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Geography GCSE > The living world > Flashcards

The living world Flashcards

1
Q

What does it mean by biotic?

A

Living things

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2
Q

What does it mean by abiotic?

A

non-living

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3
Q

What are some examples of biotic?

A

plants
animals
fungi
bacteria

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4
Q

What are some examples of abiotic?

A

sun
temperature
water
soil
atmosphere(gas)

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5
Q

What does global mean?

A

large scale ecosystem. Also known as biomes.

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6
Q

What does local mean?

A

small scale ecosystem (ponds, hedgerows and woodlands)

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7
Q

What sort of things influence the type of ecosystem?

A

Temperature
Rain
Latitude
Human activity
Drainage of soil

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8
Q

What are producers?

A

They convert energy from the environment into sugars.

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9
Q

What is the most obvious producer?

A

Plants that convert energy from the sun by photosynthesis.

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10
Q

What are consumers?

A

Get energy from the sugars produced by the producers.

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11
Q

What is a good example of a consumer?

A

A pond snail because the eat plants

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12
Q

What are decomposers?

A

They break down plants and animal materials and return the nutrients to the soil.

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13
Q

What is a good example of decomposers?

A

Bacteria and fungi.

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14
Q

What are food chains?

A

Shows the direct links between producers and consumers in the form of a simple line.

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15
Q

What are food webs ?

A

Shows all the connections between producers and consumers in a rather more complex way.

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16
Q

What is nutrients?

A

Foods that are used y plants or animals to grow.

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17
Q

What are the two main sources of nutrients?

A

Rainwater washes chemicals out of the atmosphere

Weathered rock releases nutrients into the soil

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18
Q

What is the nutrient cycle?

A

When plants or animals die, the decomposers help to recycle the nutrients making them available once again for the growth of plants or animals.

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19
Q

What does Transpiration/evapo-transpiration?

A

evaporation of water from vegetation

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20
Q

What does it mean by litter?

A

dead leaves and plants

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21
Q

What is the food chain of ponds?

A

algae-pond snail-small fish-heron

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22
Q

How is energy lost through the food chain?

A

movement and heat

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23
Q

what are the 6 changes within ecosystems?

A

Human activities
diseases
introducing new species
hunting-called trophic cascade
Climate change
Natural disasters

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24
Q

What is the location of the tropical rainforest biome?

A

At the equator between the tropics

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25
Q

What are some country examples of the tropical rainforest biome?

A

Brazil, Hawaii, Thailand, Malaysia

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26
Q

what is the weather/climate of the tropical rainforest biome?

A

Hot, wet all year

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27
Q

What are the animals in the tropical rainforest biome?

A

Macaw, Toucan, Jaguar, Lemur, Anteater

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28
Q

what are the plants in the tropical rainforest biome?

A

Epiphytes, orchids

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29
Q

What is the location of the grassland biome?

A

Between tropics

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30
Q

What are some country examples of the grassland biome?

A

Argentina, Australia, new Zealand, Russia

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31
Q

What is the weather/climate in the grassland biome?

A

very dry, wet, rainfall is low

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32
Q

What is the animals in the grassland biome?

A

Swift fox, Prong horn, badger

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33
Q

What are the plants in the grassland biome?

A

Asters, clovers, golden rods

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34
Q

Where is the polar biome located?

A

around the north and south poles

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35
Q

What are some country examples of the polar biome?

A

Northern Russia, Greenland, Northern canada

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36
Q

What is the weather/climate in the polar biome?

A

Very cold, icy and dry

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37
Q

What animals are in the polar biome?

A

Artic fox, Reindeer, moose, artic wolf, polar bear

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38
Q

What plants are in the polar biome?

A

Mosses, lichens, sedges

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39
Q

Where are the hot deserts biome located?

A

Between 15 degrees and 35 degrees north and south of the equator

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40
Q

What are some country examples of the hot deserts biome?

A

Western asia, north africa, peru, chile

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41
Q

What is the weather/climate like in hot deserts biome?

A

little rain, very hot during the day and very cold at night

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42
Q

What animals are there in the hot desert biome?

A

camels, foxes, owls, hawks

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43
Q

What plants are there in the hot desert biome?

A

cacti, succulents, shrubs

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44
Q

Where is the tundra biome located?

A

High altitudes (above 60 degrees north)

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45
Q

What are some country examples of the tundra biome?

A

North europe, Canada, Alaska

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46
Q

What is the weather/climate like in the tundra biome?

A

Winters are very cold, summers are brief and little rainfall

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47
Q

What are some animals in the tundra biome?

A

Pika, chinchilla, marrot

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48
Q

What are some plants in the tundra biome?

