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Sustaining Ecosystems Flashcards

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1
Q

Abiotic

A

The non-living parts of an ecosystem such as rock, water, sunshine, gases etc.

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2
Q

Biotic

A

The living components of an ecosystem.

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3
Q

Biome

A

World scale ecosystem covering large areas (normally across multiple continents), identified by a particular vegetation.

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4
Q

Photosynthesises

A

Process of creating sugar using light and carbon dioxide

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5
Q

Biomass

A

Total mass of plant and animal life in an ecosystem or within a specific topic level.

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6
Q

Food web

A

A hierarchical network of organisms in a community, each member getting its energy from another which gives up its energy in turn.

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7
Q

Population

A

A collection of individuals o

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8
Q

Nutrient cycle

A

The process by which chemical elements for growth and repair are recycled between living and non-living elements of the ecosystem.

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9
Q

Ecosystem

A

A self-regulating community in which living things interact with each other and their non-living environmentn

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10
Q

Consumers

A

Organisms which feed on other organisms

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11
Q

Trophic level

A

A feeding level within a food chain.

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12
Q

Fauna

A

All the animals in a community

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13
Q

Flora

A

All plants in a community.

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14
Q

Energy flow

A

Passage of energy through trophic levels.

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15
Q

Omnivores

A

Animals which eat both plants and other animals

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16
Q

Herbivores

A

A plant eating organism

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17
Q

Detritivores

A

Organisms which feed on dead and decaying organic matter such as bacteria and fungi.

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18
Q

Producers

A

Organisms which produce glucose using the suns energy and carbon dioxide.

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19
Q

Producers

A

Organisms which produce glucose using the suns energy and carbon dioxide.

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20
Q

What is the location of the Polar Biome?

A
  • Antarctica 66 degrees, 33.5 S continent covers south pole.

- Arctic 66 degrees, 33.5 N located north pole, Greenland, Russia, Canada.

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21
Q

What is the climate in Polar Biome?

A
  • Consist of long, cold winters and short cool summers.
  • covered by ice and snow throughout
  • temps rarely rise above freezing because of low angle of sun.
  • 1/2 year in light, 1/2 year in dark
  • Dry, receive 250mm rain annual
  • Arctic, -46 to -26
  • Antarctic, - 62 to -55
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22
Q

What is the flora and fauna in the Polar Biome?

A

Flora:

  • Tundra has no trees because it has permafrost.
  • some low lying shrubs, moss, grass and alpine like flowering plants.
  • Around 1700 species of plants.
  • 300-400 species of lichen

Fauna:

  • In tundra land mammals, foxes, wolves, polar bears and reindeer, sea mammals whales
  • In winter animals migrate south
  • Antarctic has penguins and seals
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23
Q

What is the location of Temperate Grasslands?

A
  • Between 40-60 degrees N of equator

- North America, Africa, South America , Eurasia

24
Q

What is the climate of Temperate Grasslands?

A
  • cooler than Savannah
  • hot summer, cold winter
  • summer temps reach above 38 and winter as low as -40.
  • Avg rainfall is 250mm to 750mm
    75% rain in the summer
  • snow is reservoir of moisture to help start summer growing
  • Summer can bring drought and fire which helps maintains the grasslands.
25
Q

What is flora and fauna of Temperate Grasslands?

A

Flora:

  • length of growing depends on temp
  • do not grow as tall and rapid as Tropical Grasslands
  • Trees are willow and oak grow in river valley where more water is present.
  • grass grows around 50cm
  • sunflowers and wild indigo’s grow in grass

Fauna:

  • grass is good habitat for burrowing animals eg. rabbits , gophers, kangaroos, bison, antelope.
  • Bison is found in prairies of North America.
  • Carnivores include coyotes, wolves and large birds like eagles and hawkes.
26
Q

What is the location of Temperate Forest?

A
  • Between 40-60 degrees N+S equator

- Northern hemisphere, eastern + northern america, Asia, Western Europe

27
Q

What is the climate in Temperate Forest?

