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Geography - Basics > The Living Worlds - Ecosystems Rainforests And Hot Deserts > Flashcards

The Living Worlds - Ecosystems Rainforests And Hot Deserts Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the nutrient cycle like (e.g in England)

A

Water and air penetrate soil
Plant matter is broken down into soil
Decomposers break down organic matter
Rocky subsoil breaks down, giving the soil nutrients
Plants absorb these nutrients
(Can be eaten by animals - plants/animals due and cycle restarts)

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2
Q

What is subsoil

A

Soil lying beneath the surface soil

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3
Q

What is an Ecosystem

A

A community of plantas and animals that interact with each other and their environment

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4
Q

What are biotic factors

A

Living features of an ecosystem (plants/animals)

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5
Q

What are Abiotic factors

A

Non living features of an ecosystem (rocks/wind)

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6
Q

What is a producer

A

Organism that creates its own food - often through photosynthesis (photoautotrophs)

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7
Q

What is a consumer

A

Organism that eats herbivores and/or plant matter.
Generate energy from glucose in food

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8
Q

What is a Decomposer

A

Organisms like bacteria or fungi that break down plant or animal matter

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9
Q

What is a food chain

A

Shows the transfer of energy between different organisms at each trophic level

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10
Q

What is a food web

A

A complex hierarchy of plants and animals (more developed food web)

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11
Q

What is Nutrient cycling

A

On going recycling of nutrients between living organisms in their environment

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12
Q

How is food loss in a food chains

A

Animals and plants loose energy when
Respiring
Through egestion ( materials consumer doesnt digest)
And movement

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13
Q

How does Climate change effect an ecosystem

A

There will be hotter weather - more extended periods of drought (rivers dey out - fish die)
Possible increase in wildfire
In extreme colds lakes freeze killing fish

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14
Q

What is a biome

A

A large naturally occurring community of flaura and fauna.
E.g deserts / rainforests / tundra
Biomass are found across the world and hold their own climates and species

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15
Q

What is Flora

A

Plants in an area

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16
Q

What is Fauna

A

Animals of an area

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17
Q

Why do climates vary

A

They are located in different ‘cells’ - different areas of pressure

Sunlight in these cells differ which also cause the climate to vary

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18
Q

What are the 3 main cells

A

Hadley cells - largest cells in the center (low pressure)
Polar cells - smallest cells (high pressure
Ferrel cells - high pressure - in between polar and hadley

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19
Q

What pressure is there when air descends

A

High pressure

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20
Q

What is the rainforests climate like

A

2 seasons - wet+dry
The average temperature is 26°C
Hottest month is October
Coldest month is July

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21
Q

What are the layers of the rainforest + one plant / animal in them

A

Emergent layer (35m) - kapok trees - birds and butterflies

Canopy (29m) - birds snakes monkeys - mahogany trees

Understory (under canopy) (17m) - palm trees - green mamba (deadliest snake)

Undergrowth (5m) - shrubs and bushes + mamals

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22
Q

How much light reaches the undergrowth

A

2%

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23
Q

What is the soil in the rainforest

A

Called latosol
Made of a thick and thin kayer
Thick layer (bottom layer) has high amounts of insoluble iron oxides
It is very infertile
Most nutrients located at the top

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24
Q

What is leaching

A

Nutrients are washed away from the soil due to heavy rainfall

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25
Q

What is the nutrient cycle in a rainforest

A

The majority of the nutrients are in biomass.

Litter (dead animals / plants) are decomposed in the soil - some nutrients are lost in runoff.
In the soil some nutrients are lost by leaching
These nutrients are then taken in by the plants

26
Q

Name 2 plants and how they have adapted to the rainforests

A

Buttress roots - Shallow roots, to soak up nutrients in thin soil, the roots must be thick to support the tall trees

Lianas - they have their roots in the soil, and climb up trees to reach the canopy so they can photosynthesise

27
Q

Name 2 animals and how they have adapted to the rainforests

A

Spider monkeys - they have long prehensile tails. This helps them swing around the trees

Poison dart frog - Different toxins in their skin (protects them from predators)
Bright colours in their skin warns off predators

