Section B- The Living World Flashcards
what is a small scale ecosystem also called?
a habitat
give an example of a decomposer
fungi and bacteria help break down dead plants and animals which releases nutrients
what is biotic
a living component
what is Abiotic
non living component
give an example of a physical link in an ecosystem
animals eating plants
give an example of a chemical linkage in an ecosystem
mild acid in rainwater helps speed up decay of dead leaves
explain the importance of the nutrient cycle
all animals and plants rely on nutrients from food
they occur naturally and are recycled in all ecosystems
what are the three main nutrient stores?
biomass
litter
soil
how does extreme weather effect the balance of an ecosystem?
can impact food change
e.g fewer trees the aphids and capsids eat fewer leaves and there sparrow each less aphids
how can human action effect ecosystem balance?
defforestation has the same effect as extreme weather
how does the loss or gain of a species effect a food web?
beetle population reduced by disease= fewer woodpeckers
describe the distribution of tropical rainforests
across the equator and mostly within the tropics
mainly in south america central africa and islands of south east asia
describe some of the physical characteristics of a tropical trainforest
hot
wet
rainfall occurs in every month
high humidity
describe the rainforest soils
shallow and acidic
infertile and nutrients are washed away
where are most nutrients found in a rainforest
decaying animals and vegetation
how have lianas adapted to the tropical rainforest?
use other trees to climb up to maximise sunlight
how are buttress roots adapted to the tropical rainforest?
shallow roots which soak up nutrients
give extra stabability in shallow soils
how are drip tips adapted to the tropical rainforest?
waxy surface for water run off
prevents growth of algae which would block photsynthesis
how have snakes adapted to the tropical rainforest?
camouflage techniques help catch their prey
how have jaguars and other big cats adapted to the rainforests?
strong short limbs
strong jaw
sharp teeth all enable them to catch and kill large animals
stocky and musclular builds allows them to live in trees if flood
how have monkeys adapted to living in the tropical rainforest?
swing through canopy layer using long limbs and strong tails
define interdependence in a tropical rainforest
within a tropical rainforest things become totally dependant on other things being there and working
give an example of interdependence in a tropical rainforest
animals rely on water
plants rely on sunlight
describe the distribution of deforestation in the amazon rainforest and a reason behind it
majority within south of amazon basin
up to 1997 its east and south following the rivers
because this was more accessable to transport
briefly describe logging
clearing the land of trees to be used for other activities
briefly describe mineral extraction
minerals found in tropical rainforests such as gold and bauxite
50,000 hectres of the rainforest are used for mining gold
briefly describe energy development
unlimited supply of water and riverconditions encourage damms to be built for hydro-electric power
involved flooding the rainforest
briefly describe cattle farming
large areas of forest cleared for cattle rearing
accounts for 80% of destruction
land cant be used for long so move on and ruin more rainforest
briefly describe crop farming
make way for large plantations
soil doesnt sustain the crops so new parts of rainforest get cut down all the time
briefly describe road building
roads needed to bring equipment and transport products. one road makes rainforest accessable for any exploiter
how has deforestation impacted soil?
when any part of forest in cleared thin topsoil quickly removed by heavy rainfall so little hope of anything growing again
how has deforestation had an economic impact?
money made by using the rainforest but only mostly for big companies
how has defforestaion has an impact on climate change?
trees relase co2 if slash and burning happens
fires are used to clear rainforest
if trees are cut down then the can no longer produce oxygen and release co2
name some rainforest stakeholders
animals in forest companies exploiting it charities government transportation companies
briefly outline selective logging and replanting as a sustainable strategy
the cutting down of ONLY one or two species
the two work together as once trees have been felled and land is no longer in use new trees can be planted
sustains natural cycles and economic activity can still take place
briefly outline conservation and education as a sustainable stretegy
those who are exploiting the rainforest can be educated o the long term impacts
briefly outline ecotoursim as a sustainable strategy
reduces the impact tourism has on environment
keep to footpaths
stay in locally owned accomadation buy local produce
don’t interfere with wildlife
doesnt overuse vacilities but people can still visit
briefly outline international agreements of tropical wood as a sustainable strategy
make more efficient use of trees andimproves effiency of wood utilisation
briefly outline debt reduction as a sustainable strategy
when a portion of debt from a foreign country is forgiven in return for local investments in the rainforest
physical characteristics of a cold environment
mostly below freezing
permafrost
how have plants in the tundra adapted to their cold environment?
grow together and close to the ground helps reists the effects of cold temperatures
can grow under snow
flower leaves grow quickly as short summer
small leaves plant can retain more moisture
how have alaskan wolves in the tundra adapted to cold environments
smaller shorter legs and ears to retain heat
large feet to walk across uncompacted snow and using up lots of energy
how has the snowshoe hare adapted to the tundra?
different coloured hair er season helps camouflage them
large feet to move through snow
give some examples of interdependance within a cold environment?
birds use mosses to line their nests in preperation for the cold winds
plants dependent on the permafrost for stablising root
what opportunities are found in alaska?
mineral extraction
fishing
oil
tourism
give some facts about fishing in alaska
successful and sustainable
$6 bill per year
3,000 rivers in alaska
give some facts about mineral extraction in alaska
1/5 of wealth is from gold
humans and ecostystems can be harmed
give some facts about tourism in alaska
historical sites
brings 1-2 million visitors per year
seasonal and poor pay
give some facts about oil extraction in alaska
provides over 10,000 jobs
1/3 of alaska annual earnings ($40 billion)
oil leaks damage environment
why is accessabiltiy a challenge in alaska?
snow and ice make roads unusable for months
active layer melts in summer leaving permafrost roads cant be used
solifluction when active layer flows down hill piling up at bottom causing blockages
melting and refreezing of active layer causes uneven surface
why are infrastructure and buildings a probem in alaska and how is solved?
heat under houses escapes melting surfaces (raised housing)
runways refelct light and heat them up (painted white)
oil pipes can melt permafrost (elevated pipes)
what is the value of wilderness areas?
provide vital ecosystem services i.e polar regions ice and snow reflect sunlight which regulates temperature of the earth
permafrost keeps in large amounts of methane and green house gases
give an example of an international agreement that helps conserve the cold environment
international convention of whaling helped conserve whale species in coasts of many cold environments
what is a primary producer?
plants that use photosynthesis and take up nutrients from soil
what is a primary consumer?
plant-eating animal
what is a secondary consumer?
animals that feed on herbivores