A
  • the Tilt of Earth to Sun gives 4 equal seasons
  • Summers are warm and Winters are mild.
  • Rainfall is 750mm to 1500mm
  • Avg annual temp is 10 degrees C
  • Snow is common in mountains in winter
  • Has 2nd highest rainfall where ferrel and polar meet
28
Q

What is the Flora and Fauna in Temperate Forest?

A

Flora:

  • Trees have growing season of 6-8 months
  • they grow only 50cm per year
  • branches of high trees are more open to allow enough sunlight through to let small trees grow.
  • Forest floor covered with grass and thorns

Fauna:

  • Animals must adapt to cope with colder winter, some migrate and some hibernate
  • In North America Black bears are found and have a heavy coat with lots of layers of fur. Build up 5 inch layer of fat before hibernating.
  • in northern hemisphere, squirrels
  • owls, pigeons, rabbit deer, mice and foxes in Britain.
29
Q

What is the location in Tropical Rain-forest?

A
  • Tropics of cancer and Capricorn, 23.5 degrees N and S
  • covers less than 6% of earths land surface
  • South America, Africa, Southeast Asia.
30
Q

What is the climate in Tropical Forest?

A
  • Temps are high and remain constant because sun is always high.
  • No seasons temps vary from 26-28 degrees C
  • Each day 12hrs light and 12hrs dark
  • highest annual rainfall is over 2000mm
  • heavy downpour in afternoon because trade winds at ITCZ rise and cause rain
  • atmosphere is humid and sticky because of moisture from rain and transpiration from vegetation
31
Q

What is the Flora and Fauna in the Tropical Forest?

A

Flora:

  • 4 layers of forest, shrub, under canopy, canopy, emergent
  • emergent has tall and thin trees to absorb as much sunlight they grow up so no branches.
  • Supported by buttress roots so don’t fall
  • Drip tip leaves
  • Large surface area for sun

Fauna:

  • birds, animals and insets in canopy layer
  • insects are largest
  • Abundance of amphibians
  • has poison to kill predators
  • insects camouflage to protect from insects
32
Q

What is the location of coral reefs?

A
  • found 30 degrees N and S of equator.
  • Western Atlantic ocean- Bermuda, Bahamas, gulf of mexico.
  • Areas of Gulf of California
  • Great Barrier Reed east coast of Australia
33
Q

What is the climate of the coral reef?

A
  • for coral to grow warm water is needed with mean temp pf 18 degrees C
  • water is clear and shallow not more than 30m
  • if deeper not enough sunlight for photosynthesis
34
Q

What is the flora and Fauna of Coral Reefs?

A

Flora:

  • less than 1% of worlds ocean surface
  • have algae on corol to produce energy
  • sea grass which provide shelter and habitat
  • coral made up of thousands of polyp
  • polyp feed on plankton and take long time to grow

Fauna:

  • up to 2,000,000 species living in coral reefs, 4000 species of fish
  • parrot fish feeds on polyps, clams- settle on coral bed and filter plankton from sea water.
  • Coral reef contain 25% of marine life who depend on reef for food and shelter
  • eels live on coral and pounce on small fish.
35
Q

What is the location of Hot desert?

A
  • 30 degrees N and S of the equator.
  • North Africa, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Sahara
  • Around Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn
36
Q

What is the climate of Hot Desert?

A
  • 14hr sun in Summer, 10hrs in winter
  • Day temps can reach 36-50 degrees C
  • Night temps below freezing
  • In day sun raises temps and rock and sand heat up
  • lack of clouds so heat not trapped at night
  • annual rain is 40mm and unreliable
37
Q

What is the Flora and Fauna in Hot Desert?

A

Flora:

  • vegetation is resistant to moisture and heat
  • plant are xerophytic (adapt to environment with little water)
  • Cacti and yucca plants in hot and dry places
  • Cacti absorbs water, has spiky, waxy leaves to reduce loss of water
  • Roots are long to water supply deep or short and large area for rain.

Fauna:

  • Lack of food so hard for animals
  • Meerkats occupy underground tunnels adapted by feeding on scorpion and they are immune to venom and lizards and rodents.
  • Camel humps to store fat and water, wide feet and thick eye lashes
  • Rattle snakes move in a way so only 2 parts touch sand.
38
Q

What is the location of Tropical grasslands?

