The Living World Flashcards
what abiotic factors affect the freshwater pond ecosystem
- light
- oxygen
- water
examples of a producer in the freshwater pond ecosystem
- algae
- microscopic plants
- bulrushes
- marsh marigolds
examples of a consumer in the freshwater pond ecosystem
- midge larvae
- fish
- herons
- frogs
etc
examples of decomposers in the freshwater pond ecosystem
- bacteria
- maggots
- worms
how can interactions between biotic components be illustrated
food chains and food webs
example of a food chain present in the freshwater pond ecosystem
algae —> midge larvae —> small fish —> carnivorous fish —> heron
what does the term “interrelated” mean in the context of the freshwater pond ecosystem
biotic and antibiotics components within freshwater pond ecosystem are connected to each other and depend on each other
interactions seen above the water in a freshwater pond ecosystem
- birds and other terrestrial animals may scavenge in and around the pond
- herons take fish from ponds
interactions seen on the pond’s edge in a freshwater pond ecosystem
- lots of oxygen and light, perfect for plants that like boggy but bright conditions
- provides shelter for insects, frogs and small animals
interaction seen on the pond’s surface in a freshwater pond ecosystem
- plants and algae live on the surface and provide food and shelter for insects and ducks
- lots of oxygen and light here
interactions seen in the mid-water in a freshwater pond ecosystem
- fish and aquatic insects live in this area as they are adapted to less oxygen and light
- fish rely on food in the pond or on the pond’s surface
interactions seen at the bottom of the pond in a freshwater pond ecosystem
- low oxygen and little light
- organic matter falls to the bottom of the pond, providing shelter and food for decomposers like maggots, worms and bacteria
3 sources of nutrients in a freshwater pond
- weathering breaks down rocks and minerals and releases nutrients
- chemicals in the atmosphere can be washed out within precipitation
- bacteria absorb chemicals from the air and store in soil
how do nutrients transfer from soils, to plants and animals, back into soils
via nutrient cycle
abiotic components
- non-living environmental factors that have influence over the ecosystem
- climate, light exposure, soil type
biome
- a large, distinct region of the Earth with similar climate, soil, plants and animals
- also know as global-scale ecosystem
biotic components
living organisms that interact with the environment and other organisms within an ecosystem
coniferous forest biome
a biome located at high latitudes, characterised by conifer trees and a cold climate
consumers
organisms that receive energy from consuming (eating) living organisms
decomposes
organisms that break down organic material and real ease the nutrients back into the ecosystem
ecosystem
a natural system in which a community of plants and animals interact with each other and their physical environment
eutrophication
growth of algae in a body of water due to excess nutrients, leading to the depletion of oxygen in an aquatic ecosystem
food chain
a linear relationship showing the biotic interactions which in an ecosystem from a producer to a final consumer
food web
a representation of the interactions between multiple producers and consumers within a specific ecosystem, shown through a series of different food webs
mediterranean biome
a biome located 40-45°north of the equator (and in isolated spots south of the equator) characterised by mild, most winters and hot, dry summers
nutrient cycling
transfer of nutrients through an ecosystem, from the decay of organic material into the production and energy of living organisms
producers
organism that convert energy from the environment (mainly sunlight) into sugars (glucose)
temperate deciduous forest biome
- a biome located around 40-50° north and south of the equator
- lots of deciduous trees (trees that shed their leaves in the cold weather)
- summers warm
winters mild
savannah biome
- found between the tropics
- vegetation is grasses with a few scattered trees
- low amounts of rain
- dry
tropical rainforest biome
- found around the equator
- hot and wet all year around
- lush forest with dense canopies of vegetation forming distinct layers
tundra biome
- found at high latitudes
- winters very cold
- little rainfall
- summers brief
- hardly any trees, vegetation includes grasses and low shrubs
- layer of permanently frozen ground called permafrost
alpine regions
cold, mountainous regions with snowy conditions and warmer summers
codl environment
regions of the earth that experience sustained below freezing temperatures
environmental fragility
the concept of an ecosystem being so sensitive to change that even small changed within the environment can have large and potentially destructive impacts
interdependence
concept of multiple things depending on each other for survival
permafrost
ground that is permanently frozen for at least two consecutive years
polar biome
- found around north snd south poles
- very cold, icy and dry
- not much grows
- dark for several months each year, growing season very short (2 months)
tundra religions
areas of latitudes, characterised by permafrost, low temperatures and short growing seasons
wilderness
an area that is untouched by humans and therefore remains unaffected by human activity
buttress roots
large, thick tree roots that grow above the ground in tropical rainforests
camouflage
