The Living World

Question 1

What is an ecosystem?

Answer 1

a unit that includes all the biotic parts and abiotic parts in an area

Question 2

What can an organism be classed as?

Answer 2

producer, consumer, decomposer

Question 3

What is a producer?

Answer 3

an organism that uses sunlight and energy to produce food

Question 4

What is a consumer?

Answer 4

an organism that gets it energy by eating other organisms - eating producers or other consumers

Question 5

What is a food chain?

Answer 5

shows what eats what

Question 6

What is a food web?

Answer 6

shows lots of food chains and how they overlap

Question 7

What is a decomposer?

Answer 7

an organism that gets its energy by breaking down dead material ( bacteria, fungi)

Question 8

What is the nutrient cycle?

Answer 8

when dead material is decomposed, nutrients are released into the soil. nutrients are then taken up by plants, plants eaten by consumers, plants or consumers die and nutrients return to soil

Question 9

Describe what could happen in a habitat if there Is a hot dry summer?

Answer 9

• reduced plant growth
• fewer berried for birds in winter
• number of sparrows and thrushes fall
• fewer birds for sparrowhawks to hunt, number of sparrowhawks falls

Question 10

Explain the climate in a tropical rainforest?

Answer 10

• same all year, no seasons
• 20-28 degrees
• high rainfall - 2000mm per year

Question 11

What are the layers in the rainforest?

Answer 11

ground level
shrub layer
under canopy
(main) canopy
emergents

Question 12

Why have pants adapted in cold areas?

Answer 12

• to survive the extreme cold and strong winds
• dry winter conditions when all moisture is frozen
• wet summer conditions when top layer of soil thaws

Question 13

What are some plant adaptations to cold environments?

Answer 13

• plants become dormant to survive winter
• small and round to protect from wind
• shallow roots due to layer of permafrost
• small leaves to limit moisture loss through transpiration
• short growing season due to short summer - 50-60 days
• use underground runners or bulbs instead of seeds to reproduce as growing season is very short

Question 14

What are some animal adaptations In cold environments?

Answer 14

• well insulated, thick fur or layers of blubber- reduces energy loss
• some hibernate to reserve energy and survive the winter
• non hibernating animals need little food and lacking in winter
• many birds may migrate to warmer areas for winter
• white coats to camouflage in snow

Question 15

What are the 4 opportunities for development in Svalbard?

Answer 15

mineral extraction
fishing
tourism
energy development

Question 16

How is mineral extraction and opportunity for development?

Answer 16

• rich coal reserves
• main economic activity
• more then 300 people employed in mines + support staff

Question 17

How is tourism an opportunity for development?

Answer 17

• 70000 tourists in one year, 30000 from cruise ships
• enlarged harbour is Longyearbyren for cruiseships
• 300 jobs in tourism
• visit for animals, northern lights, adventure, hiking, canoeing, safaris

Question 18

How is fishing an opportunity for development?

Answer 18

• one of richest fishing in world

- 150 species of fish

Question 19

How is energy development an opportunity for development?

Answer 19

• coal burned in ONE coal fired power station
• most suitable source is geothermal energy, but Svalbard on plate boundary with thin and hot rock
• could use carbon capture in future

Question 20

Five reasons why cold enviroments should be protected?

Answer 20

• indigenous people live traditional life here
• unpolluted and unspoiled so good for outdoor laboratouries for scientific research, climate change
• beauty and potential for adventure activities attracts tourists
• provide opportunities for forestry and fishing
• home to many birds and animals and plants

Question 21

What are the three ways to protect cold environments?

Answer 21

• action by governments
• international agreements
• conservation groups

Question 22

Explain action by governments?

Answer 22

• USA protects alaska through:
• national enviromental policy act - companies extracting protect enviroment
• Western arctic reserve, 9 million hectare protected wilderness managed by department of interior
• National oceanic and atmospheric administration - protects fish and marine habitats

Question 23

Explain how international agreements protect cold environments?

Answer 23

• arctic treaty was signed by those who own antartica
• recognises importance of continent for scientific research
• controls tourism and keeps low distrubance

Question 24

Explain how concervation groups protect cold environments?

Answer 24

WWF:

• works with local communities to manage critical ecosystems
• supports scientific research to help protect important species
• works with oil companies, locals and government to plan for sustainable future