The living world Flashcards
What does the term abiotic mean?
a non-living part of an ecosystem that shapes its environment.
Define selective logging.
Cutting down mature or inferior trees encouraging growth of remaining trees.
What are the causes of deforestation?
65% cattle ranching
10% commercial farming (palm oil)
5% logging.
Mineral extraction
Road building
Settlements
Describe the location of the tropical rainforest:
On the equator, between the tropics (23.5°N & S) across South America (Brazil), Africa (Madagascar) and Oceania (Australia).
Describe the tropical rainforest climate.
Hot (average 26.5°c), temperature range of 1.5°c and wet (more than 2000mm rainfall) all year.
Describe rainforest soil.
Shallow and infertile.
‘An organism or plant that is able to absorb energy from the sun through photosynthesis’ - what is this?
A producer
Give one economic impact of deforestation in the Amazon basin.
Cattle ranching makes $6.9bn in Brazil.
Palm oil makes $5bn in Indonesia
What is leaching?
When rainwater washes away nutrients from the soil
Describe environmental impacts of deforestation
Loss of biodiversity - 12,000 orang-utan left in the wild.
Increase in CO2 emissions - Indonesia releases 100 billion tons a year.
Monoculture - only 1 type of plant is grown in an area, this decreases the producers for the food chain.
Increased soil erosion as the rain is not blocked by the trees.
Increased leaching as nutrients are washed away.
Define sustainable management
Meeting the economic, social and environmental needs of the present without compromising future generations from meeting their needs.
What do decomposers do?
Break down dead material to release nutrients.
How do trees grow so tall in the rainforest?
They use buttress roots to give them stability, therefore they can grow to 50m tall.
What is the main layer of trees in the rainforest?
The canopy
Why are many rainforest animals nocturnal?
It is cooler at night, therefore they conserve energy.
How do international groups reduce deforestation?
International trade agreements on hardwood trees.
Debt reduction.
Conservation by NGO’s.
Education.
