Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Geography Paper 1 > The Living World > Flashcards

The Living World Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
U.S. Geography flashcards World Geography flashcards
1
Q

What does biotic mean?

What does abiotic mean?

A

The living parts of an area

The non-living parts of an area

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is a producer?

What is a consumer?

What is a decomposer?

A

Uses sunlight to produce food

Gets its energy by eating other organisms

Gets its energy by breaking down dead material (e.g bacteria and fungi)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is an ecosystem?

A

A community of plants and animals (biotic) interacting with each other and their environment (abiotic)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Describe the nutrient cycle

A

Plants take up nutrients from the soil
Some plants die or are eating by consumers
When plants or consumers die they are broken down by decomposers that return the nutrients to the soil

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is a food chain?

What is a food web?

A

A linear sequence that shows what eats what

Shows how lots of food chains overlap and interact

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What are the characteristics of a tundra ecosystem?

What are the characteristics of a polar ecosystem?

A

Found in high latitudes, cold winters, brief summers, little rainfall, almost no trees, have permafrost (permanently frozen ground)

Found in the poles, cold, icy, dry, not much grows, dark for several months so growing season is short

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are the characteristics of a boreal forest (taiga)?

What are the characteristics of a temperate deciduous forest?

A

Found between 50-60 degrees N, winters cold + dry, summers mild + moist, trees are coniferous with needles

Found in mid-latitudes, four seasons, warm summers, mild winters, rainfall all year, deciduous trees (lose leaves)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What are the characteristics of a grassland?

A

Savannah - found between tropics, dry and wet seasons, rainfall low, most vegetation is grass, some trees

Temperate grasslands - higher latitudes, more variation in temp, less rainfall, no trees just grass

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is the climate like in a tropical rainforest?

What is the soil like in a tropical rainforest?

A

No seasons, hot (20-28 degrees C) as they are between the tropics so sun’s energy is intense. Wet (2000mm) as it rains every day

Not very fertile as heavy rain washes nutrients away. Thin layer of surface nutrients due to decayed leaf fall

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are the plants like in a tropical rainforest?

A

Most trees are evergreen (continual growing season), tall trees and dense vegetation. Lots of epiphytes (plants that grow on other plants to take nutrients)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are the animals like in a tropical rainforest?

What are the people like in a tropical rainforest?

A

Rainforests have more animal species than any other ecosystem, very varied

Many indigenous people live there, they hunt, fish, gather nuts and berries and grow vegetables.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Describe the biodiversity and productivity in a tropical rainforest

A

Very high biodiversity, contain about half of all life on earth. Deforestation + uncontrolled development will lead to extinction and loss of biodiversity

Rainforests are stable + productive environments as climate is constant

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Describe the interdependency in a tropical rainforest ecosystem.

A

Climate helps decomposers add nutrients to soil so plants grow easily, dense vegetation provides food so animal populations are high. Many species form symbiotic relationships (depend on each other for survival)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

How have plants adapted to the tropical rainforest?

A
  • Trees are tall to compete for sunlight
  • Plants have waxy leaves with drip tips to repel water, so weight of water doesn’t damage plant
  • Climbing plants (lianas) use trees to reach sunlight
  • Smooth, thin bark as don’t need to protect from cold
  • Buttress roots are large + stable to support tree trunks
  • Plants drop leaves all year so they can always grow
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

How have animals adapted to the tropical rainforest?

A
  • Animals in the canopy have strong limbs to move
  • Some animals camouflaged to hide from predators
  • Birds have short, pointed wings to manoeuvre easily
  • Animals adapted to dark forest floor e.g sharp sense of smell to detect predators
  • Many animals nocturnal to save energy (night = cool)
  • Suction cups help animals climb trees
  • Many animals can swim to cross river channels
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Why are tropical rainforests valuable?

A

Many products come from rainforests e.g rubber, coffee, chocolate
Many medicines come from rainforests, plant extinction can affect healthcare
Rainforests regulate climate and the water cycle, deforestation can increase drought and flooding
Can reduce the greenhouse effect by absorbing CO2
Sustainable development can benefit the economy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Name seven ways that rainforests can be sustainably managed

A

Replanting
Selective logging
Ecotourism
Education
Conservation
Reducing debt
International hardwood agreements

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Explain how replanting in rainforests is sustainable management

Explain how selective logging is sustainable management

A

New trees replace ones that are felled, they must be the same species, in some countries this is law

Only some trees are felled, not clearing a whole area so the forest can regenerate as the overall structure is kept

19
Q

Explain how ecotourism in rainforests is sustainable management

Explain how education is sustainable management

A

Minimises environmental damage + provides income for locals, limited numbers of tourists allowed, raises awareness of conservation, it’s an incentive to preserve the environment

Encourages people to buy from sustainable sources, locals learn the long-term effects of their actions, teaching alternatives reduces dependency on unsustainable practices

20
Q

Explain how conservation in rainforests is sustainable management

A

National parks prohibit damaging practices but lack of funds make it difficult to uphold, sometimes overseas governments can invest, money promotes sustainability

21
Q

Explain how reducing debt is sustainable management for rainforests

A

Many rainforests are in LICs that must pay back debt with interest, so they log/farm/mine in rainforests to pay it back
Debt can be cancelled but there is no guarantee that it’ll go to conservation.
Conservation swap is where part of debt is paid off in return for a guarantee that money goes towards conservation

22
Q

Explain how international hardwood agreements are sustainable management in rainforests

A

Hardwood is often used for furniture, high demand in HICs means hardwood is becoming more rare. International agreements ensure that wood comes from sustainable sources and prevents illegal logging

23
Q

What is the climate like in a hot desert?