A

Artic moss, Bear berry

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49
Q

Where is the boreal forest (taiga) located?

A

Found between 50-60 degrees north

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50
Q

What are some country examples of the boreal forest biome?

A

Canada, China, Finland, Japan, Norway

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51
Q

What is the weather/climate like in the boreal forest biome?

A

Winters are cold and dry and summers are mild and mist

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52
Q

What are some animals in the boreal forest biome?

A

Burbot, Lynx, golden eagle

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53
Q

What are some plants in the boreal forest biome?

A

Black spruce, Jack pine

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54
Q

Where is the temperate deciduous forest biome located?

A

Found mainly in the mid-latitudes where there are four distinct seasons

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55
Q

What is the weather/climate like in the temperate deciduous forest biome?

A

Summers are warm, winters are relatively mild and there is rainfall all year round

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56
Q

What animals are in the temperate deciduous forest biome?

A

Squirrels, Rabbits, Skunks, birds, mountain lion

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57
Q

What plants are in the temperate deciduous forest biome?

A

azaleas, mosses

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58
Q

What 3 factors influence biome location?

A

Precipitation
Sunlight
Temperature

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59
Q

How does temperature influence the location of a biome?

A

Most plants need temperatures of over 5 degrees to grow, so length of growing season varies from place to place

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60
Q

How does precipitation influence the location of a biome?

A

Plants need water. It grows if water is there all season, but not if there is a dry season or water is frozen

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61
Q

How does sunlight influence the location of a biome?

A

it affects photosynthesis and therefore plant growth

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62
Q

What is the climate like when there is high air pressure?

A

hot, dry, clear skies

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63
Q

What is the climate like when there is low air pressure?

A

cooler, wet, cloudy

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64
Q

What air pressure does the equator experience and why?

A

Low air pressure because it is very hot so the air rises and cools- moisture condenses which results in lots of clouds and heavy rainfall.

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65
Q

Where is solar radiation most direct and least spread out?

A

at the equator

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66
Q

What does biotic mean?

A

the living things in an ecosystem

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67
Q

What does abiotic mean?

A

the non living parts of an ecosystem

68
Q

What does biodiversity mean?

A

the number of different plants and animal species in an area

69
Q

What does interdependent mean?

A

that what happens in one place increasingly has impacts on other places

70
Q

What does stratified layers mean?

A

the non living parts of an ecosystem

71
Q

What does buttress roots mean?

A

Large roots on all sides of a shallowly rooted tree

72
Q

What does adaptation mean?

A

How plants and animals have evolved over time to fit into their unique environment

73
Q

What does drip tips mean?

A

Thick waxy leaves which can shed water quickly to prevent leaves rotting

74
Q

What does climate involve?

A

rainfall and temperature

75
Q

How tall are the trees in the emergents?

A

30-40m

76
Q

What is it like in the emergent layer?

A

Tall trees with buttress roots. They are deciduous.

77
Q

How tall is the canopy layer?

A

20-30m

78
Q

What is it like in the canopy layer?

A

Trees act like an umbrella. Home to birds

79
Q

How tall is the undercanopy layer>

A

10-20m

80
Q

What is it like in the undercanopy layer?

A

Young trees, insects, sloths, howler monkeys

81
Q

How tall is the shrub layer?

A

0-10m

82
Q

What is it like in the shrub layer?

A

Dark, steamy, dead+decaying mattes, infertile soil, orchids, alligators, snakes

83
Q

What is the albedo effect?

A

white surfaces reflect sunlight

84
Q

How have evergreen hardwood trees adapted?

A

-no branches
-buttress roots
-leaves are only at the top

85
Q

How have epiphytes adapted?

A

-nutrients from water and air rather that soil
-roots dangle in mid-air

86
Q

How have lianas adapted?

A

-stems cling to trees

87
Q

How have drip tip leaves adapted?

A

-shed water quickly
-prevents leaves rotting

88
Q

How have sloths adapted?

A

-huge claws
-fur grows away from feet to help shed rain
-green algae grows on fur, prevents predators

89
Q

How have primates adapted?

A

-live in canopy, where food is
-long tails, balance
-strong claws,grip

90
Q

How have big cats adapted?

A

-camouflaged fur

91
Q

How have birds adapted?

A

-very loud calls, easier to hear
-live in canopy
-powerful beaks

92
Q

What are the three main things in the nutrient cycle?

A

-Biomass
-Litter
-Soil

93
Q

Define deforestation?

A

the permanent cutting down and removal of trees for human activity

94
Q

What percentage of rainforest covers Malaysia?

A

67%

95
Q

What countries borders Malaysisa?

A

indonesia,Thialand, Singapore, Brunei

96
Q

What continent is malaysia located in?

A

Asia

97
Q

What hemisphere is malaysia located in?

A

Northern hemisphere

98
Q

What is the capital of malaysia?

A

Kuala Lumpur

99
Q

What seas border malaysia?

A

South China Sea, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean

100
Q

What are the 6 causes of deforestation?

A

-Palm oil
-Mineral extraction
-Cattle ranching/subsistance farming
-Urbanisation
-Logging
-Hydroelectric power

101
Q

What is subsistance farmiing?

A

Farming for yourself/ not selling

102
Q

What is commercial farming?

A

farming for a projit by selling crops/livestock

103
Q

Define goods?

A

Things directly obtained from the rainfrest

104
Q

Define services?

A

Benefits that the rainforest can offer for both people and the environment

105
Q

Define sustainability?

A

meeting the needs of today without compromising the needs of future genorations

106
Q

What are the two main reasons for rainforests being manages sustainably?

A

-to ensure they remain a lasting resource for the future
-To allow valuable resources to be used without causing long-term environmental damage

107
Q

How to manage TRF sustainably?

A

-Rainforest Alliance

108
Q

What does the Rainforest Alliance do?

A

-wants us to work together
-to choose sustainable ways
-to be one with nature

109
Q

What is selective logging?

A

-felling trees when they are fully grown, and letting younger trees mature. Protects the land from soil erosion

110
Q

What is ecotourism?

A

-Aims to introduce tourists to the natural world.

111
Q

What are the 6 features of ecotourism?

A

-small groups
-local guides
-buildings made of raw materials
-Environmentally friendly buildings
-Nature-based experiances
-limited transport use

112
Q

What is conservation and education?

A

-TRF preserved in areas such as national park or nature reserves
-Areas used for education, scientific research and tourism

113
Q

What is international agreements?

A

-Understood to be global importance
-Made to protect rainforests

114
Q

What is hardwood forestry?

A

-The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
-It promotes sustainable forestry

115
Q

What is debt reduction?

A

-Countries have borrowed money to fund developments

116
Q

Define cause?

A

something that is making deforestation

117
Q

Define impact?

A

something that is happening as a result of deforestation

118
Q

What are 3 impacts of deforestation?

A

-Biodiversity reduced
-More carbon dioxide released into atmosphere
-Soil erosion

119
Q

What is mineral extraction?

A

the removal of solid mineral resources from the earth

120
Q

What is soil erosion?

A

Removal of top soil faster that it can be replaced

121
Q

What is climate change in Malaysia?

A

-Deforestation reduces the amount of carbon dioxide
-Deforestation in the states of Perak(15% loss)
-Deforestation in Kedah(5% loss)

122
Q

What is the 1 economic gain for tropical rainforests?

A

-development of land for mining, farming and energy will lead to jobs both directly and indirectly.

123
Q

What is the 2 economic gain for tropical rainforests?

A

-Companies will pay taxes to the government which can be used to improve public services, such as education and water supply

124
Q

What is the 3 economic gain for tropical rainforests?

A

Improved transport infrastructure opens up new areas of industrial development and tourism.

125
Q

What is the 4th economic gain for tropical rainforests?

raw

A

-Products such as palm oil and rubber provides raw materials for processing industries

126
Q

What is the 5th economic gain for tropical rainforests?

power

A

Hydro-electric power provides cheap and plentiful energy

127
Q

What is the 6 economic gain for tropical rainforests?

A

Minerals such as gold and tin are very valuable for export. Oil and gas are extracted in Borneo.

128
Q

What is the 1 economic loss for tropical rainforests?

A

-Pollution of water sources and an increasingly dry climate may result in water shortages

129
Q

What is the 2nd economic loss for tropical rainforests?

A

-Fires can cause harmful pollution. They can burn out of control, destroying vast areas of valuable forest.

130
Q

What is the 3 economic loss for tropical rainforests?

A

-Rising temperatures could devastate some forms of farming such as growing tea, fruit, and flowers

131
Q

What is the 4th economic loss for tropical rainforests?

A

-Plants that could bring huge medical benefits and high profits may become extinct.

132
Q

What is the 5th economic loss for tropical rainforests?

climate

A

-Climate change could have economic costs as people have to adapt to living i a warmer world.

133
Q

What is the 6th economic loss for tropical rainforests?

A

-The number of tourists attracted by rainforest could decrease.

134
Q

What are the 5 characteristics of Hot Deserts

A

-Less than 10inches of water
-Low precipitation
-found along both tropics
-extreme temperatures and conditions
-day and night temperatures differ from 50-0 due to lack of cloud cover

135
Q

Where is the Thar desert located?

A

In Asia, on the border if North-west Pakistan and South-east India. It is west of the closest city of Juipur, in the indian state Rajasthan

136
Q

What air pressure does Thar desert have?

A

-High air pressure
-no clouds and it is dry

137
Q

How many people live in the Thar desert

A

30 million

138
Q

What are the 4 opportunities in the Thar Desert

A

-Energy
-Tourism
-Mineral Extraction
-Farming

139
Q

What 4 factors make energy an opportunity in the Thar Desert?

A

-Coal
-Oil
-Wind
-Solar

140
Q

How is energy an opportunity in the Thar desert? (COAL)

A

Coal- there are extensive lignite coal deposits in parts of the Thar Desert and a thermal energy plant has been constructed at Giral

141
Q

How is energy an opportunity in the Thar desert? (OIL)

A

-a large oil field has been discovered in the Barmer district which could transform the local economy

142
Q

How is energy an opportunity in the Thar desert? (Wind)

A

-recently there has been focus on developing wind power, renewable. The Jaislamer Wind Park was constructed in 2001. This is India’s largest wind farm

143
Q

How is energy an opportunity in the Thar desert? (Solar)

A

-With its sunny, cloudless skies, the Thar desert offers ideal conditions for solar power generation. At Bhaleri solar power is used in water treatment.

144
Q

How is tourism an opportunity in the Thar desert?

A

-beautiful landscapes
-desert safaris on camels
-annual desert festival held each winter
-locals benefit by providing food and accommodation and by acting as guides.

145
Q

How is mineral extraction an opportunity in the Thar desert?

A

-exported accros the world
-gypum, phosphorite, kaolin
-lots of stone(limestone)
-marble (used in construction industry)

146
Q

How is farming an opportunity in the Thar desert?

A

-subsistence farming
-grazing animals in grassy areas, cultivating vegetables and fruit trees
-commercial farming has grown by irrigation(water land)

147
Q

What are the 3 main challenges in the Thar Desert?

A

-Extreme temperatures
-Water supply
-Accessibility

148
Q

How is extreme temperatures a challenge in the Thar Desert?

A

-50 in summer
-working outside can be hard, for farmers
-high rates of evaporation, water shortages
-plants and animals have to adapt to survive.

149
Q

How is water supply a challenge in the Thar Desert?

A

-low annual rainfall, high temp, strong winds
-some comes from ponds(natural and man-made)
-few rivers and streams.

150
Q

How is accessibility a challenge in the Thar Desert?

A

-limited road network
-tarmac can melt
-strong wind blows sand over roads
-only get to by camel

151
Q

define desertification

A

the process of land turning into desert, as the soil becomes drier and degraded over time

152
Q

define degraded

A

lacking minerals

153
Q

where is the Sahel region

A

area of semi-desert south of the sahara desert in northern africa

154
Q

what is the great green wall?

A

-a line of trees that stretch across the Sahel region to stop desertification

155
Q

what are the 5 causes of desertification

A

-overcultivation
-climate change
-overgrazing
-soil erosion
-population growth

156
Q

why is cultivation a cause of desertification

A

-over cropping land can exhaust soil’s fertility.
-due to small scale subsistence agriculture

157
Q

why is overgrazing a cause of desertification

A

-when too many animals are grazed on one patch of land, all the vegetation is eaten and maybe unable to regrow

158
Q

why is soil erosion a cause of desertification

A

-the exposed top soil becomes backed hard by sunlight.
-the rain washes over it. when it is eroded away, it becomes impossible for the vegetation.

159
Q

what is a drought and why is it a problem?

A

-long periods without rain.
-nothing will grow so people could have no food or water leading to people to become malnourished.

160
Q

why has there been an increase in rainfall when trees have been planted?

A

-trees increase water vapor which forms clouds to cause precipitation

161
Q

how will the great green wall benefit local people

A

-it fights poverty and hunger and it creates jobs and improves health and well-being

162
Q

how will the great green wall affect climate change

A

-the trees will give large amounts of carbon dioxide, reducing greenhouse gases

163
Q

why has growing fruit trees been so important

A

-farmers could increase their income
-increase food production in the area and also help to be part of the great green wall

164
Q

What have farmers done to help the scheme of Africa’s Great Green Wall be successful?

A

They built stone walls for water to soak into. They dug pits around the young tree to encourage water to flow to this area and provide the tree with rain

165
Q

What has been the effect of the Great Green Wall in Niger?

A

Improvement in soil fertility. Boosted food security. Increased biodiversity, helped with climate change which benefits the land and many people

166
Q

What is the Great Green Wall?

A

It is a line of trees that stretch across the Sahel region to stop desertification.

167
Q
A

Geography GCSE (3 decks)

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