Savannah ecosystem, why biodiversity in the savannah is under threat, how people use the savannah, Lake Chad. Flashcards

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1
Q

Where is the Savannah grassland ecosystem found?

A

Within the tropics 5-15 degrees north and south of the equator, between tropical forests and hot deserts

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2
Q

What is the Savannah grassland ecosystem also known as?

A

Semi-arid grassland

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3
Q

Does the wet season in the savannah occur in the summer or winter?

A

Summer

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4
Q

The rainfall in the savannah is concentrated for how many months of the year?

A

5-6 months

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5
Q

Xerophytes are plants that…

A

Can survive drought

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6
Q

Pyrophytes are plants that …

A

Adapted to tolerate fire

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7
Q

How has the Acacia tree adapted to live in the savannah?

A
  • Broad flat canopy reduces water loss,
  • Thorns on branches to stop animals from eating them,
  • Large roots to get water from deep underground,
  • Small leaves with waxy skins to reduce the amount of water lost through transpiration.
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8
Q

Why is the savannah a popular tourist destination?

A

Animals, Plants, Insects - Safari

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9
Q

Why are there less stores of nutrients in the savannah than in the rainforest?

A

Shorter growing season and fire returns carbon to atmosphere.

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10
Q

Due to the high temperatures what happens to the organic matter?

A

Decays rapidly.

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11
Q

What does fire important to maintain the savannah ecosystem?

A

It maintains the grass community and mineralises the litter layer, kills weeds and prevents trees from growing.

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12
Q

What are the most important nutrient recyclers?

A

Termites

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13
Q

Episodes of drought in the savannah last for……..months of the year.

A

4-8 months

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14
Q

Why is the savannah significant in the global carbon cycle?

A

They cover 20% of earth’s land surface so despite having significantly less trees than rainforests or temperate forests they are significant in the carbon cycle. Regular bushfires release many tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere

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15
Q

Give an example of a producer in the savannah ecosystem

A

Grasses, Acacia Tree

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16
Q

Give an example of a primary consumer in the savannah ecosystem

A

Baboon, Rhino, Giraffe, Zebra

17
Q

Give an example of a Secondary consumer in the savannah ecosystem

A

Cheetah, Hyena

18
Q

Give an example of a tertiary consumer in the savannah ecosystem

A

Lion

19
Q

What is the greatest threat to the animals in the savannah ecosystem

A

Poaching

20
Q

What animal example of poaching did we study?

A

Rhinos for their horns

21
Q

Give 3 potential solutions to reduce the problem of poaching

A
  • De horn the Rhino,
  • Poison the horn with dye,
  • Manufacture synthetic Rhino horn,
  • Make use of drones,
  • Fix GPS and Camera in Rhino Horns
22
Q

What is desertification?

A

The spread of the desert, or desert conditions.

23
Q

What are the three main reasons for desertification?

A
  • Slash and burn of the savanna trees and bushes to make space for farming reduces evapotranspiration and so eventually leads to a reduction of water.
  • The removal of vegetation means that leaf litter can no longer fall into the soil therefore the nutrient cycle is broken and the shrubs no longer replace nutrients.
  • The destruction of the tree canopy exposes the soil to rain splash erosion. On steeper slopes the power of the water carries material which then erodes downwards this is called gulley erosion.
24
Q

What two types of farming take place in the African savannah?

A
Arable Farming (Crop) 
Pastoral Farming (animals)
25
Q

What is a fallow period?

A

Field is left to regain its nutrients

26
Q

What has happened to Lake Chad?

A

Significantly reduced in size

27
Q

Why has Lake Chad reduced in size?

A
  • Deforestation in the lakes drainage basin causing a drier climate.
  • The over-abstraction of water from the rivers both for domestic supply (in cities) as well as intensive farming and irrigation.
  • 20 dams have been built in northern Nigeria.
28
Q

What have been the impacts of what has happened to Lake Chad on people and the environment?

A
  • Cholera and Polio as people relying on the lake for their water,
  • Salinisation of soil,
  • Wetland ecosystem has dried out so birds and fish populations have declined,
  • Migration to cities such as Kano.
29
Q

Give 2 ways that the transaqua project could save Lake Chad

A
  • Transfer water from the Democratic Republic of Congo via a canal between the River Congo and River Chari,
  • Generate Hydroelectric Power which would create opportunities for people and tackle poverty.