Section B - Ecosystems

Question 1

Define Ecosystems

Answer 1

is made up of plants, animals and their surrounding physical environments including soil, rainwater and sunlight. (Biotic and Abiotic)

Question 2

What is the difference between Biotic and Abiotic?

Answer 2

Biotic- refers to living things such as plants and animals

Abiotic- refers to non-living things such as the ecosystem’s physical environment which can be soil/rainwater/sunlight.

Question 3

What are the Interrelationships of an Ecosystem?

Answer 3

Sunshine is needed for plants in photosynthesis, Decomposers break dead plants and release nutrients into the soil, and roots are weathered to create soil that plants need to grow.

Question 4

What are the Nutrient Cycle store and Transfers?

Answer 4

Stores- Biomass -> Litter -> Soil ->Biomass
Transfers- Littering then Decomposition then Plant Uptake. Litter is also fed by rainfall however some nutrients escape through surface runoff. Soil is also fed by weathered rock however some nutrients are lost through leaching ( loss of nutrients from the top layer of soil by percolating precipitation).

Question 5

Give the four categories in a biomass pyramid.

Answer 5

Producers (Plant) -> Primary Consumers (Grasshopper) -> Secondary Consumer (Sparrow) -> Tertiary Consumer (Hawk)

Question 6

Explain how nutrients are lost at each level in a biomass pyramid.

Answer 6

Energy is lost at each level as energy is used by the animals and plants in respiration to stay alive. Also, not all parts of the plants are consumed by animals and not all of the prey is consumed such as bones and much of what the animals do eat is excreted.

Question 7

What are the 7 Human Causes of Ecosystem Changes?

Answer 7

Deforestation, Hunting, WIldfire, Invasive Species, Eutrophication (nutrient-induced increases in phytoplankton productivity thus consuming oxygen from water), Climate Change, Altering Drainage.

Question 8

What are the 4 Natural Causes of Ecosystem Changes?

Answer 8

Extreme Weathers, Diseases, Wildfires, Climate Change

Question 9

What are the effects of Ecosystem Changes?

Answer 9

If species numbers go extinct its predators would reduce in population due to a decrease in prey and its food source would increase in population due to a decrease in predators.

Question 10

Explain Rewilding.

Answer 10

When you release captive animals back into the wild to restore balance in the ecosystem

Question 11

Define a global biome or a global ecosystem`

Answer 11

a larger scale ecosystem, where the vegetation is adapted to the climate of the area.

Question 12

What are the 8 major global biomes?

Answer 12

Tropical Rainforest, Deserts, Tropical Grassland/Savanna, Temperate Grasslands, Mediterranean, Deciduous Forests, Coniferous Forests, Tundra/Cold Deserts.

Question 13

Define Tropical RAinforests

Answer 13

Found along the equator where highly concentrated sun rays cause moist hot air to rise to create hot humid conditions

Question 14

Define Deserts

Answer 14

Found along the tropics where warm air lost its moisture leading to dry conditions

Question 15

Define Tropical Grassland/Savanna

Answer 15

Located between the Tropical Rainforests and deserts so gets mixed conditions due to air movements.

Question 16

Define Temperate Grasslands

Answer 16

located between 40-60 degrees of the equator where short tussock and feather grass dominates the landscapes.

Question 17

Define the Mediterranean

Answer 17

drought-resistant vegetation dominates the landscapes between 30-40 degrees of the equator.

Question 18

Define Deciduous Forests

Answer 18

grow in places of high latitudes where sun rays are weaker and trees shed their leaves

Question 19

Define Coniferous Forests

Answer 19

Found 60 degrees north of the equator where coldness is due to a lack of insulation and trees adapted to conditions

Question 20

Define Tundra/Cold Deserts

Answer 20

Found around the arctic circle where it is extremely cold and has no sunlight for half of the year.

Question 21

What are the 6 Climate-Affecting Factors?

Answer 21

Latitude, Altitude, Ocean Currents, Distance from Sea, Air Masses, Mountain Ranges

Question 22

Explain Latitude

Answer 22

As you get further from the equator the temperature decreases as sun rays become less concentrated due to the curved surface area of the Earth

Question 23

Explain Altitude

Answer 23

For every 100 metres, you climb the temperature drops by 1 degree as air is less dense thus can’t hold as much heat

Question 24

Explain Ocean Currents

Answer 24

Warm ocean current have more evaporation and bring warmth while cold ocean current has little evaporation and brings coolness

Question 25

Explain Distance from Sea

Answer 25

Land heats and cools faster than the sea

Question 26

Explain Air Masses

Answer 26

If air comes from the sea it’s wet and from land it’s dry

Question 27

Explain Mountain Ranges

Answer 27

Prevents rain clouds from going to another side

Question 28

Ecosystem Case Study Epping Forest- Location

Answer 28

Located east of London,

Question 29

Ecosystem Case Study Epping Forest- Name 3 Key Facts

Answer 29

Epping Forest is all that remains of a larger forest that colonised England at the end of the last ice age. Bogs and ponds in the forest have their unique species, including 20 kinds of dragonflies. For 1000 years, Epping Forest has been managed in a variety of ways: as hunting grounds for royalty, timber resources, and recreation.

Question 30

Ecosystem Case Study Epping Forest- Describe the Food Web with Evidence

Answer 30

Large numbers of native trees including oak, elm ash, and beech. Lower shrub Layer of Holly, Hazel at 5 metres, overlying a field layer of grasses, brambles, bracken, flowering plants including 9 amphibian and reptile species 38 bird species and 700 important species of fungi that are decomposers.