Rainforests + Deserts Flashcards
1
Q
What is an ecosystem
A
A community of plants and animals living together in a habitat
The lives of the plants and animals are closely linked to each other
2
Q
What is abiotic
A
Non loving thing in an ecosystem
3
Q
Examples of abiotic things
A
Sun
Wat
Temperature
Soil
4
Q
What are biotic examples
A
Plants and animals
5
Q
What is biotic
A
Loving things in an ecosystem
6
Q
Examples of interactions between biotic and abiotic
A
Elephants and water
Plants and sun
7
Q
Factors that affect ecosystems
A
Temperature
Location
Level of pollution
8
Q
What are producers
A
Plants or algae Which photosynthesis
9
Q
Example of producers
A
Algae
Water lily
10
Q
What is a consumer
A
Unable to make their own energy rely on consumers and producers to live
11
Q
Examples of consumers
A
Duck
Herren
Fox
12
Q
What is a biome
A
A very large ecosystem
Eg, desert
13
Q
What is a biosphere
A
Zone where life is found
Extends 3m below ground and about 30m above ground up to 200m deep in oceans
14
Q
What is biodiversity
A
The varied range of plants and animals found in an area
15
Q
What is latitude
A
How near to the equator an area is
16
Q
What is temperature
A
How hot or cold an area is
17
Q
Countries that include tropical rainforest
A
Mexico
Brazil
Congo
18
Q
What continents have no tropical rainforests
A
Europe
North America
Antarctic
19
Q
Examples of a rainforest
A
Amazon located in South America
20
Q
What is the climate like in the Amazon rainforest
A
Warm and wet conditions
High rainfall ( over 2000 mm a year)
High temperatures throughout the year
21
Q
What is the rainforest biodiversity like
A
Huge biodiversity
Providing habitats for an enormous range of species
22
Q
What animals live in rainforests
A
Birds
Monkeys
Sloths
Deer
23
Q
What are the soils like in rainforests and why
A
Infertile
Most soil finds its nutrients on the surface from dead leaves
Dead leaves decompose rapidly in hot and humid conditions
Many trees have shallow roots to absorb nutrients
However heavy rainfall can quickly ash away nutrients (called leashing)
24
Q
How does drip tips help leaves
A
Channel the water from the heavy rain off the leave quickly
Helps to keep the leaves dry a d prevents fungi and bacteria growing.
25
How does thin, smooth bark help trees
Makes it difficult for other plants to grow up
Less likely to be used by plants that may kill or weaken them
26
What are liana
Woody vines that grow around trees
27
How is liana plants adapted to helping the plant
They use structure of other trees to climb upward
They can get to sunlight without building a strong trunk
28
What are buttress roots
Trees that have shallow roots but wide bases
29
What are epiphytes
Plants that grow on other trees
30
What are some toucan adaptations
Vivid co,ours provide camouflage
Beak he,so it grasp fruit, insects, eggs + small birds
Strong legs and toes to counteract their small bodies + short wings
31
How does deforestation threaten biodiversity
When wildlife loses its habitat and becomes more vulnerable to hunting
32
Why is the soil in the rainforest red
Because it is rich in iron
33
How fast is the nutrient cycle in the rainforest
Rapid
34
What is leaching
To drain away soil ash or similar material by the action of rain water
35
How will deforestation effect the nutrient cycle
The land will become infertile due to fewer plants being available to drop leaves and therfore lower nutrients
36
What is deforestation
When trees are cut down
Often On a very large scale
Permanent destruction of forests in order to make land available
37
Where is the Amazon rainforest located
Located in the continent of South America in Brazil
Close to the Equator and imbetween tropics of cancer and Capricorn
SE of Venezuela
38
What is the nutrient cycle in the rainforest
Trees shed leaves all year round
Decaying vegetation decomposes rapidly releasing nutrient
Nutrients energy the soil surface but don’t get chance to sink in
Shallow roots quickly take up the nutrients
The nutrients help the trees to grow rapidly
39
What % of the worlds O2 is produced by the Amazon
20%
40
What do trees act as a store of
Carbon
41
What is the biggest reason trees are cleared
Cattle
42
What is selective logging
Cutting out trees that are mature or inferior will encourage the growth of the remaining teees in the rainforest
43
What is mineral extraction
The removal of solid mineral resources from the earth
Eg. Ores
44
What does biodiversity reduced mean
The number of differnt species of plants amd animals will decline
45
