sustaining eco systems 2 Flashcards
where do Coral reefs best form
warm bright areas with shallow clear salty water
what animals are found in coral reefs
fish , sea snakes and turtles
what are the stages of the water cycle
-water evaporates from water bodies and the land
-water vapour is moved by winds
-water vapour condenses to form clouds and then falls as rain
-water flows from one place to another
-water eventually ends up back into the river or sea
what are the stages of the nutrient cycle
-plants drop their leaves
-animals and plants die and decompose leaving their nutrients to the soil
-plants absorb the nutrients and use them to grow
-animals eat plants then die leaving nutrients
why are tropical rainforests soil rich in nutrients
-trees are evergreen so leaves fall all year round
-warm moist climate means bacteria and fungi decompose the dead matter quickly
-rainwater soaks into the soil
why can rainforests soak also be low in nutrients
-trees drop their leaves all year round so there is a constant supply of nutrients
-the dead leaves are quickly broken down form humus which is mixed with the soil
what sort of goods and services do rainforests produce
rubber, chocolate, coffee
hardwoods and logging can contribute to economy
absorb around 0.7 billion tonnes of co2 each year
why is logging bad for rainforests
removal of trees disrupts the water cycle which can lead to areas becoming dry
logging requires the build of new roads
why is agriculture bad for rainforests
without trees to intercept rainfall, more water riches the soil, nutrients are washed away so soil fertility is reduced.
artificial fertilisers cause soil erosion
why is mineral extraction bad for rainforests
mining of materials often requires machinery and removal of trees
toxic chemicals can be washed up into rivers killing wildlife
why is tourism bad for rainforests
tourists may scare wildlife
damage to vegetation and litter
what is the climate like in the arctic
average summers are less than 10 degrees and annual precipitation is less than 500mm
what is the land like in arctic regions
mountainous regions that are permanently covered in snow and ice.
what plants and animals are found in the arctic
lichen, moss
whales, seals, wolves
what is colder the arctic or antarctic
antarctic is colder and dryer
