Sustaining Ecosystems Flashcards
Define an ecosystem
natural areas which plants, animals and other organisms are linked to each other and to the non-living elements of the environment to form a natural system.
Describe how soil contributes to the nutrient cycle
adds to the biomass when plants take up nutrients through their roots. Litter decomposes into soil and weathered rock adds nutrient to the soil. However soils loses these nutrients when they dissolve in water
Describe how biomass contributes to the nutrient cycle
it adds to litter when dead leaves fall from the plants
Describe how litter contributes to the nutrient cycle
surface runoff washes nutrients away
Give a brief overview of the location, climate, animals and plants in coral reefs
Location: found between 30 degrees north and south of the equator a few miles of the coast
Climate: Grow best in shallow, clear salty water. Warm areas with a lot of sunlight
Animals: Fish, sea snakes, turtles and shrimps.
Plants: Tiny algae live inside the tissue of corals. The algae and the coral depend on each other for nutrients.
Give a few adaptations of animals in coral reefs
Many fish are flat bodied to swim easily and hide. Coral has hard outer coating for protection.
Give a brief overview of the location, climate, animals and plants in the polar regions
Location:
Found around the north and south poles
Climate: Usually less than 10C with winters normally below -40C. Very little rainfall with no more than 500mm.
Animals: Polar bears, penguins and mammals like whales, seals and walruses.
Plants: Very few plants. Some lichens and mosses found on rocks and few grasses grow in the summer. Some small, short trees and shrubs grow.
Give a brief overview of the location, climate, animals and plants in grasslands
Location: Savannah grasslands found between the tropics. Temperate grasslands are found at mid-latitudes.
Climate: Savannah Grasslands have quite low rainfall and distinct wet and and dry seasons with the temperature highest before the wet season and lowest after
Temperate Grasslands have hot summers and cold winters. Drier and receive 250-500mm per year
Animals: Savannah Grasslands home to lots of insects like grasshoppers, beetles. Other animals include lions, elephants and zebras.
Temperate Grasslands has mammals such as bison, wild horses and mole rats.
Plants:
Savannah Grasslands consist of mostly grass and scrubs with few scattered trees.
Temperate Grasslands are also dominated by small plants and grasses.
Give some adaptations of trees in grasslands
Adapted to cope with low levels of rainfall with few leaves and long roots. Fire resistant barks.
Give a brief overview of the location, climate, animals and plants in deserts
Location: Found between 15 degrees and 35 north and south of the equator
Climate: Very little rainfall and extreme temperatures.
Animals: Lizards, snakes, insects and scorpions. Birds migrate during the hot weather.
Plants:
Very little plant growth. Cacti and thorn bushes.
Give some adaptations of plants in deserts
Plant roots are very long and plants are xerophytic (adapted to little water) as well as waxy skins.
Give some adaptations of animals in deserts
Animals adapted to hot conditions - dig burrows and nocturnal.
Give a brief overview of the location, climate, animals and plants in temperate forests
Location: Found between mid-latitudes between the tropics.
Climate: Mild wet climate and experience seasonal change.
Animals: different mammals such as foxes, squirrels. Birds such as woodpeckers and cuckoos. Ponds are habitats for insects to breed.
Plants:Deciduous forests have broad-leaved trees that drop their leaves in autumn (oak trees). Coniferous forests have evergreen trees (pine trees).
Give a brief overview of the location, climate, animals and plants in tropical forests
Location: Found around the equator, between the tropics.
Climate: Hot and wet climate that stays the same all year round.
Animals: Gorillas, jaguars, tree-frog.
Plants: Most trees are ever-green to take advantage of the continual growing season.
Give some examples of how people are interdependent in the rainforest
- Depend on trees for fuel and needs
- Rely on animals for food
Give some examples of how precipitation effects the rainforest
- Trees intercept rainfall, reducing runoff
- More litter due to more rain
- More rain means heavy leaching of nutrients
How are animals interdependent in the rainforest
- They die and decay providing nutrients for the forest floor
- Brazil nut trees depend on agouti to open their seeds
Define goods
the physical products and items used by people
Give some examples
- Provide a vast number of good with significant economic value including timber, medicines, rubber etc.
- Deliver wide diversity of plants, nuts and plants that people eat improving diet
- Provide water for farming and wild pollinators essential to many crops
Define services
refer to the unique role or job that the ecosystem plays in the environment.
Give some examples
- Store about 25% of terrestrial carbon
- Reduce the magnitude and volume of floods
- Resist fires given their high humidity levels and frequent rainfall
Give some impacts of logging
Once an area is cleared it will probably never recover. Mahogany and teak are available
Give some impacts of extraction industries
Requires heavy machinery and energy. Conflict with local people over rights of the land. Pollution.
Give some impacts of agriculture
Burning vegetation produces CO2. Artificial fertilisers that are added threaten wildlife.
Give some impacts of tourism
May scare wildlife. May damage vegetation and leave litter. Infrastructure needs to be built.
Describe the climate in the Arctic and Antarctic
- Very little rainfall. Strong winds. Winter temp. Is -20C to -40C.
- Very little rainfall. Strong winds. Winter temp. Can reach -90C.
Describe the features of the land in the Arctic and Antarctic
- Mountainous. Mainly made up of oceans which has a lot of drifting pack ice
- Mountainous. 99% covered with ice sheet.
Describe the flora and fauna in the Arctic
Low-growing shrubs, lichen, moss, some flowering plants.
Whales, seals, fish, wolves, polar bears
Describe the flora and fauna in Antarctica
Very little. Mainly moss and lichen.
Whales, penguins, seals. All animal rely on the sea.
Give some examples of how climate effects the Arctic
- Humans have to adapt to the harsh conditions e.g. buildings raised
- Climate change is causing sea ice to melt
- Plants have adapted to little rainfall by having small leaves
- Upper layer of soil thaws in the summer
How do animals effect and rely on the Arctic
- People rely on them for food
- Polar bears rely on sea ice for breeding and hunting
- Plants and insects emerge providing food for migrating birds
- Animals and plants decompose slowly meaning the soil is low in nutrients reducing growth rates
What impact is whaling having in the polar regions
- European explorers have hunted whales and seals until near extinction for oil
- International agreement to protect whales and seals but countries such as Japan still do it for ‘research purposes’
What impact are indigenous having in the polar regions
- Traditional indigenous people rely on reindeer herding, fishing or hunting
- No permanent inhabitants in Antarctic and the Arctic inly has a population of 4 million
- Inuit built small settlements on the coast, positioned near food sources and animal migration routes
What impact is oil and gas having in the polar regions
- Drilling for oil and gas can be really risky as oil spills are difficult
- Pipelines have also been built to transport oil but melt the permafrost
- Extraction causes a lot of pollution and damages wildlife
What impact is fishing having in the polar regions
Over-fishing threatens species
Reduced fish populations have a knock-on effect to other species in the food chain