What is commercial farming
Farming to sell produce for a profit to retailers or food processing companies
46
What is subsistence farming
A type of agriculture that only benefits the farming and their families
47
What is logging
The business of cutting down trees and transporting the logs to sawmills
48
What is soil erosion
Removal of topsoil faster than it can be replaced due to natural and human activity
49
What is the greenhouse effect
The trapping of the suns warmth in a planets lower atmosphere due to the greater transparency to the atmosphere to visible radiation from the sun (natural process that warms the earth)
50
What are the negative effects of the enhanced greenhouse effect
Earth will get warmer, causes global rainfall, extreme weather effect and increase in sea levels
51
Why does Brazil want to develop the Amazon
Can boost the economy and the population has more money so more money to tax = development
52
Why should we protect the rainforest
Trees won’t be able to produce O2 means more CO2 as trees arnt tracking it in which results enhanced greenhouse effect
Biodiversity, ecosystems, protects biomes, protect indigenous people
53
What goods can come from the rainforest
Water, fish + meat, crops, medicines, building material
54
How many prescription drugs come from plant sources
120
55
Environmental impacts of deforestation.
Enhanced greenhouse effect
CO2 emissions
Loss of habitats
56
Sustainable management methods
Logging + replanting
Education
Ecotourism
International agreements
57
What is ecotourism
Encourages sustainable tourism this them created jobs for local people
And money generated is used to protect and conserve the rainforest for future generations
58
What is international agreements
Agreements to protect the tropical rainforest made between countries through debt for natural swaps this means that if a country owes money they can agree to cancel part of the date of the agreement is made to ensure the consideration of tropical rainforests
59
What is sustainable use of rainforests
Keeping the trees and biodiversity levels from falling and thinking of alternate ways to get what the rainforests has to offer without damaging it
60
Positives of ecotourism
Creates jobs for locals
Money made to protect + conserve the rainforest for future generations
61
Negatives of ecotourism
Spoiling regions ecosystems
Ruin natural habitats
Lead to conflicn
62
What is selective logging + replanting
Logging of selected trees (mature trees) this ensures that when one fee is cut down another one is planted
63
Positives of selective logging and replanting
Ensures rainforest canopy is preserved, allows forests to recover younger trees gain more space and sunlight
64
Negatives of selective logging and replanting
Higher rates of forest fires
Tree fall
Soil compaction
Micro climate
Trees still cut down
65
What is conservations and education
Education benifts biodiversity by informing people of the issues
Conservation is a moral philosophy Kobe,by on protecting species
66
Positive of conservation and education
Peotcts species from extinction, enhanced ecosystems services
People can understand importance and help protect rainforests
67
Negatives of conservation and education
Conservation may anger local people who belive they have right to use the rainforest (conflict)
68
Positives of international agreements
Promotes sustainable lively food, reduce deforestation
69
Negatives of international agreements
Might not use money for what had been promised
70
What is debt reduction
Process of decrementing the total amount or payments
71
Positives of debt reduction
Can use money to protect the rainforest
72
Negative of debt reduction
Money made from not having to pay debt could be used in exploitation
73
What is a desert
An area that receives less that 250mm of rainfall per year
Fluctuating temps of up to 50°c in the day to 0°c at night (due to lack of cloud cober(
74
Where are deserts located
Ok the tropics
Sun tropical areas
North Africa
Middle East
Central Australia
75
Where are deserts not located
West Europe
76
What is the climate like in deserts
Very hot, dry
Little rainfall
2 distinct seasons
77
What are plants like in the desert
Short growing cycle
Go without water for year s
78
Example of plants In The desert
Cacti, tumble weed, wild flowers, orange trees
79
Examples of animals in the desert
Mammals, birds, reptiles, lizards, insects , camels, snakes
80
What are the soils like in the deserts
Desert soils are thin , Sandy rocksy, grey in colour, very dry - when it rains water soaks into the soil very fast surface of soil may appears crusty
