The Living World: Ecosystems Flashcards
What is an ecosystem?
A community of flora and fauna that interact with biotic (living organisms) and abiotic (soil, water, life, temp) components
Producer
Plants or organisms able to absorb energy from the sun through photosynthesis (making sugars)
Consumer
Creatures that eat producers and obtain the energy from them
Decomposer
An organism that breaks down dead tissue and returns the nutrients to the soil (e.g. Fungi, bacteria)
Food chain
Shows the direct links between different organisms that rely on one another as their source of food
Food web
A complex hierarchy of plants and animals relying on each other to survive
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
Abiotic factors
Non-living things in an ecosystem (e.g. water, soil, climate, light)
Biotic factors
Living things in an ecosystem (e.g. plants, animals, bacterium)
Biome
Large-scale ecosystems defined by abiotic factors (climate, relief, geology and soils)
Biosphere
The zone where life is found. It extends 3m below ground to about 30m above ground and up to 200m deep in the oceans
Biodiversity
The range of plants and animals found in an area
Latitude
How near to the equator an area is
Precipitation
How much rain or snow an area gets
Temperature
How cold or hot an area is
Characteristics of TUNDRA
Low-growing plants adapted to retain heat and moisture in the cold, windy and dry conditions
Characteristics of TROPICAL GRASSLAND
The dry season can be very hot, and wild fires can break out. During the wet season violent thunderstorms can occur
Characteristics of MEDITERRANEAN
Countries around Mediterranean enjoy hot, sunny and dry summers. Mediterranean vegetation include olive trees and fruit trees
Characteristics of TEMPERATE GRASSLAND
Inland, away from coasts with hot summers and cold winters
Characteristics of DECIDUOUS FORESTS
Deciduous trees shed their leaves in winter to retain moisture. The UK’s natural vegetation is deciduous forest
Characteristics of CONIFEROUS FORESTS
Coniferous trees are cone-bearing evergreens, retaining their leaves to maximise photosynthesis during the brief summer periods. Better suited to colder climates
Characteristics of TROPICAL RAINFORESTS
High temperatures and heavy rainfall associated with equatorial low pressure belt, which creates conditions for plants to grow
Characteristics of DESERTS
Associated with sub-tropical high pressure belts. Sinking air stops clouds from forming, resulting in high daytime temp. and low nighttime temp. and low rainfall