A
  • also known as Savannah
  • 5 to 30 degrees N and S of equator.
    In India, Mexico, North Australia, most central Africa
39
Q

What is the climate of Tropical Grasslands?

A
  • Savannah regions range from rain forest to desert and ecosystem so climate ranges from wet and dry.
  • Temps are high
  • There are 2 seasons, a long dry season and a short wet season. Rainy season occurs when sun and ITCZ moves over causing high rainfall for 4-5 months. ITCZ moves to cause dry climate.
40
Q

What id the flora and Fauna of the tropical grassland?

A

Flora:

  • when it rains grass grows quickly to 3m tall.
  • Baobab tree adapted to climate by growing large swollen stems and trunk is 10m in diameter.
  • Root like branches, little leaves reduces loss through transpiration.
  • Trunk bark to retain moisture
  • Some trees are drought and fire resistant to survive dry weather.

Fauna:

  • 40 different species
  • contains herbivores
  • Antelopes (gazelles and impalas)
  • grazing species (elephants, giraffes, zebras, rhinos)
  • Carnivores including cheetahs, lions, leopards, dogs and hyenas
41
Q

Explain the nutrient cycle

A

The rainforest nutrient cycling is rapid. The hot, damp conditions on the forest floor allow for the rapid decomposition of dead plant material. This provides plentiful nutrients that are easily absorbed by plant roots. However, as these nutrients are in high demand from the rainforest’s many fast-growing plants, they do not remain in the soil for long and stay close to the surface of the soil. If vegetation is removed, the soils quickly become infertile and vulnerable to erosion.

42
Q

Explain the water cycle in the TRF

A

The water evaporates in the atmosphere and forms clouds due to heat (convectional rainfall). Water is lost through pores in leaves and then evaporated by heat by evapotranspiration. Most water evaporated from canopy, canopy intercepts most rain. Removal of trees means less moisture and rainfall declines which can lead to drought.

43
Q

TRF climate

A

Hot and wet climate. Rainfall can reach above 2000mm per yea. The temps often lie between 26-28 degrees C. Weather conditions in canopy compared to forest floor are different as sun rays cannot reach all layers. Small scale climate conditions.

44
Q

What are the goods from the TRF?

A

Food- provide nutrients for soil to be productive. Provide 80% of all western foods like pineapple and coffee.
Raw materials- Provide saleable commodities like rubber and timber. Source of illegal drugs (cocaine).
Medicine- One rain forest drug is used to help diabetes. 25% of cancer fighting drugs. Small monkeys called marmosets for rain forests used to test drugs before humans. Plants used in contraceptive pill. A drug derived from plant called rosy periwinkle improved childhood leukaemia sufferers survival change from 10-90%.

45
Q

What are the services from the TRF?

A

Tourism- Rainforest are places we visit on trekks and holidays increasingly as eco-tourism. 50% of biological diversity found in TRF.
Habitats- Homes for endangered systems like orang- utans, bonobos, arrow frogs. Many indigenous people in the rainforest live the way they have lived for centuries can teach us a lot.
Planet systems- A unique biome. Regulate hydrological cycle. Store carbon which is contributor to global warming.

46
Q

How does logging affect the TRF?

A

SOCIAL ECONOMIC BENEFITS- It helps the poorest communities gain better standard of living, more lands for housing and urbanisation. Tiber produced for furniture, household utensils and fuel wood. Increases economy.
IMPACT ON ORGANISMS- Impacts interaction in TRF. Destroys habitats.
IMPACT ON WATER- less interception of rain so more flooding.
IMPACT ON ATMOSPHERE- Carbon released into atmosphere. 80% from Indonesian logging.

47
Q

How does Mining affect the TRF?

A

SOCIAL ECONOMIC BENEFITS- receive funds for infustructure such as electricity and rods due to mineral health. Gold copper and diamond can be found.
IMPACT ON ORGANISMS- People are displaced from land to enable roads to be built and to allow access for machines.
IMPACT ON WATER- Water contamination particularly down stream due to toxic run off into the riverZ.