Due to a lack of rainfall
Hot water is drain up to surface of the soil by evaporation
81
How have plants adapted to the desert
Extremely long roots that to a long way into the soil to find water
Called ‘tap roots’
Other stores or water in leaves or stem (succulents)
Very Small leaves to avoid water loss in transpiration
82
How is biodiversity in deserts
Large
83
Where are the highest levels of biodiversity in the deserts
Ponds and rivers
84
In the Amazon what is most of the mining for
Gold
85
Why are cattle farmers constantly destroying more + more rainforest
Cattle farmers constantly burn down more and more forest as once the land is cleared it can’t be used for long without forest nourishment
The soil becomes dry and farmers move onto create new castle areas
86
What are some types of plants grown in plantations (Amazon rainforest)
Bananas
Palm oil
Tea
Coffee
87
Why is HEP An ideal energy source in the rainforest
It rains a lot
88
Why are dams built for HEP have a short lifespan in the rainforest
River sediments slow doesn’t + sink which causes blockages
89
Why does illegal trade in wildlife link to deforestation
Illegal wildlife trade is harming wild population of animals and plants and pushing endangered species toward extinction,
Links to deforestation as it leads to biodiversity loss giving them common effects
90
Why are there loads of roads being build in the rainforest
So there is access for farmers, loggers and mines to enter the rainforest
91
How can road building lead to further deforestation in rainforest
Road building leads to more deforestation as it opens large areas to mining and logging companies. Also causes fragmented habitats
92
Why does Brazilian government offer land in the rainforest to poor form over crowded cities
To give more space in cities convince people to live there to develop land
93
What is a food chain
Connection between different organisms that rely on one another as their food source
94
What is the water cycle in the rainforest
Heavy daily conventional rain -> trees intercept rain -> some rain reaches ground - > trees take up water -> water evaporates
95
Another word fro a secondary consumer
Carnivore
96
4 layers of the rainforest
Emergent layer, canopy, understory, forest floor
97
Adaptations of a fennec fox
Fur covered feet - protection against hot sand, pale fur - camouflage, panting helps regulate temperature, thunk fur adds additional protection from sun and keeps them warm during cold night
98
Adaptions of cactus (xerophytes)
Stem green for photosynthesis
Spines instead of leaves - smaller SA so less water loss
Thick waxy skin, doesn’t loose water in transpiration
Can drink salt water
Long + wide spread roots to tap underground water stored deep underground
Grows quick + lives a long Time
Can grow to 15 M in height and store 800l of water units bulb
Tiny thorns so doesn’t get eaten
99
What are some adaptations of a camel
Fat filled hump , so came, can survive when food is scarce
Thick shaggy fur as it is very cold in the desert at night
Two layers of eyelashes, bushy eyebrows to protect eyes from sand
Large nostrils that can open + close
Tough mouth with sharp teeth so they can eat prickley plants
Light fur to reflect the sun and keep it cool in the day , strong legs to help camel when walking across the desert
Two toes feet with leathery pads to they don’t sink in the hot sand
Leathers patches on knees, long legs keep bodies away from hot sand, can drink 100l of water and can go 17 days without a drink
100
What are the positives of the canal indrigandi Wahar
Microclimate of the area has changed , sandstorms reduced ability to mitigate drought conditions has improved
Irrigates 500,000 hectors of land
Infertile desert to productive agricultural land - boosted local economy
Consistent + reliable harvest improved food supplies + security
Inland fishers which boost the food variety of the region
101
What are the negative of the canal indrigandi wahar
Excessive irrigation - long term causes - water logging of land
Chemical fertilisers get into canal water - increase cancer rates as people drink water further down stream
Excessive use of water for irrigation resulted in salination
102
What is salination
When salt water rises to the surface rendering the soil infertile
103
What is desertification
The process by which land becomes drier and degraded as a result of climate change or human activities or both land to an unusable state
104
Causes of desertification
