Sustaining Ecosystems Flashcards
What is an ecosystem?
a system in which organisms interact with each other and their environment
What are the 2 general components of an ecosystem?
abiotic and biotic
What is the nutrient cycle?
plant take in nutrients from the soil to make into organic matter. Animals eat the plants. Animals die and get decomposed into the soil. Restarts
What is litter?
the surface layer of vegetation
What is a biome?
a large geographical area of distinctive plants and animal groups, which are adapted to their particular environment
What are the 6 main biomes?
tropical rainforest
tropical grasslands
hot desert
temperate forest
tundra
coral reefs
Describe the characteristics of tropical rainforests.
centred along the equator
hot all year (25-30 C)
very high rainfall (over 2000mm/year)
tall trees form canopy, many species of flora
greatest range of different animal species
Describe the characteristics of tropical grasslands.
between 5 - 30 north and south
warm all year (20-30 C)
wet + dry season (500-1500 mm/year)
widely spaced trees
large hoofed herbivores
carnivores dominate
Describe the characteristics of hot deserts.
found along the tropics
hot by day (over 30 C)
cold by night
very low rainfall (<300mm/year)
lack of plants, few species adapted to drought
many animals are small and nocturnal except camel
Describe the characteristics of temperate forests.
between 40-60 north of equator
warm summers - mild winters (5-20 C)
variable rainfall (500-1500mm/year)
many deciduous trees
animals adapt to warmer and colder climates; some migrate
Describe the characteristics of tundras
> 65 north and south of equator
cold winters + cool summers (below 10 C)
low rainfall (<500mm/year)
small plants grow close to the ground and only in the summer
low number of species of animals; most found along the coast
Describe the characteristics of coral reefs
30 north and south of equator in tropical waters
warm water all year (18 C)
in water
small range of plant life (algae, sea grasses etc.)
dominated by polyps (octopi, squid etc.) and diverse range of fish
Describe how the rainforest nutrient cycle is different.
hot damp conditions allow for rapid decomposition, which provides plentiful nutrients for plants. Since there are so many plants, nutrients don’t stay in soil for long and only stay on the surface. If vegetation is removed, soils quickly become infertile
What is the main type of rainfall in tropical rainforests?
convectional
What is the soil profile in rainforests?
leaf litter
top soil
sub soil
rock
What are some human activities in the rainforests?
logging
agriculture
tourism
mineral extraction
What are the effects of logging on the rainforest?
cause of destruction to biodiversity
deforestation
has lead to violent confrontations between logging companies and indigenous tribes
What are the effects of agriculture on the rainforest?
large scale ‘slash and burn’ for ranches and palm oil
increases carbon emissions
river saltation and soil erosion increase due to large areas of exposed land
Increase in palm oil is making soil infertile
What are the effects of Mineral extraction on the rainforest?
areas mined can experience soil and water contamination
indigenous people displaced from their homes
What are the effects of tourism on the rainforest?
building of hotels in vulnerable areas
negative relationship[ between government and tribes
wildlife exposed to human diseases
What are the major benefits of the rainforest?
raw materials
water
food
health
energy
climate
What are pros and cons of Ecotourism in Costa Rica?
80 new businesses have opened in Monteverde, 400 full-time and 140 part-time jobs created
land prices have increased, deforestation to clear areas for tourism industry
What effect is global warming having on tundra biomes?
ice sheets and glaciers melting, increasing sea levels.
Permafrost is thawing, releasing methane into the atmosphere
What is the arctic soil’s profile?
active layer (thaws in summer, becomes deeper towards the pole)
permafrost (permanently frozen all year)
Bed rock (low temp. weathers rock slowly)
What are differences in the arctic and antarctica?
arctic: large areas are permafrost. At sea, most of the region is frozen over
antarctica: large, thick ice sheet. Mountain range across the continent
What are some human activities in the polar regions?
oil & gas exploration
whaling
fishing
tourism
What are the effects of oil and gas exploration in the polar regions?
oil spills would threaten ecosystems
What are the effects of whaling in the polar regions?
decline of whale population
whaling bans and restrictions
What are the effects of fishing in the polar regions?
polar regions difficult to police due to harsh conditions
collapse of fish stocks may damage ecosystem
What are the effects of tourism in the polar regions?
tourism industry growing
travel by tourists increase emissions
wildlife may be disturbed
What is a case study of small scale sustainable management?
Union Glacier, Antarctica
What is Union Glacier?
a key logistics hub for expeditions and research in the southern Ellsworth Mountains
What are features of the Union Glacier?
location has good facilities
tourists can enjoy sever activities, such as skiing etc.
How is the Union Glacier sustainably managed?
strict guidelines for tourists regarding the environment
solar panels used to reduce carbon emissions
all waste is contained and removed
