Small Scale Ecosystem- Epping Forest, East London Flashcards
To know and describe a small- scale woodland
What’s the role of a producer?
Converts energy into glucose from the sun, through photosynthesis
What’s the role of a consumer?
Gain energy from sugars produced by producers.
What’s the role of a decomposer?
Break down dead plant and animal organisms to return nutrients to the soil
What’s an ecosystem?
A natural system consisting of biotic, abiotic features and the environment
What’s a food chain?
Direct links between organisms in a line formation
What’s a food Web?
Connections between organisms in an ecosystem
Abiotic meaning
Non-living features of an ecosystem
Biotic meaning
Living features of an ecosystem
What does weathered rock do?
Releases nutrients into the soil
Biodiversity definition
Biotic and abiotic features in the world/ particular habitat
Soil erosion?
Removal of soil nutrients due to human activity
Ecotourism?
Responsible travel, eco friendly- e.g. staying in cabins, not hotels
Sustainability?
Current activities that won’t affect future generations
Debt Reduction?
Political agreements where countries are relieved of debt in return for protecting their rainforest
Interdependence?
Dependence of 2 or more things on eachother, e.g fish and water!
Epping Forest Location?
East London, remains of a larger forest, colonised England at the end of the last ice age.
How long is Epping Forest from north to south? And east and west?
12 miles. 2.5 miles.
What’s the forest used for?
Hunting and timber resources
_____ is the leading role of the forest
Recreation
Forest is designated as a Site of ___ Interest, meaning it’s protected
Special
______ layer is where emergent trees stick out, reaching heights of ____km! Exposed to ____ and rain.
Emergent. 60-70. Wind.
Eagles, monkeys, bats and butterflies in what layer?
Emergent
Most of rainforest life in ____. It’s like a leaky roof- most _____ and rainfall trapped here. 25-45km high.
Canopy. Sunlight.
Snakes, toucans and insects in what layer?
Canopy
Smaller trees and bushes in _____ layer. Jaguar rests here. ___ grows to 12 feet.
Understorey. Seldom
Jaguars, red-eyed tree frogs, leopards and many insect species in what layer?
Understorey.
__% of light that hits canopy gets in ______ floor. Most darkest, humid and sticky. Covered in ____ leaves, roots, twigs and branches.
- Forest. Rotting.
Which layer has insects, snakes and anteaters and fungi that feeds on rotting….?
Forest floor/ shrub layer. Leaves.
Plant adaptations:
Drip tips, climbing plants and waxy leaves (repel rain), buttress roots- sit on top of soil for stability- supports tall tree trunks.
Animal adaptations:
Non- poisonous frogs, strong limbs (howler monkeys), suction cups (tree frogs), camouflage (leaf tailed geckos).
What latitude are temperate deciduous forests found?
Between 30-60 North.
Latitude coniferous forests?
50-60 north
How do tropical rainforests create their own water system?
Evaporation (high levels), transpiration
Latitude tropical rainforest?
5-10 North and South
Name a plant adapted to tropical rainforest:
Lianas and epiphytes
Logging?
Removal of trees. Sold to big companies. Most popular is mahogany
Selective logging?
Cutting down older trees and letting younger ones grow- it’s sustainable!
Clear felling?
Huge rainforest areas cut down
Amazon- Mineral Extraction:
Main: Gold. Over 50,000 hectares of land. 10,000 in 1999. Illegal mines. Bauxite also extracted- used for tarmac in roads.
Other deforestation causes in Amazon:
Commercial farming- cattle and crops ( palm oil, pineapple, coffee and sugar cane). by 2010- 24.5 mil hectares used for soy bean farming. Illegal animal trading- monkey and jaguar. Could lead2degradation, extinction.
Impacts of deforestation in Brazil:
Global warming (talk abt trees, CO2), Biodiversity (50,000 species a year extinct, Amazon rainforest can lose 30-45% of main species by 2030), soil erosion (thin tap soil removed by heavy rainfall, loses fertility- also when covered by trees), decline indigenous tribes (240 tribes forced out, end up in towns/ cities, addictions develop, 1 mil indigenous people. Lose tradition and natural remedies + knowledge of rainforest).