Climate change - higher tends, less reliable rainfall
Population of semi dererg area increases
People collect more firewood
Lots of forest cover (desertification )
Land farmed more intensity takes nutrient out of soil, removes natural vegetation
Over grazing - higher numbers of people to feed - animals eat more of the vegetation
105
Where is the Sahel
Region of north - central Africa south of the Sahara desert, north of the equator, continents of Africa and crosses countries such as Chad, Sudan
Boarders red seas + Atlantic Ocean
106
What is the cycle of desertification
Amount of natural vegetation decreases
Interception isn’t possible, rain drops strikes soil and erodes it quicker
Soil is left exposed to hot sun
Sun bakes soil + cracks
When rain, rainwater runs over surface of the soil rather then soaking in
Soil can often by washed away
Soils is degraded losing fertility and structure
Soil is worn out / poor quality and it’s harder to grow crops or natural vegetation
107
Ways to prevent desertification
Planting more trees, water management, magic stones, drip irrigation, improving the quality of the soil
108
How does planting more trees prevent desertification
The roots of the trees hold the soil together and this helps to reduce soil erosion from wind and rain
109
How does water management prevent desertification
Water can be stored in earth dams during wet seasons and then used to irrigate crops during dry seasons
110
How does magic stones prevent desertification
This is a circle of stones placed in the ground to hold water on the soil rather than let it run quickly over the surface reduces soil errosion
111
What is drip irrigation
Water drips slowly onto the ground from a windy hole in a hose lying on top of the soil
112
How does drip irrigation prevent desertification
Minimises water loss
Maximises effectiveness
Can prevent water loss from evaporation and prevent salt accumulation
113
How does improving the quality of the soil help prevent desertification
Encouraging people to reduce number of grazing animals amd grow crops instead
The animal manure can be used to fertilise crops grown
The quality of the soil will improve when growing by the roots of plants and protects from soil errosion
114
Why is there desertification happening in Senegal and the Sahel
Global warming is damaging the soil
Climate change drives desertification
115
What is the great green wall
An imagines green wall of 15km wide and up to 8000km long of trees bushes
From south of Sahara
From dijibouti in the north to senagal
116
Types of plants used in the great green wall
Edible grass
Gumarabic
117
Benefits of the great green wall
Stopping desertification and erosion
Political water sources
Create habitats for biodiversity
Provide energy resources
Support local economic development
118
Where is the thar desert located
Asia (north west)
Countries of India, Pakistan
Majority found in india I’m the state of Rajasthan
That covers 200,000 km sq of the state
119
What is the rainfall in the thar desert like
120-240 mm per year
Summer temperatures in July can reach highs of 50°c
120
What is the thar desert like
Sandy hills
Extensive mobile fines and clumps of thorn forest vegetation
Mix of small trees, shrubs and grasses
121
What is the soil like in the thar desert
Sandy
Not very fertile (there is little organic matter to enrich them)
The drain quickly so there is little surface water
122
What is the population density in the thar desert
80 people per km sq
123
Economic opportunities in the thar desert
Subsistence farming
Irrigation and commercial farming
Mining an industry
Tourism
Solar energy
124
Why does the climate present huge challenges with subsistence farming in the thar desert
With unreliable rainfall and frequent droughts
125
What are the most successful basic farming systems in the thar desert
Keeping a few animals on grassy areas and cultivating vegetables and fruit trees
126
What is the Main form of irrigation in the thar desert
The indira ghandi canal
The canal was constructed in 1958 and has total length of 650km
2 main areas to benefit are centred on the cities om jodhpur and jaisalmer (3,500km^2 of land is under irrigation)
127
What forms of crops in the thar desert is mainly in commercial farming
Wheat and cotton
128
What does the indira gandri canal irrigate
Irrigated north and west karjasthan
129
What is the mining industry like in the thar desert
The state of Rajasthan is rich in minerals
Desert regions has valuable reserves of gypsum (used to make plaster).
