The living world

Question 1

What are the causes of the deforestation in Malaysia?

Answer 1

• Logging: Malaysia became the biggest exporter of wood in 1980’s
• Road building: Provides access to logging and mining areas
• Energy development: Dam created to boost electricity supplies
• Mineral extraction: tin, oil and gas
• Population pressure: poor people have been encouraged to move from urban areas
• Commercial farming: Malaysia biggest exporter of palm oil in the world

Question 2

What are the impacts of deforestation?

Answer 2

• Reduction in biodiversity
• Soil erosion
• Climate change

Question 3

Where is the Thar Desert?

Answer 3

India

Question 4

What are the opportunities in the Thar Desert?

Answer 4

• Mineral extraction: Gypsum and Feldspar
• Tourism: Desert safari
• Energy: Coal, Solar and Wind farming
• Irrigation from the Indira Gandhi canal

Question 5

What are the challenges in the Thar Desert?

Answer 5

• Extreme temperatures
• Water Supply
• Accessibility

Question 6

What is the Thar Desert an example of?

Answer 6

A hot desert

Question 7

What is the Key Characteristics of Tropical Rainforests?

Answer 7

• Along equator (Asia, Africa/ South America)
• 6% of earth’s surface
• 25°C- 30°C and over 250mm rain per month

Question 8

What are the Key Characteristics of Tropical Grasslands (Savanna)?

Answer 8

• Between the equator and tropics
• 20- 30°C and between 500-1500mm rain per year
• Wet and dry seasons

Question 9

What are the Key Characteristics of Deserts?

Answer 9

• Tropics (Sahara and Australia)
• Over 30°C and less than 300 mm of rain per year
• 20% of land’s surface

Question 10

What are the Key Characteristics of Deciduous Forests?

Answer 10

• Higher latitudes (Western Europe, North America, New Zealand)
• 5- 20°C and between 500-1500 mm rain per year
• 4 distinct seasons
• Lose leaves in the winter to cope with the cold

Question 11

What are the Key Characteristics of Coniferous Forests?

Answer 11

• 60°N of the equator (Scandinavia/ Canada)
• Cone bearing evergreen trees
• No sunlight for part of the year

Question 12

What are the Key Characteristics of Tundra’s?

Answer 12

• Above 60°N of the equator (Artic Circle)
• Less than 10°C and less than 500mm per year of rain
• Cold, icy and dry means 2 months growing season

Question 13

What is desertification

Answer 13

Where land is gradually turned into desert usually on the edge of a desert

Question 14

What are some solutions to desertification

Answer 14

Irrigation- water from aquifers to grow crops
National parks- conserve areas at risk
Afforestation- green wall being planted across Sahel
Crop rotation- keeps nutrients in the soil
Appropriator technology- use of suitable crops,magic stones and terraces