The living world Flashcards

Question

What adaptations might an animal have in the tundra?

Answer 1

Two layers of fur Wide feet to tread on snow Small ears to reduce heat loss Migrate to escape the cold wind

Answer 2

An environment that is both easily disturbed and difficult to restore if disturbed. Plant communities in fragile areas have evolved in highly specialised ways to deal with challenging conditions l. As a result they can’t tolerate environmental changes. E.g Alaska

Answer 3

Permanently frozen ground found in polar and tundra regions

Answer 4

A natural environment that has not been significantly modified by human activity. E.g Antarctica

Answer 5

All the biotic (living) parts (plants and animals) and the abiotic (non-living) parts (soil and climate) of an area

Answer 6

Producers - plants Primary consumer - eats producers Tertiary consumer - eats consumers Decomposer - eats dead things (bacteria, vultures, fungi)

Answer 7

1. When dead material decomposes, nutrients are released into the soil 2. Nutrients eaten by plants 3. Plants eaten by consumers 4. When plants or consumers die, nutrients return to soil

Answer 8

Chain is one way Web is overlapping

Answer 9

If something changes, It will affect everything else, as food chains are dependent

Answer 10

``` Common reed Moth larva Eel Herring Bacteria ```

Answer 11

``` Found at high latitudes Little rainfall Permafrost Little vegetation, shrubs, mosses -50 to 15 Less than 380mm of rainfall a year Thin, acidic, poor soil Home to indigenous people - oil and gas workers ```

Answer 12

``` Found near the equator Hot and wet all year (20-28 degrees) Lush vegetation Dense canopies 2000mm of rain a year - rains daily ``` Soil isn’t fertile as heavy rain washes nutrients out

Answer 13

``` Found around the poles Very cold and dry - ice No vegetation - maybe lichen Dark for several months -5 to -40 degrees Less than 100mm a year rainfall Mostly uninhabited- researchers ```

Answer 14

Contain around 50% of the world’s life Rainforests are stable productive because they’re always hot and wet. Life doesn’t have to adapt because of this Deforestation will lead to the loss of biodiversity. The number of threatened species in Brazil increased from 628 to 1182 in 6 years

Answer 15

The warm and wet climate helps fungi and bacteria on the floor to decompose rapidly, making he soil high in nutrients. Plants grow. Plants pass on this nutrients when eaten, dense vegetation offering lots of food. When the animals die they go back to the earth

Answer 16

Carbon captures are gone Trees intercept water then release it back, adding humidity and increasing rainfall. Without them there would be droughts The soil would have less protection from rainfall and the nutrients would wash away

Answer 17

Grow tall to get sunlight Thick waxy leaves with drip tips so the weight of water doesn’t damage the plant Climbing plants like Liana use tree trunks to reach light Smooth trunks as they don’t need to protect against cold weather, the water also runs easily off it Large stable buttress roots to support tall trees Plants drop their leaves gradually throughout the year so they can constantly grow

Answer 18

Monkeys have strong limbs to hide in the canopy Birds have short pointed wings to manoeuvre between trees Suction cups help animals climb Nocturnal to save energy by eating in the cool of night - sloths Camouflaged to hide predators - gecko

Answer 19

1.4 million hectares

Answer 20

Forest is cleared for farms (soy and cattle) - 200 million cattle farming Clear space for homes and use the wood from the trees Wood is shipped for business Mineral extraction

Answer 21

Trees are carbon captures, cutting them down increases climate change Over 75% of Brazil’s carbon emissions come from deforestation With less canopy, the water hits the floor more, washing away the nutrients So farmers move to better places, causing more deforestation

Answer 22

Farming brought wealth to many Amazonian countries (Brazil exported $600 million in beef) The mining industry creates jobs Logging is Brazil’s main economy but also destroys the environment Local Brazilian rubber tappers have lost their jobs as trees have been cut down

Answer 23

As part of the Paris agreement it pledged to reduce it by 37% by 2025 Increased global awareness has led to reduced demand for products from deforested areas 44% of the Amazon is protected by charities Brazilian government uses satellites to prevent large scale illegal logging

Answer 24

Many products (rubber,coffee,chocolate, medicines) are sourced from the rainforest Ecotourism Carbon captures, preventing climate change Rainforests regulate the climate - without them, drought and flooding may happen in certain areas

Answer 25

Coldness makes plants grow slowly and decompose slowly Soil is low in nutrients - limiting growth again Herbivores migrate to survive, eating plants Carnivores follow herbivores When permafrost thaws in summer, provides some water for plants Thawing of permafrost also adds to greenhouse gases

Answer 26

They need to move to the polar climates as it’s too hot This means creatures already in polar climates can’t go anywhere colder, so are at risk of death

Answer 27

They provide habitats for organisms that couldn’t survive elsewhere Scientists can study natural environments- providing information about fragile ecosystems This research can be replicated to save endangered species outside of the environment

Answer 28

Plant growth is slow Species are hugely specialised, so cant adapt to change (polar bears hunt on ice and are endangered now the ice is melting)

Answer 29

The 1959 Antarctic treaty- signed by 12 nations- limits visitors to 100 per visit to not damage the environment Conservation groups (WWF) pressure governments to protect them Development such as heating can damage permafrost leading to subsidence which could cause building to collapse - modern construction methods like building on gravel to prevent heat travelling help this