Sustainability- local, national and international:
Local- Selective logging, replanting and ecotourism- indroduce ppl to natural world, benefit local communities and protect environment for future
National- laws, policies- conservation and education- establish protected areas.
International- inter- governmental agreements
International agreements protect resources and _____ of the forests. International ____ ___ agreement in ____ restricts hardwood trade. All timber marked with ____________.
Biodiversity. Tropical timber. 2006. Registration number.
Tropical rainforest location: _ % of worlds land surface. Near ___ line. 5 and 10 n and s of equator. Largest in Amazon but main in…?
7%. Equator. central Africa, Amazon basin and south east Asia
Tropical rainforest climate:
Consistent, high precipitation due to global atmospheric circulation (low pressure area forms at equator), rising air creates clouds.found in equatorial zone. Over 2000mm a year. Averages 27 degrees Celsius
Hot deserts location:
30 n and s of equator. Largest desert in Northern Africa- Sahara. Extremely arid conditions, less than 250mm annual rainfall.
Hot deserts climate:
Cloudless skies- high insulation levels in day but heat loss at night. Up to 40 degrees C temp. Cool, dry sinking air that heats quickly due to sun concentrated at equator.
Hot desert soils:
Limited by water and vegetation shortages. Sandy rock soils 1m deep. Tall dunes in some places. Potentially fertile soil due to lack of leaching. If irrigated, can be highly productive.
Tropical rainforest soils:
Infertile. Most nutrients found at surface, where dead leaves decompose in hot/ humid conditions. Trees and plants have shallow roots to survive. Leeching- leaves behind infertile, rich soil: latosol.
Cacti adaptations:
-spikes deter consumer species
-spikes instead of leaves for small surface area
-taproots (7-10m deep) to reach ground water
-succulents- store water in tissues
Thar Desert location:
Tropic of Cancer, 27 degrees north, Rajasthan and Pakistan. Jaisalmer is in it.
Thai development opportunities:
Tourism- 1/2 mil visitors in Jaisalmer per year
Animal farming- camel milk treats lactose intolerant babies, camel blood friends cancer and type 1 diabetes
-Mineral extraction- Gypsem used to make concrete and phosphorite used in fertiliser
-commercial farming- India Gandhi brings water into deserts
-Enegy- solar farms and wind farms, largest wind farm in Jaisalmer.
Thai desert challenges:,
Extreme temp- reach about 50 degrees C
Water supply- little for ppl, industry and agriculture.
Inaccessibility- large size and harsh landscape. Accessible by camel= limited infrastructure.
Desertification causes in Sahel desert:
-Population growth- expected to reach 1 billion by 2050, migration= population pressure
-Overgrazing
-overcropping land- exhausts soil’s fertility
-Soil erosion by over cultivation and overgrazing.
Causes that relate to desertification:
Refugee camps, soil erosion, overgrazing, over cultivation, population growth, conflict
Effects of desertification:
Lack of food (leeching of soil) and water = starvation, loss of species= lack of local medicine availability, population pressure, migration, less tree cover= soil exposed to sun, people draw water out of soil for irrigation, but leaves salt deposits (salinisation) so crops can’t be planted.
Solutions to Desertification:
1) The Great Green Wall- 7100km long wall, 15km wide, vegetation and trees to stop desertification spread
2) efficient stoves to stop removing trees for firewood. Emit enough electricity from heat to chafe phone. Farmers can use these phones for weather forecasts.
3) low stone walls, planted parallel to gradient shape, prevent soil erosion and slow down rainwater flow over baked ground. Slow runoff= more time for infiltration. Planted 10-25m apart.
4) Plant trees to stabilise soil- rotting leaves gives nutrients to soil. Relate to green wall. Nat reduce conflict and refugee camp numbers.
5) Better land and water management- tree planting, plant grass on slopes, build small rock dams, collect rainwater on rooftops, build terraces- flat sections with retaining wall.
What is drip irrigation?
Adding water bit-by-bit to crops, using it sensibly, instead of sprinklers- prevents water shortages.