48
Q

How does Cattle Ranching affect the TRF?

A

SOCIO-ECONOMIC BENEFITS- low risk and maintenance in comparison to cash crops. Not as vulnerable to global price change and climate change.
IMPACT ON ORGANISM- Soil erosion
IMPACT ON WATER- Riverstilation due to large exposed land.
IMPACT ON ATMOSPHERE- 340 million tons of carbon per year

49
Q

How does Oil palm plantation affect the TRF?

A

SOCIO-ECONOMIC BENEFITS- used to create bio fuel found in/2 products sold in supermarkets like cake, shampoo and cosmetics.
IMPACT ON ORGANISMS- trees cut down and burnt so destroy habitats however ash from burnt trees provides short term nutrients for soil.
IMPACT ON ATMOSPHERE- Smoke and ash produced

50
Q

How does Dams affect the TRF?

A

SOCIO-ECONOMIC BENEFITS- Dam building generates hydroelectric power to support human activities such as large scale logging.
IMPACT ON ORGANISMS- disrupts people natural river system and people are forced from land
IMPACT ON WATER- disrupts river system

51
Q

How does Roads affect the TRF?

A

SOCIO-ECONOMIC BENEFITS- help the poorest communities get better standard of living, more lands for housing and urbanisation.
IMPACT ON ORGANISMS- involves deforestation which will destroy habitats
IMPACT ON WATER- disruption river system roads to make hydroelectric dams
IMPACT ON ATMOSPHERE- leads to logging meaning carbon released into air.

52
Q

How does Tourism affect the TRF?

A

SOCIO-ECONOMIC BENEFITS- tourists bring money which benefits countries economy, road construction which makes areas accessible.
IMPACT ON ORGANISMS- reduces habitat as hotels built so kill animals and plants. Tourists bring item which cause disease.
IMPACT ON WATER- construction of roads and hotels cut sources of water and decreases impermeable surfaces and increases flooding.
IMPACT ON ATMOSPHERE- cars and air planes means more CO2 in air

53
Q

Differences in the CLIMATE of arctic and Antarctic

A

Arctic- Polar climate with a large range of temps between summer and winter. More precipitation than Antarctic. Area is a desert. Strong winds/

Antarctic- Colder than Antarctic. Altitude- fr every 150 metre gained in height the temps fall by 1 degree. The albedo affect, 80% rays reflected back, the snow and ice are white and reflect solar radiation. There are more cold seas around Antarctic so have cold climate. Higher altitude so cold winds.

54
Q

Difference in the FEATURE OF THE LAND AND SEA in Arctic and Antarctic

A

Arctic- areas are made of permafrost. When the top few centimetres of ground thaws in summer, produces landscape with depressions that fill with lakes. Sea ice develops in winter months which lead to ice bergs and glaciers. The arctic circle: Russia, Canada, Greenland.

Antarctic- divided into 2 main and ice sheets which are East Antarctic and west Antarctic by the trans antarctic mountains.

55
Q

Differences in the FLORA AND FAUNA in Arctic and Antarctic

A

Arctic- plants and animals adapted to sub-zero conditions and absence of liquid water. plant. plants are adapted to dry conditions, species like dwarf willow and lichens cling to ground to avoid being damaged by winds. Marin creatures are seals, whales, sea lions and walruses.

Antarctic- to extreme for plants to grow. Only algae and lichen can survive. penguins nest on ice shelves. Other species migrate.

56
Q

Impacts on the arctic ecosystems

A
  • drilling for oil because it is profitable as costs for oil are increasing
  • Quicker route to transport truck to different countries so cheaper
  • Fish is being pushed up to Arctic.

Impacts:

  • loss of habitat and wildlife
  • loss of riverine ecosystems
  • oil spills on land and sea kill and harm creatures
  • Drilling disturbs beluga whale who are forced to change route of migration so indigenous people are deprived of resources.
  • Polar bears are forced to change patterns of life and feeding as their habitats are being drilled and are being driven away
  • Native people near arctic ocean rely on wildlife like seals and whales and fish which are being forced to migrate due to drilling.

Geography (3 decks)

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