Section 4: Ecosystems Flashcards
Define- Ecosystem
A natural system made up of living things (animals, plants, bacteria and fungi) and their non-living environment (the atmosphere, the rocks, water, the climate) and all the interactions between them. This could be something as big as a forest,or as small as a garden pond or under a rock.
Define- biome
An ecosystem on a global scale - large bands of land, running roughly parallel to the equator, that share the same types of plants and animals because they share the same general climate.
Where are tropical rainforest generally found?
On the equator.
What are the 4 layers of the rainforest going from top to bottom?
- Emergent
- Canopy
- Under-canopy
- Forest floor.
How is a drip tip adapted to its surroundings?
They are elongated ends to leaves, that help rainforest trees shed the heavy rain effectively, before it damages them.
How is a liana adapted to its surroundings?
Lianas are vines that use trees as scaffolding to grow up to the sunlight.
How are buttress roots adapted to their surroundings?
Buttress roots are very wide-spreading and provide great support for the tall rainforest trees.
How are epiphytes adapted to their surroundings?
Epiphytes are small plants that grow on tree branches in the canopy, where they have access to water (rainfall), nutrients (decomposing leaves) and light.
What are the major threats to rainforest ecosystems?
Farming, logging, mining, roads, and population. (Deforestation is how all of this is achieved)
What are three impacts of tropical rainforest deforestation?
1.An estimated 1.6 billion people rely on rainforests for the livelihoods - particularly food, fuel and shelter.
2. Rainforests are major carbon sinks absorbing 2.4 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide a year. If we cut down rainforest trees, the fight against climate change is much harder.
3. Rainforest plants are a major source of medicine - for example, the Rosy Periwinkle of Madagascar has given us two powerful anti-cancer drugs. If we deforestation, we risk losing new drugs before we have the chance to identify them.
What are two strategies to reduce rates of tropical rainforest deforestation?
- National Parks- Make more of the rainforest area national parks where it is illegal to deforest.
- Ecotourism- allow small groups of paying tourists to go into the rainforest with a guide can bring in a lot of money encouraging governments to reduce deforestation levels and fund more tours.
