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GEOGRAPHY!! > THE LIVING WORLD > Flashcards

THE LIVING WORLD Flashcards

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1
Q

What is an ecosystem

A

A community where rocks, soil, vegetation, animals, humans, water, the atmosphere and climate all interact
Ecosystems are made up of biotic and abiotic things

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2
Q

What is a biotic organism?

A

Any living things e.g. plants and bacteria

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3
Q

What are abiotic things

A

Nonliving things e.g. climate and soil

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4
Q

Definition of adaptions

A

The ways the plants evolve to cope with environmental conditions e.g. lots of rainfall

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5
Q

What are producers

A

Organisms that get the energy from a primary source such as the Sun

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6
Q

What are consumers

A

Organisms that get their energy by eating other organisms

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7
Q

What is a food chain

A

A line of linkages between producers and consumers

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8
Q

What is a food web

A

A diagram that shows all the linkages between producers and consumers in an ecosystem

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9
Q

What are scavengers

A

Organisms that consume dead animals or plants

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10
Q

What are decomposers

A

Organisms such as bacteria that break down plant and animal material

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11
Q

What is nutrient cycling

A

The recycling of nutrients between living organisms and the environment

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12
Q

What are nutrients

A

Foods that are used by plants or animals to grow (such as nitrogen and potassium) this energy is passed along the food chain

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13
Q

How might the mineral nutrients leave an ecosystem

A

Washed away by water through the soil

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14
Q

Name the tiers of the food chain pyramid ( from the bottom upwards

A

Produces
Primary consumers
Secondary consumers
Tertiary consumers/Apex animal

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15
Q

In the nutrient cycle what is biomass

A

The total amount of vegetation

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16
Q

In the nutrient cycle what is litter

A

Leaves and other dead plant material on the floor

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17
Q

In the nutrient cycle how Are nutrients transferred from soil into biomass

A

Uptake by plants

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18
Q

In the nutrient cycle how A nutrients transferred from biomass to litter

A

Fallout as leaves and tissues die

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19
Q

In the nutrient cycle how are nutrients transferred from the litter to the soil

A

Nutrients released as litter decomposes

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20
Q

How can nutrients be lost from the soil

A

Lost by leaching

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21
Q

How can nutrients be lost from the litter in the nutrient cycle

A

Loss in run-off

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22
Q

How are nutrients getting in the litter Of the nutrient cycle

A

Input from minerals dissolved in rainfall

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23
Q

What makes up the detritivore community

A

Beatles and their larvae, Flies and maggots, woodlice, fun guy, slime moulds, bacteria, slugs and snails, millipedes, springtails and earthworms

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24
Q

What is the function of the detritivore community and why are they important

A

The job is to convert all dead plant and animal matter into forms that are usable for growth either by themselves or other organisms, they work mostly out of sight and work gradually

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25
Q

What is bacteria’s main role in decomposition

A

Speeding up the decay process

26
Q

What would happen without the work of bacteria

A

Other decomposes nutrients would not be recycled quickly enough to be reused

27
Q

What are global scale ecosystem changes

A

Changes that have a global impact, such as climate change

28
Q

What are Local scale ecosystem changes

A

Things that change a habitat, such as the removal of hedgerows

29
Q

How many miles of hedgerow has Britain lost since 1945

A

Over 118,000 miles

30
Q

When was peak hedge row removal in Britain

A

Between 1986 and 1993

31
Q

What is the estimated hedgehog population in England Wales and Scotland

A

About 1 million compared to 30,000,000 in the 1950s

32
Q

Why are hedgerows in the UK being removed and what are the impacts on this ecosystem?

A

1) They provide shelter, food and clear, safe paths for animals to live

2) One reason for the removal of hedgerows is due to a rising population meaning more food is in demand meaning farmers need more space to grow more food so their only option is to move hedgerows to make fields bigger

3) When hedgerows in removed they’re no longer any roots to stabilise the soil leading to greater soil erosion as wind and rain have access to the ground leading to saturated soil and teaching meaning nutrients are washed out so this or may not be perfect for growing crops anymore

4) The number of Hedgerow species is being threatened including the population of hedgehogs decreasing rapidly

5) Hedgehogs are secondary consumers so if the population decreases the slug population increases, owls won’t have any prey so their numbers made a decrease as well


33
Q

Where is the Epping Forest located

A

In London
Part of the forest goes into the built-up parts of London but also stretches over the M25 into the country
It is north-east London just north of the River Thames

