Make development biodiversity-friendly by providing significant financial incentives (such as
   tax breaks and subsidies) and technical help to private landowners who agree to help protect
   endangered ecosystems

Question 20

Areas especially rich in highly endangered species that are found nowhere else.

Answer 20

Biodiversity hotspots

Question 21

Can partially reverse much of this harm

Answer 21

Ecological restoration

Question 22

Returning a degraded habitat or ecosystem to a condition as similar as possible to
its natural state in cases where this is feasible.

Answer 22

Restoration

Question 23

Turning a degraded ecosystem into a functional or useful ecosystem without
trying to restore it to its original condition. Examples include removing pollutants from
abandoned mining or industrial sites and replanting trees to reduce soil erosion in clear-cut
forests.

Answer 23

Rehabilitation

Question 24

Replacing a degraded ecosystem with another type of ecosystem. For example, a
degraded forest could be replaced by a productive pasture or tree plantation.

Answer 24

Replacement

Question 25

For example, artificial wetlands have been created in some areas
to help reduce flooding and to treat sewage

Answer 25

Creating artificial ecosystems: f

Question 26

Four-step strategy: Rehabilitating and Partially Restoring Damaged Ecosystems

Answer 26

1. Identify the causes of the degradation (such as pollution, farming, overgrazing, mining, or
   invasive species).
2. Stop the degradation by eliminating or sharply reducing these factors.
3. If necessary, reintroduce key species to help restore natural ecological processes.
4. Protect the area from further degradation to allow natural recovery.

Question 27

This scientific approach focuses on establishing and maintaining new habitats to conserve species diversity in places where people live, work, or play

Answer 27

Reconciliation Ecology