an animal adaptation where animals purposefully looking like their surroundings to hide from predators
canopy
layer of tropical rainforest where the top of trees touch, forming a dense area of vegetation
carbon sink
something that absorbs more carbon dioxide than it emits, causing a net loss of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
cattle ranching
rearing of cows on large areas of land, usually to produce meat to sell for a profit
clear felling
a form of logging where all tress in an area are cut down
commercial farming
forest cleared to make space for cattle grazing or huge plantations and bring in money
debt-for-nature swaps
agreements where one country reduced the debt owned by another country in return for the owning country putting efforts into environmental conservation
decomposers
organisms that break down organic material and release the nutrients back into the ecosystem
deforestation
the permanent removal of trees, usually on a large scale
drip-tip
an adaptation of a leaf where the end of the leaf is tapered, allowing rainwater to drip off
ecotourism
- minimises damage to environment and benefits local people
- small number of tourists allowed into area at a time to minimise damage
- local people employed for tourism jobs to make money
epiphytes
plants that live on the surface of other plants, receiving nutrients from these plants
hydroelectric power
energy harnessed from the movement of water
latosol
an iron-rich, infertile soul found in tropical rainforests
leaching
a process in soiled where minerals are washed away by water (usually rainwater)
lianas
- woody vines found in tropical rainforests
- their roots grow on the forest floor
- vines stretch high into the canopy
logging
the process of cutting down tress for wood
nutrient cycling
movement of nutrients between organic and inorganic components of an ecosystem
plantations
farms where crops are grown in large amounts with the intention to sell for a profit
selective logging
- a form of logging where only certain trees are cut down to reduce the environmental while still keeping the structure and canopy wit soil not left exposed, allows forest to regenerate
- least damaging type it logging
subsistence farming
forest is cleared by small- scale farmers who need land to grow food for themselves and their families (indigenous people)
transmigration
a government scheme that aims to move people from overpopulated urban areas to underpopulated rural areas
tropical rainforests
a warm wet, biodiverse ecosystem located within the Tropics
understory
the layer of a tropical rainforest that lies beneath the canopy but above the forest floor
temperate grassland biome
- found at higher latitudes
- more variation in temperature
- not much rainfall
- no trees, just grass
hot deserts biome
- found between 15° and 35° north and south of the equator
- little rainfall
- very hot during day
- very cold at night
- shrubs and cacti dusty purée around sandy soil
boreal forest (taiga)
- winters are cold and dry
- summers are mild and moist
- trees coniferous, evergreen and have needles
tropical rainforests: climate
- same all year round, no definite seasons
- hot (20°-28°C) because sun’s energy is more intense near equator
- rainfall is very high, 2000mm per year. rains everyday
tropical rainforests: plants
- most trees are evergreen to help take advantage of continual growing season
- many trees very tall and the vegetation is dense, very little light reaches the forest floor
- lots of epiphytes (plants that grow on other plants and take nutrients from air) orchids
tropical rainforests: people
- many indigenous people have adapted to life here
- make a living by hunting and fishing, gathering nuts and berries and grow vegetables in small garden plots
tropical rainforests: soil
- isn’t very fertile, water flushed nutrients away
- is surface nutrients due to decayed leaf fall, but this layer is very thin as decay is fast in the warm, most conditions
tropical rainforests: animals
hold more animal species than any other ecosystem
biodiversity
the variety of organisms living in a particular area, both plants and animals
adaptations: howler monkey
- spends lives up in canopy
- have strong limbs so move around habitat quicker
adaptations: harpy eagle
has short pointed winds, more quicker
layers of tropical rainforest
- emergent trees
- main canopy
- under canopy
- shrub later
why is the rainforest being cut down
- commercial farming
- subsistence farming
- commercial logging
- other
commercial logging
amazon is full of valuable hardwood trees such as mahogany which makes logging extremely tempering to both legal and illegal businesses
other
- mineral extraction
- energy development
- population growth
- road building
mineral extraction
good, iron and copper mined and exported to help boost countries development
energy development
building hydroelectric dams floods large areas of forest
population growth (other)
governments offering poor people from overcrowded cities to go migrate and live in rainforest
road building (other)
destroys and threatens more of the forest by adding in paths or roads to places cars couldn’t get to
educate on deforestation
- educate about impacts of it which will encourage people to try and help
- teach about the alternatives to make money that doesn’t damage the forests
sustainable ways to manage rainforests
- selective logging
- ecotourism
- replanting
- education
hot deserts: climate
- very little rainfall