34
Q

What type of forest is the Epping Forest

A

Deciduous woodland

35
Q

What does the ecosystem of the Epping Forest consist of

A

1) A lower shrub layer with 177 species of moss and lichen

2) Many insects, mammals and birds species including nine amphibians and reptiles species and 38 bird species

3) 700 species of fungi which are important decomposes

36
Q

What are the 8 major biomes in the world

A

Tropical rainforest
Tropical savanna grassland
Dessert
Deciduous forest
Coniferous forest
Tundra
Mediterranean
Oceans

37
Q

Where are the worlds tropical rainforests located

A

Between the two tropics mostly along the equator and mainly found in southern America Africa and Asia

38
Q

What is the highest temperature in the Amazon rainforest?

A

29°C

39
Q

What is the lowest temperature in the Amazon rainforest

A

27°C

40
Q

Does the Amazon rainforest have a large or a small temperature range

A

Small, only 2°C in range

41
Q

How many months of the year does it rain in the Amazon rainforest

A

Every month

42
Q

Describe the climate of the Amazon rainforest

A

Very hot, throughout the whole year and always rainy/wet

43
Q

Describe the 9 stages of daily convectional rainfall in the Amazon rainforest

A

1) The Sun rises high by midday

2) The Sun heats up the ground

3) And next to the ground is heated

4) Water evaporates from the ground and trees

5) Warm air rises

6) Air cools and condensation occurs

7) White cumulus clouds begin to form

8) Cumulonimbus storm clouds start form

9) Heavy rainfall

44
Q

Why is the rainforest so hot all the time

A

Because they are located along the equator which is always the closest part of the Earth to the Sun and therefore the suns heat is more focused

45
Q

Why do plants and animals have to adapt to the tropical rainforest biome

A

They have to be able to cope with extremes of weather
Constantly high temperatures
Frequent heavy rain

46
Q

What are the 4 Vegetation layers that make up the structure of a tropical rainforest

A

Shrub layer
Under canopy
Canopy
Emergent layer

47
Q

What is the emergent layer of the tropical rainforest

A

The tallest tree is up to 40 m in height

48
Q

What is the canopy layer of the tropical rain forest

A

When most trees are found
Lianas Climb up trees to reach sunlight

49
Q

How have epiphytes adapted to the rainforest climate

A

They use other plants as hosts to get enough sunlight
Produce air routes so you don’t need to be in soil, they get the moisture from the air and nutrients from the rain as well as anchoring them to the tree

50
Q

How tall can kapok tree grow

A

200 feet

51
Q

What is special about kapok trees

A

200 feet in height

Branchless trunks – don’t waste energy on growing branches so can just grow tall

Very wide trunks known as buttress roots which provide a stable base so they can grow tall

52
Q

How have plants adapted to the rainforest climate

A

Drip tips
Waxy leaves
Wide broad leaves
Edges of leaves the shop
Bright sweet smelling flowers and colours

53
Q

How is the Jaguar adapted to the rainforest

A

Large close to climb trees

Good swimmers

Very strong, giving its strength to move more slowly and silently when stalking prey

Extremely fast

54
Q

How is a poison dart frog adapted to the rainforest

A

Excrete poison from its skin

It’s bright colours warn potential predators against eating it

55
Q

How has the three toed sloth adapted to the rainforest

A

The tan coat to match the colour of tree trunks providing camouflage

Have three extra neckbones allowing them to turn the head 270°

Thick dense coats to keep them dry

Undercoat protect the skin

Long hairs hang down providing a natural route for water to run off

Long sharp claws help to climb trees 

Sharp teeth to defend themselves

Only poo every two weeks enabling them to stay in the trees where they are safe as their predators are on the ground

56
Q

How have spider monkeys adapted to the rainforest

A

Highly developed larynx – giving them the ability to produce a range of focal sounds to communicate

Prehensile tail – able to grasp the branches of trees as it acts like a finger

57
Q

What is deforestation

A

The complete clearance of forested land

58
Q

How many hectares of forest is being destroyed every second

A

1

59
Q

What are the seven things causing deforestation

A

Login
Mining Exline production of energy
Building new roads
Indigenous people
Cattle ranching
Palm oil

60
Q

What is degradation in terms of deforestation

A

The damage caused to ecosystems and the loss of diversity which can eventually lead to their destruction

GEOGRAPHY!! (6 decks)

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