Sustaining Ecosystems

Question 1

Define an ecosystem

Answer 1

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.

Question 2

Describe how soil contributes to the nutrient cycle

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Describe how biomass contributes to the nutrient cycle

Answer 3

it adds to litter when dead leaves fall from the plants

Question 4

Describe how litter contributes to the nutrient cycle

Answer 4

surface runoff washes nutrients away

Question 5

Give a brief overview of the location, climate, animals and plants in coral reefs

Answer 5

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.

Question 6

Give a few adaptations of animals in coral reefs

Answer 6

Many fish are flat bodied to swim easily and hide. Coral has hard outer coating for protection.

Question 7

Give a brief overview of the location, climate, animals and plants in the polar regions

Answer 7

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.

Question 8

Give a brief overview of the location, climate, animals and plants in grasslands

Answer 8

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.

Question 9

Give some adaptations of trees in grasslands

Answer 9

Adapted to cope with low levels of rainfall with few leaves and long roots. Fire resistant barks.

Question 10

Give a brief overview of the location, climate, animals and plants in deserts

Answer 10

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.

Question 11

Give some adaptations of plants in deserts

Answer 11

Plant roots are very long and plants are xerophytic (adapted to little water) as well as waxy skins.

Question 12

Give some adaptations of animals in deserts

Answer 12

Animals adapted to hot conditions - dig burrows and nocturnal.

Question 13

Give a brief overview of the location, climate, animals and plants in temperate forests

Answer 13

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).

Question 14

Give a brief overview of the location, climate, animals and plants in tropical forests

Answer 14

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.

Question 15

Give some examples of how people are interdependent in the rainforest

Answer 15

• Depend on trees for fuel and needs

- Rely on animals for food

Question 16

Give some examples of how precipitation effects the rainforest

Answer 16

• Trees intercept rainfall, reducing runoff
• More litter due to more rain
• More rain means heavy leaching of nutrients

Question 17

How are animals interdependent in the rainforest

Answer 17

• They die and decay providing nutrients for the forest floor
• Brazil nut trees depend on agouti to open their seeds

Question 18

Define goods

Answer 18

the physical products and items used by people

Question 19

Give some examples

Answer 19

• 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

Question 20

Define services

Answer 20

refer to the unique role or job that the ecosystem plays in the environment.

Question 21

Give some examples

Answer 21

• Store about 25% of terrestrial carbon
• Reduce the magnitude and volume of floods
• Resist fires given their high humidity levels and frequent rainfall

Question 22

Give some impacts of logging

Answer 22

Once an area is cleared it will probably never recover. Mahogany and teak are available

Question 23

Give some impacts of extraction industries

Answer 23

Requires heavy machinery and energy. Conflict with local people over rights of the land. Pollution.

Question 24

Give some impacts of agriculture

Answer 24

Burning vegetation produces CO2. Artificial fertilisers that are added threaten wildlife.

Question 25

Give some impacts of tourism

Answer 25

May scare wildlife. May damage vegetation and leave litter. Infrastructure needs to be built.

Question 26

Describe the climate in the Arctic and Antarctic

Answer 26

• Very little rainfall. Strong winds. Winter temp. Is -20C to -40C.
• Very little rainfall. Strong winds. Winter temp. Can reach -90C.

Question 27

Describe the features of the land in the Arctic and Antarctic

Answer 27

• Mountainous. Mainly made up of oceans which has a lot of drifting pack ice
• Mountainous. 99% covered with ice sheet.

Question 28

Describe the flora and fauna in the Arctic

Answer 28

Low-growing shrubs, lichen, moss, some flowering plants.

Whales, seals, fish, wolves, polar bears

Question 29

Describe the flora and fauna in Antarctica

Answer 29

Very little. Mainly moss and lichen.

Whales, penguins, seals. All animal rely on the sea.

Question 30

Give some examples of how climate effects the Arctic

Answer 30

• 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

Question 31

How do animals effect and rely on the Arctic

Answer 31

• 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

Question 32

What impact is whaling having in the polar regions

Answer 32

• 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’

Question 33

What impact are indigenous having in the polar regions

Answer 33

• 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

Question 34

What impact is oil and gas having in the polar regions

Answer 34

• 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

Question 35

What impact is fishing having in the polar regions

Answer 35

Over-fishing threatens species

Reduced fish populations have a knock-on effect to other species in the food chain