A

Very little rainfall (less than 250mm annually) with varied rainfall patterns, extreme temperatures (up to 45 degrees C in the day but below freezing at night)

24
Q

What is the soil like in a hot desert?

A

Not very fertile due to lack of leaf fall, little rainfall makes it dry, soil is often shallow with a gravelly texture

25
Q

What are the plants like in a hot desert?

A

Plant growth is sparse (little rainfall), the ones that do grow don’t need much water, plants are usually short, many plants have short life cycles and grow quickly after rain

26
Q

What are the animals like in a hot desert?

A

Animals tend to be small and nocturnal, most birds leave during harshest conditions but some stay all year

27
Q

What are the people like in a hot desert?

A

Many people grow a few crops near water sources, usually in desert fringes, indigenous people are often nomadic

28
Q

Explain the interdependency in hot desert ecosystems

A

They are fragile, interdependent ecosystems. Plants provide nutrients and water for the consumers, animals spread seeds through dung. Soil isn’t very fertile so plants struggle to grow, so it can only support a low density of people/animals. A small change affects the whole ecosystem

29
Q

Explain the biodiversity in hot deserts

A

They have low biodiversity. Small areas around ephemeral (temporary) ponds have highest biodiversity + human population

Humans threaten biodiversity, desertification, contaminating water, building roads etc

Climate change makes deserts hotter + drier so some species will go extinct

30
Q

How have plants adapted to living in hot deserts?

A
  • Roots are long to reach deep water or wide near the surface to absorb water when it rains
  • Many plants are succulents - have fleshy stems to store water, waxy skin to reduce transpiration
  • Small leaves or spines to reduce surface area + water loss
  • Spines can contain toxins to deter predators
  • Grow quickly when it rains
31
Q

How have animals adapted to living in hot deserts?

A
  • Nocturnal animals sleep in the day to stay cool
  • Long limbs/ears = large surface area = more heat loss
  • Lots live underground for less extreme temperatures
  • Some store fat that breaks down into water
  • Most reduce water loss through sweat and urine
  • Flat feet so they don’t sink into sand
32
Q

What is desertification?

How much of the world’s land is at risk?

Where is most at risk?

A

The degradation of land, making it drier + less productive

1/3

Deserts margins

33
Q

How does climate change cause desertification?

A
  • Rainfall - climate change reduces rainfall in dry areas, more plants die
  • Temperature - temp increases, more water evaporates, soil is drier, plants struggle to grow
34
Q

When does desertification occur?

A

When vegetation is removed / dies.
Exposed soil easily eroded as there are no roots to hold it together
Nutrients are lost so it becomes unproductive

35
Q

Name four ways that humans cause desertification

A
  • Removal of fuel wood (removes trees)
  • Overgrazing (eat plants faster than they can regrow, trampling erodes soil)
  • Over-cultivation (crops planted in the same area use up nutrients in soil - plants can’t grow)
  • Population growth (people put pressure on the land = more deforestation, overgrazing + overcultivation)
36
Q

How can water management reduce the risk of desertification?

A

Grow crops that need little water reduces water use, drip irrigation means that soil isn’t being eroded by lots of water added at once

37
Q

How can tree planting reduce the risk of desertification?

A

Trees act as windbreaks, reduce wind erosion. Trees stabilise sand. Grow trees amongst crops increases shade, reducing temperature and evaporation rates

38
Q

How can soil management reduce the risk of desertification?

A

Leave areas of land to rest between grazing/planting lets it recover its nutrients. Rotate crops that use different nutrients to prevent one from being taken. Compost adds extra nutrients

39
Q

How can appropriate technology reduce the risk of desertification?

A

Use cheap, sustainable, easily available materials to build things for local people. Solar cookers are cheap and easy to make + don’t need firewood

40
Q

What are some causes of deforestation in Malaysia?

A
  • Commercial farming - Malaysia is largest exporter of palm oil globally, large areas of forest converted to palm oil plantations
  • Subsistence farming - small-scale farming from locals, occasionally fires to clear trees burn out of control
  • Logging - Malaysia has large wood exports, much comes from clear felling (cutting all trees in an area)
  • Mineral extraction - on the peninsular, rainforest cleared for mining tin and drilling for oil is common
  • Energy development - Bakun Dam produces HEP, but has flooded 700km squared of rainforest
  • Settlements / transmigration - poor people urged to move to countryside by the government, rainforest cleared to make way
41
Q

What are some impacts of deforestation in Malaysia?

A
  • Economic development - created jobs, companies pay tax, improved infrastructure = industry and tourism, HEP provides energy, products generate exports
  • Soil erosion - removal of tree roots prevents the binding of soil, leaving it to become loose
  • Climate change - trees absorb CO2 and release O2, they give off moisture through transpiration so removal means a drier climate
42
Q

What are some challenges to development in Morocco?

A
  • Lack of water
  • Lack of plants/wildlife
  • Intense heat and sandstorms
  • Rocky terrain and loose sand weakens building foundations
  • Lack of accessibility
43
Q

What are some opportunities for development in Morocco?

A
  • Mineral extraction - Sahara has significant oil/gas reserves, Morocco exports phosphate fertiliser
  • Energy - over 12 hours of daylight in Sahara with no clouds so generation of solar energy
  • Farming - commercial agriculture is possible using irrigation from dams e.g Aswan Dam in Egypt
  • Tourism - many areas on outskirts of desert popular, e.g Marrakesh, Morocco, often go sandboarding and camel-trekking

Geography Paper 1 (5 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions