The living world Flashcards
What does it mean by biotic?
Living things
What does it mean by abiotic?
non-living
What are some examples of biotic?
plants
animals
fungi
bacteria
What are some examples of abiotic?
sun
temperature
water
soil
atmosphere(gas)
What does global mean?
large scale ecosystem. Also known as biomes.
What does local mean?
small scale ecosystem (ponds, hedgerows and woodlands)
What sort of things influence the type of ecosystem?
Temperature
Rain
Latitude
Human activity
Drainage of soil
What are producers?
They convert energy from the environment into sugars.
What is the most obvious producer?
Plants that convert energy from the sun by photosynthesis.
What are consumers?
Get energy from the sugars produced by the producers.
What is a good example of a consumer?
A pond snail because the eat plants
What are decomposers?
They break down plants and animal materials and return the nutrients to the soil.
What is a good example of decomposers?
Bacteria and fungi.
What are food chains?
Shows the direct links between producers and consumers in the form of a simple line.
What are food webs ?
Shows all the connections between producers and consumers in a rather more complex way.
What is nutrients?
Foods that are used y plants or animals to grow.
What are the two main sources of nutrients?
Rainwater washes chemicals out of the atmosphere
Weathered rock releases nutrients into the soil
What is the nutrient cycle?
When plants or animals die, the decomposers help to recycle the nutrients making them available once again for the growth of plants or animals.
What does Transpiration/evapo-transpiration?
evaporation of water from vegetation
What does it mean by litter?
dead leaves and plants
What is the food chain of ponds?
algae-pond snail-small fish-heron
How is energy lost through the food chain?
movement and heat
what are the 6 changes within ecosystems?
Human activities
diseases
introducing new species
hunting-called trophic cascade
Climate change
Natural disasters
What is the location of the tropical rainforest biome?
At the equator between the tropics
What are some country examples of the tropical rainforest biome?
Brazil, Hawaii, Thailand, Malaysia
what is the weather/climate of the tropical rainforest biome?
Hot, wet all year
What are the animals in the tropical rainforest biome?
Macaw, Toucan, Jaguar, Lemur, Anteater
what are the plants in the tropical rainforest biome?
Epiphytes, orchids
What is the location of the grassland biome?
Between tropics
What are some country examples of the grassland biome?
Argentina, Australia, new Zealand, Russia
What is the weather/climate in the grassland biome?
very dry, wet, rainfall is low
What is the animals in the grassland biome?
Swift fox, Prong horn, badger
What are the plants in the grassland biome?
Asters, clovers, golden rods
Where is the polar biome located?
around the north and south poles
What are some country examples of the polar biome?
Northern Russia, Greenland, Northern canada
What is the weather/climate in the polar biome?
Very cold, icy and dry
What animals are in the polar biome?
Artic fox, Reindeer, moose, artic wolf, polar bear
What plants are in the polar biome?
Mosses, lichens, sedges
Where are the hot deserts biome located?
Between 15 degrees and 35 degrees north and south of the equator
What are some country examples of the hot deserts biome?
Western asia, north africa, peru, chile
What is the weather/climate like in hot deserts biome?
little rain, very hot during the day and very cold at night
What animals are there in the hot desert biome?
camels, foxes, owls, hawks
What plants are there in the hot desert biome?
cacti, succulents, shrubs
Where is the tundra biome located?
High altitudes (above 60 degrees north)
What are some country examples of the tundra biome?
North europe, Canada, Alaska
What is the weather/climate like in the tundra biome?
Winters are very cold, summers are brief and little rainfall
What are some animals in the tundra biome?
Pika, chinchilla, marrot
What are some plants in the tundra biome?
Artic moss, Bear berry
Where is the boreal forest (taiga) located?
Found between 50-60 degrees north
What are some country examples of the boreal forest biome?
Canada, China, Finland, Japan, Norway
What is the weather/climate like in the boreal forest biome?
Winters are cold and dry and summers are mild and mist
What are some animals in the boreal forest biome?
Burbot, Lynx, golden eagle
What are some plants in the boreal forest biome?
Black spruce, Jack pine
Where is the temperate deciduous forest biome located?
Found mainly in the mid-latitudes where there are four distinct seasons
What is the weather/climate like in the temperate deciduous forest biome?
Summers are warm, winters are relatively mild and there is rainfall all year round
What animals are in the temperate deciduous forest biome?
Squirrels, Rabbits, Skunks, birds, mountain lion
What plants are in the temperate deciduous forest biome?
azaleas, mosses
What 3 factors influence biome location?
Precipitation
Sunlight
Temperature
How does temperature influence the location of a biome?
Most plants need temperatures of over 5 degrees to grow, so length of growing season varies from place to place
How does precipitation influence the location of a biome?
Plants need water. It grows if water is there all season, but not if there is a dry season or water is frozen
How does sunlight influence the location of a biome?
it affects photosynthesis and therefore plant growth
What is the climate like when there is high air pressure?
hot, dry, clear skies
What is the climate like when there is low air pressure?
cooler, wet, cloudy
What air pressure does the equator experience and why?
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.
Where is solar radiation most direct and least spread out?
at the equator
What does biotic mean?
the living things in an ecosystem
What does abiotic mean?
the non living parts of an ecosystem
What does biodiversity mean?
the number of different plants and animal species in an area
What does interdependent mean?
that what happens in one place increasingly has impacts on other places
What does stratified layers mean?
the non living parts of an ecosystem
What does buttress roots mean?
Large roots on all sides of a shallowly rooted tree
What does adaptation mean?
How plants and animals have evolved over time to fit into their unique environment
What does drip tips mean?
Thick waxy leaves which can shed water quickly to prevent leaves rotting
What does climate involve?
rainfall and temperature
How tall are the trees in the emergents?
30-40m
What is it like in the emergent layer?
Tall trees with buttress roots. They are deciduous.
How tall is the canopy layer?
20-30m
What is it like in the canopy layer?
Trees act like an umbrella. Home to birds
How tall is the undercanopy layer>
10-20m
What is it like in the undercanopy layer?
Young trees, insects, sloths, howler monkeys
How tall is the shrub layer?
0-10m
What is it like in the shrub layer?
Dark, steamy, dead+decaying mattes, infertile soil, orchids, alligators, snakes
What is the albedo effect?
white surfaces reflect sunlight
How have evergreen hardwood trees adapted?
-no branches
-buttress roots
-leaves are only at the top
How have epiphytes adapted?
-nutrients from water and air rather that soil
-roots dangle in mid-air
How have lianas adapted?
-stems cling to trees
How have drip tip leaves adapted?
-shed water quickly
-prevents leaves rotting
How have sloths adapted?
-huge claws
-fur grows away from feet to help shed rain
-green algae grows on fur, prevents predators
How have primates adapted?
-live in canopy, where food is
-long tails, balance
-strong claws,grip
How have big cats adapted?
-camouflaged fur
How have birds adapted?
-very loud calls, easier to hear
-live in canopy
-powerful beaks
What are the three main things in the nutrient cycle?
-Biomass
-Litter
-Soil
Define deforestation?
the permanent cutting down and removal of trees for human activity
What percentage of rainforest covers Malaysia?
67%
What countries borders Malaysisa?
indonesia,Thialand, Singapore, Brunei
What continent is malaysia located in?
Asia
What hemisphere is malaysia located in?
Northern hemisphere
What is the capital of malaysia?
Kuala Lumpur
What seas border malaysia?
South China Sea, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean
What are the 6 causes of deforestation?
-Palm oil
-Mineral extraction
-Cattle ranching/subsistance farming
-Urbanisation
-Logging
-Hydroelectric power
What is subsistance farmiing?
Farming for yourself/ not selling
What is commercial farming?
farming for a projit by selling crops/livestock
Define goods?
Things directly obtained from the rainfrest
Define services?
Benefits that the rainforest can offer for both people and the environment
Define sustainability?
meeting the needs of today without compromising the needs of future genorations
What are the two main reasons for rainforests being manages sustainably?
-to ensure they remain a lasting resource for the future
-To allow valuable resources to be used without causing long-term environmental damage
How to manage TRF sustainably?
-Rainforest Alliance
What does the Rainforest Alliance do?
-wants us to work together
-to choose sustainable ways
-to be one with nature
What is selective logging?
-felling trees when they are fully grown, and letting younger trees mature. Protects the land from soil erosion
What is ecotourism?
-Aims to introduce tourists to the natural world.
What are the 6 features of ecotourism?
-small groups
-local guides
-buildings made of raw materials
-Environmentally friendly buildings
-Nature-based experiances
-limited transport use
What is conservation and education?
-TRF preserved in areas such as national park or nature reserves
-Areas used for education, scientific research and tourism
What is international agreements?
-Understood to be global importance
-Made to protect rainforests
What is hardwood forestry?
-The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
-It promotes sustainable forestry
What is debt reduction?
-Countries have borrowed money to fund developments
Define cause?
something that is making deforestation
Define impact?
something that is happening as a result of deforestation
What are 3 impacts of deforestation?
-Biodiversity reduced
-More carbon dioxide released into atmosphere
-Soil erosion
What is mineral extraction?
the removal of solid mineral resources from the earth
What is soil erosion?
Removal of top soil faster that it can be replaced
What is climate change in Malaysia?
-Deforestation reduces the amount of carbon dioxide
-Deforestation in the states of Perak(15% loss)
-Deforestation in Kedah(5% loss)
What is the 1 economic gain for tropical rainforests?
-development of land for mining, farming and energy will lead to jobs both directly and indirectly.
What is the 2 economic gain for tropical rainforests?
-Companies will pay taxes to the government which can be used to improve public services, such as education and water supply
What is the 3 economic gain for tropical rainforests?
Improved transport infrastructure opens up new areas of industrial development and tourism.
What is the 4th economic gain for tropical rainforests?
raw
-Products such as palm oil and rubber provides raw materials for processing industries
What is the 5th economic gain for tropical rainforests?
power
Hydro-electric power provides cheap and plentiful energy
What is the 6 economic gain for tropical rainforests?
Minerals such as gold and tin are very valuable for export. Oil and gas are extracted in Borneo.
What is the 1 economic loss for tropical rainforests?
-Pollution of water sources and an increasingly dry climate may result in water shortages
What is the 2nd economic loss for tropical rainforests?
-Fires can cause harmful pollution. They can burn out of control, destroying vast areas of valuable forest.
What is the 3 economic loss for tropical rainforests?
-Rising temperatures could devastate some forms of farming such as growing tea, fruit, and flowers
What is the 4th economic loss for tropical rainforests?
-Plants that could bring huge medical benefits and high profits may become extinct.
What is the 5th economic loss for tropical rainforests?
climate
-Climate change could have economic costs as people have to adapt to living i a warmer world.
What is the 6th economic loss for tropical rainforests?
-The number of tourists attracted by rainforest could decrease.
What are the 5 characteristics of Hot Deserts
-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
Where is the Thar desert located?
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
What air pressure does Thar desert have?
-High air pressure
-no clouds and it is dry
How many people live in the Thar desert
30 million
What are the 4 opportunities in the Thar Desert
-Energy
-Tourism
-Mineral Extraction
-Farming
What 4 factors make energy an opportunity in the Thar Desert?
-Coal
-Oil
-Wind
-Solar
How is energy an opportunity in the Thar desert? (COAL)
Coal- there are extensive lignite coal deposits in parts of the Thar Desert and a thermal energy plant has been constructed at Giral
How is energy an opportunity in the Thar desert? (OIL)
-a large oil field has been discovered in the Barmer district which could transform the local economy
How is energy an opportunity in the Thar desert? (Wind)
-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
How is energy an opportunity in the Thar desert? (Solar)
-With its sunny, cloudless skies, the Thar desert offers ideal conditions for solar power generation. At Bhaleri solar power is used in water treatment.
How is tourism an opportunity in the Thar desert?
-beautiful landscapes
-desert safaris on camels
-annual desert festival held each winter
-locals benefit by providing food and accommodation and by acting as guides.
How is mineral extraction an opportunity in the Thar desert?
-exported accros the world
-gypum, phosphorite, kaolin
-lots of stone(limestone)
-marble (used in construction industry)
How is farming an opportunity in the Thar desert?
-subsistence farming
-grazing animals in grassy areas, cultivating vegetables and fruit trees
-commercial farming has grown by irrigation(water land)
What are the 3 main challenges in the Thar Desert?
-Extreme temperatures
-Water supply
-Accessibility
How is extreme temperatures a challenge in the Thar Desert?
-50 in summer
-working outside can be hard, for farmers
-high rates of evaporation, water shortages
-plants and animals have to adapt to survive.
How is water supply a challenge in the Thar Desert?
-low annual rainfall, high temp, strong winds
-some comes from ponds(natural and man-made)
-few rivers and streams.
How is accessibility a challenge in the Thar Desert?
-limited road network
-tarmac can melt
-strong wind blows sand over roads
-only get to by camel
define desertification
the process of land turning into desert, as the soil becomes drier and degraded over time
define degraded
lacking minerals
where is the Sahel region
area of semi-desert south of the sahara desert in northern africa
what is the great green wall?
-a line of trees that stretch across the Sahel region to stop desertification
what are the 5 causes of desertification
-overcultivation
-climate change
-overgrazing
-soil erosion
-population growth
why is cultivation a cause of desertification
-over cropping land can exhaust soil’s fertility.
-due to small scale subsistence agriculture
why is overgrazing a cause of desertification
-when too many animals are grazed on one patch of land, all the vegetation is eaten and maybe unable to regrow
why is soil erosion a cause of desertification
-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.
what is a drought and why is it a problem?
-long periods without rain.
-nothing will grow so people could have no food or water leading to people to become malnourished.
why has there been an increase in rainfall when trees have been planted?
-trees increase water vapor which forms clouds to cause precipitation
how will the great green wall benefit local people
-it fights poverty and hunger and it creates jobs and improves health and well-being
how will the great green wall affect climate change
-the trees will give large amounts of carbon dioxide, reducing greenhouse gases
why has growing fruit trees been so important
-farmers could increase their income
-increase food production in the area and also help to be part of the great green wall
What have farmers done to help the scheme of Africa’s Great Green Wall be successful?
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
What has been the effect of the Great Green Wall in Niger?
Improvement in soil fertility. Boosted food security. Increased biodiversity, helped with climate change which benefits the land and many people
What is the Great Green Wall?
It is a line of trees that stretch across the Sahel region to stop desertification.
