People and The Biosphere Flashcards
Biome
global-scale ecosystem like tropical rainforest or temperate grassland
ecosystem
biological community of interdependent factors
biotic factor
living organism that shapes its environment
abiotic factor
non-living organism that shapes its environment
What local factors can alter the biome distribution locally?
- altitude
- rock
- soil type
- drainage
How does altitude affect biome distribution?
- higher altitude = more precipiation
- higher = steeper slopes + soils are thinner
- vegetation changes with altitude because of temp and precipiation
- temp decreases
location,climate,vegetation
Tropical rainforest
- Location: near equator
- Climate: warm temp + high rainfall
- Vegetation: high biodiversity
location,climate,vegetation
Temperate forests
- Location: 30-60 latitude (UK)
- Climate: mild temp, mod rainfall
- Vegetation: deciduous trees
location,climate,vegetation
Boreal forests
- Location: High latitudes (Canada)
- Climate: cold winters, cool summers, low rain
- Vegetation: coniferous trees
location,climate,vegetation
Tropical grasslands
- Location: near equator
- Climate: warm, seasonal rainfall
- Vegetation: grasslands with scattered trees
location,climate,vegetation
Temperate grasslands
- Location: mid-latitudes
- Climate: hot summer, cold winter, mod rain
- Vegetation: grass
location,climate,vegetation
Deserts
- Location: low latitudes
- Climate: very hot/cold, little rain
- Vegetation: cacti, drought-resistant plants
location,climate,vegetation
Tundra
- Location: high latitudes
- Climate: cold, low rain
- Vegetation: moss, lichens
List biotic and abiotic factors
Biotic
* flora
* fauna
Abiotic
* soils
* rock
* water
* atmosphere
2 characteristics of temperate forest biomes
- rain all year round
- deciduous trees
- seasonal climate
- nutrient rich soils
- covers UK
How does geology affect biomes?
- permeable rock - allow water to soak through them
- permeability is a factor
Describe the nutrient cycle
- B = Biomass
- S = Soil
- L = Leaf litter
- B -> L = leaves fall
- L –> S = decomposition
- S -> B = plant uptake (roots)
- L = rainfall causes flooding - washes nutrients away + speeds up decomposition, surface runoff
- S = Leaching, weathered rocks = nutrients (windy), brings nutrients
sandy soil
- pale coloured
- small air gaps
- supports rye, barley and some root crops
clay soil
- orange/bluish sticky soil
- few air gaps
- impermeable
- puddles stay on top of soil for a long time
- holds nutrients well
- supports wheat, grass
Biosphere
living layer of earth between lithosphere and the atmosphere
uses of the biosphere
- food
- fuel resources
- building matierals
- medicine
Food from biosphere
- fish/meat
- sustainable harvesting of fruits, berries and nuts
Medicine from biosphere
- Poppies - source of painkiller morphine
- periwinkle - treats leukaemia and Hodgkins disease
- Aloe plant - soothing properties - used in cosmetics
Fuel resources from biosphere
- wood from trees/shrubs
- Animal dung dried and burnt
- biofuels convert plant products to fuel through a range of diff processes
Building materials from biosphere
- timber, for construction from trees
- animal dung mixed with clay and straw to make bricks
- straw, dry stalks of cereal plants used for roofing and insulation
dangers of commercial exploitation
- deforestation for timber or rearing cattle - cause mathane/pollution
- indigenous ppl impacted by oil and logging companies
- mining metal ore like cu and fe
- construction of dams to supply water to cities - dams destroy habitats
How can soil become damaged by the loss of vegetation?
- nutrients come from plants and loss leads to lower soil health
- vegetation and soil are interdependent
Hydrological cycle - water regulation
- trees infiltrade water - intercept, absorb, transpire water - stop flooding
- flooding = nutrients washed away
- ecosystems purify water and make it clean
regulation of atmosphere
- biospere maintains GG in atmos
- forest areas - carbon sinks
- process of locking up carbon is called carbon sequestration
- carbon stored in trees, soils, sea rocks
Reasons for high demand for resources
- fast fashion - cotton
- rising pop
- energy
- changing diets - west - more beef and ultra processes
- industriablsiton
- war
- for clean water
- urbanisation
- people getting richer
MINT
Mexico, indonesia, nigeria, turkey
emerging
BRIC
Brazil. russia, india, china
Population theory
malthus - pessimistic
boserup - optimistic
Malthuses theory
- we will reach a point of crisis - good will decrease populatio
- there will be a balance
- pop will increase more quickly
Boserup theory
- people will never hit the point of crisis
- technology will have a solution
Evidence for boserup
- mechanisation and irrigation - tractors in agriculture increased productivity - irrigation methods - possible to grow crops in arid areas
- rice terracing in asia - rice terraces made to increase food production in mountainous areas
- Modern medicine
- GM crops - drough resistant crops
evidence for malthus
- Food insecurity - poor rely on food importants and internaitonal aid
- desertification and water shortages - overpopulation = ruining of arable land and water svarcity
- Benagl famine - due to war mismanagement and weath - died of starvaion
Ways to increase food supply
- GM crops
- machinery
- pesticides
Why does Boserup think that resources will never run out?
when pop grows new resources are created because of a larger pool of innovative scientists
