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