There are valuable reserves of stone in the area
Limestone is quarried for making cement
Valuable reserves of rock marble are quarried near jodhpur for use in the construction industry
Local hide and wool industries from a ready market for the live stoke that are reared in the area
130
Tourism opportunities in the thar desert
Popular
Desert safaris on camels - particularly popular with foreigners as well as wealthy Indians from elsewhere in the country
131
How do local people benefit from tourism in the thar desert
Acting as guides or looking after canals (job opportunities)
132
Benefits of the thar desert national park
Protects 3000km of arid dry land and the endangered and rare wildlife that has adapted to its extreme conditions
(Helps to attract tourism)
133
Solar energy in the thar desert
Vast expanse of the desert was used to produce solar energy (it could light up 5 of Asia’s most populated cities)
Government launched its national solar mission ($19 billion plan to generate 20,000 megawatts of solar electricity by 2022)
134
Challenges in the thar desert
Extreme temps (can reach 53°C)
Rainfall is extremely low
Landscape (Sandy hills, dunes, thorn forest vegetation ect.)
Soils Sandy and not very fertile
Little surface water
High population density (compared to other deserts)
Lack of money
Salination
Lots of tourists damage fragile environment
135
What is extreme temps a challenge in the thar desert
Course heat strokes, also can lead to infertile soil, less food can cause challenges with high population. As there isn’t enough food to feed everyone
136
Why is population pressure a challenge in the thar desert
Most densely populated desert in the worLd and with the population still inc.
fragile ecosystems are placed under pressure through overgrazing and over cultivation
Causes desertification and affects the desert nutrient cycle
137
Why is accessibility a challenge in the thar desert
Very extreme weather and the presence of vast barren area there is very limited road network across the thar desert
High temps can cause tarmac to melt and strong winds often blow sand over the roads
Many places are only accessible on camel
138
What is salinisation
The deposition of solid salts on the ground surface following the evaporation of water
139
What is overgrazing
The destruction of the protective vegetation cover by having too many animals grazing on it
140
What is over cultivation
The excessive use of farmland to the point where productivity falls due to soil exhaustion or land degradation
141
Why is water management and inaccessibility a challenge in the desert
Important aspect of people of the tar desert concerning natural resource management is water management
difficult to access water even with the canal still have to travel to it and blistering heat to get water
water is directly connected to agriculture given that without water is impossible to grow crops can impact economic situation of farmers the effect on agriculture also affects variety of nutritious nutritious food available many can’t grow needed vegetables and are forced to live on a minimal diet
increasing drought periods lead to even more increase demand on water excessive irrigation leads to waterlogging of the ground
when it happened salts poisonous to plants have been deposited on the ground surface and make the land unusable the consequences are low yields poor profit and starvation (salination )
142
How is soil erosion a challenge in the thar desert
Over cultivation and overgrazing have damaged the vegetation in places leading to soil erosion by wind and rain
Thar desert is susceptible to harsh winds (once eroded this soil takes thousands of years to reform)
143
How is fuel a challenge in the thar desert
Reserves of firewood, the main source of fuel are dwindling with the results that people are using manure as fuel rather than using it to improve the quality of soil
144
How is tourism a challenge in the that desert
Culture may be diluted or new languages picked up
Thar desert is fragile and will suffer if tourism becomes overdeveloped
There have been 5 days festivals organised which received lots of environmentalists criticism
