the living world Flashcards
the amazon rainforest facts:
known as the lungs of the world providing 20% of the worlds oxygen
25% of ingredients for todays cancer-fighting drugs come are found only in rainforests
50% of the world animal and plant species live in tropical rainforests
every second an area of the rainforest the size of a football pitch is lost
at the current rate of deforestation all the worlds tropical rainforests will have disappeared in 40 years.
deforestation - dams
there are over 300 dams being being built or under construction or in the planning stage in the amazon
why?
Brazil (an NEE wanting to be a HIC) wants to make more towns and villages as their population Is overgrowing, building dams forms job opportunities and enhance economic activity.
selective logging
selecting logs that have a high value (such as mahogany) to reduce cutting down trees.
+ more sustainable
- possible damage of other trees in the process
conservation and education
the protection, preservation, management or restoration of tropical forests and the ecological that inhabit them.
ecotourism
environmentally friendly tourism because the people involved want to protect the environment.
+ profit go to conserving the rainforest environment and local people
- could become large scale
trans - Alaska pipeline
800 miles long carrying oil to the harbour where it will get shipped to other countries.
built above the ground due to the perma - frost
where is Svalbard?
Svalbard is a Norwegian territory in the artic ocean and the most northerly permanently inhabited group of islands in the world
Svalbard economic benefits
mineral extraction - rich reservers of coal for mining
fishing - one of the richest fishing ground is the world
tourism is growing in Svalbard - more jobs for local people. tourists visit to see the natural environment.
red dog mine
largest zinc mine in the world, accounting for 10% of the worlds zinc production
52 miles from the coast, they built a 52 mile road to transport the zinc. clearing the land to build the road will have damaged the habitats in the environment and they can only transport the zinc and iron 100 days a year because the sea is frozen the rest of the time.
plants adapted to cold climates
cushion plants
compact and low growing plants which help them to survive cold and windy conditions. they trap airborne dust and use it as a source of nutrients
plants adapted to cold climates
artic poppies
they have a hairy stem to retain heat. The flower can track the sun in the sky to maximise the amount of sunlight it receives so that it can increase photosynthesis.
plants adapted to cold climate
cotton grass
this grass has small seeds that can easily be dispersed by the wind to ensure its survival. It is low lying to protect it from cold winds and has thin leaves to reduce water loss by transpiration. Cotton grass grows and produces seeds quickly as soon as the temperature increases.
plants adapted to cold climates
lichen
this organism does not need soil to grow. It grows very slowly, can withstand very cold temperatures and survives beneath snow.
animals adapted to cold climates
musk ox
they have long shaggy hair that is well adapted to the frigid climate. Its outer hair are called guard hairs which cover the second, shorter undercoat providing additional insulation in the winter. The undercoat falls out when winter ends.
animals adapted to cold climate
artic fox
they have several adaptations that allow them to survive. Their round compact bodies minimize their exposion to cold air. Their muzzle, ears and legs are short conserving heat.