- rainfall patterns vary (maybe once every few weeks)
- temperature are extreme because of lack of cloud cover (45°C in day and 0°C at night)
hot deserts: soil
- lack of leaf fall limits soil fertility
- little rainfall means soil drys out
- soil often shallow with gravelly texture
hot deserts: plants
- due to rainfall plants growth is sparse
- plants that do grow don’t need much water (cacti and thorn bushes)
- many plants may have short life cycles, growing quickly after rain
hot deserts: animals
- adapted to harsh environments
- mammals tend to be small and nocturnal
- most birds leave desert during harshest conditions
hot deserts: people
- people grow a few crops near natural water sources
- indigenous people often nomadic (keep travelling to find food and water for their livestock)
desert plant adaptations
- roots exert extremely long to reach deep water or can spread out wide near surface to absorb water as it rains
- have large, fleshy stems for storing water
- thick waxy skin to reduce transpiration (water loss)
- small leaves to lower surface area and reduce water loss (transpiration)
- spins contain toxin to protect from predators
- some only germinate after rains, it too dry the seeds stay dormant (inactive), if rlly wet they grow quickly
desert animals adaptations
- nocturnal animals stay cool by sleeping when temperatures are hottest
- long limbs, long ears to give them a larger surface area to lose heat from
- live in underground burrows, because temperatures are less extreme
- bigger animals store fat that they can break down into water (camels)
- camels have triple eyelids, long eyelashes and the ability to close the nostrils to keep sand out during sandstorms
- large flat feet so they don’t sink in sand
desert biodiversity
- relatively low biodiversity
- small areas around ephemeral (temporary) ponds ) have the highest biodiversity
- developing around desert margins means habitats are being divided by roads and threatens animals that migrate large distances to find water and food
- global warming makes hot deserts hotter and dryer, lots of animals migrate to cooler places
desertification physical factors (climate change)
- rainfall, climate change is expected to reduce rainfall, makes dry places more dry, less water to help plants grow so end up dying
- temperature, makes soil drier
desertification human factors
- removal of fuel wood, removal of trees make soil exposed
- overgrazing, more cattle means eats plants faster than they can re-grow, trampling by animals also erodes soil
- over-cultivation, if crops are planted in same spot repeatedly all nutrients are used up, plants can no longer be grown in those areas
- population growth, more people put pressure on leads to more overgrazing
strategies to reduce desertification
- water management (use as little water as possible)
- tree planting (acts as a windbreaker stops wind erosion, protects soil by providing shade)
- soil management (leaving areas to rest before replanting or grazing on them to recover nutrients)
- appropriate technology (use cheap, sustainable and easily available materials to build things)
polar and tundra environments: climate
- polar, very cold below freezing, winters drop to -40°
- tundra areas are cold winters reach -50°, warm months only reach maximum of 10°
- precipitation is low less than 100mm a year in polar and less than 380mm in tundra
polar and tundra environments: soil
- ice sheets cover polar areas so no soil is exposed
- tundra soil is thin and acidic and not very fertile
- beneath thin soil is layer of permafrost, holding trapped greenhouse gases
polar and tundra environments: plants
- polar areas have few plants, lichens and mosses grow on rocks and grasses grow on the coast
- tundra areas hardy shrubs grasses, mosses and lichens are common, small short trees may grow in warmer areas
polar and tundra environments: people
- polar is mostly inhabited but Arctic has some indigenous people and few scientists work in Antarctica
- tundra has many indigenous people, oil and gas workers in larger towns
cold environments plants adaptations
- most plants have become dormant (inactive) to survive cold, dark winters
- low growing and round shaped to provide protection from wind
- shallow roots because of layer of permafrost beneath soil layer
- leaves small to limit amount of moisture lost through transpiration
- warmer, wetter summer very short, plants have a growing season of just 50-60 days
- reproduce using underground runners or bulbs to cope with cold snd because growing season is short
cold environments animal adaptations
- well insulated to reduce amount of energy used to stay warm (thick fur)
- hibernate to conserve energy and survive winters
- animals that don hibernate are able to survive on limited food source
- birds migrate to warmer areas in winter
- grow white winter coast for camouflage from predators or sneak up on prey
why is it important to conserve wilderness areas in cold environments
- provide habitats for organisms that can’t survive anywhere else
- scientists study to understand the animals, plants and landforms unaffected by people
- studying ecosystems help scientists replicate same conditions in managed ecosystems, can help preserve rare species
why does it take centuries for cold environments to return to original state after human interference
- plant growth is slow, if destroyed takes time to regrow
- species are highly specialised so find difficult to adapt to change