28
Q

What % of species can be found in the raindorest

A

50%

29
Q

What % of the worlds freshwater is in the rainforest

A

20%

30
Q

What is deforestation

A

Cutting down of trees

31
Q

What is commercial farming

A

Farming in a large scale for profit

32
Q

What is subsistence farming

A

Farming on a small scale, producing enough food for the farmer and familly to survive

33
Q

Where are all rainforests located

A

On the equator between the tropic of cancer and the tropic of capricorn

They are in areas of low pressure

34
Q

Impacts of deforestation on the soil

A

By cutting down trees the soil becomes loser, as trees dont bind it together
Makes it easier for the soil to be washed away by wind and rain

35
Q

Impacts of deforestation on the climate

A

Co2 is released when trees are cut down
Trees act as a carbon sink - they take in and store carbon

Each tree in the rainforests holds 3-4 tonnes of carbon

36
Q

Impacts of deforestation on the biodiversity

A

Causes loss of biodiversity
Ecosystems are destroyed / habitats on the ground

This has a global impact as some plants for medicine can only be found in the raindorest

37
Q

Two positive economic impacts of deforestation

A

More space for cattle ranching - generates $123 bil per year

Tourism - more than $7 bil a year - 36,00 jobs made around natural areas

38
Q

Name one negative economic impact of deforestation

A

It causes a decrease in rainfall ( less trees = less transpiration = less water in the air

Can cost agriculture up to $422 million a year

39
Q

Where are hot deserts located

A

In hadley cells Areas of high pressure
30° N/S of the equator

40
Q

What happens when air falls

A

High pressure

41
Q

What is the climate like in the desert

A

Its very arid
(Less than 250mm of rain per year)
Extremely jot during day
Very cold at night

42
Q

What is desert soil like

A

Thin sandy and rocky soil
Extremely dry - when it rains they instantly soak up water

43
Q

How has the saguaro cactus adapted to the desert

(Most cacti the same)

A

Thick skin to keep in water

Grow up to 45 ft - less direct surface area to the sun

Taproot system (deep roots that reach far underground

Spines/thorns up to 7cm (modified leaves - thin to reduce surface area / reduce water loss)

44
Q

How has the cresote bush adapted to the desert

A

Waxy leaves to reduce water loss

Extensive fibrous root systems extending 4m - shallow to intercept new water

45
Q

How have camels adapted to the desert

A

Long eyelashes to keep the sand away

A hump that stores fat for extra food

Can close their noses to prevent sand going into them
Leathery feet reduce heat on the sand

46
Q

How have fennec foxes adapted to the desert

A

Fur covered feet to protect from the heat
Pale fur acts as camouflage
Take moisture from their food
Pointed ears to hear better
Frequently pant to reduce body temperature

47
Q

Why is it so arid in desert

A

The air is sinking, so clouds do not form (high pressure areas)

48
Q

Challenges of development in deserts - temperature

A

Average temperatures of 26.5°C

Working at this temperature is extremely challenging for workers (especially manual workers)

Plants + animals adapted to this by being nocturnal - some workers do the same

49
Q

Challenges of development in deserts - water supply

A

Lack of water / rivers throughout

Not enough water for most plants

50
Q

Challenges of development in deserts - accessibility

A

Lack of roads - high temperatures melt the roads

Most of the area in deserts is inaccessible
Goods cant be transported easily

51
Q

What is desertification

A

The reduction in agricultural capacity due to exploitation of resources and natural processes like drought

(Degradation of fertile land)

52
Q

What is the sahel

A

A region in the saharah desert

53
Q

How is desertification affected by: climate change

A

Climate change causes increased levels of drought
In the sahel rainfall is lower than it has been for the past 90 years

54
Q

How is desertification affected by: population pressure

A

Population increase → increase for fuelwood
Trees are stripped of their branches and die

As more people live in the sahel more resources are required - putting stress on the environment and damaging it

55
Q

How is desertification affected by: soil erosion

A

When vegetation is destroyed the soil is more exposed to the wind and rain, making it more easily eroded
Soil being swept away causes desertification

56
Q

How is desertification affected by: poor land management

A

Overgrazing - too many animals for limited vegetation
Over-cultivation - the need to produce food exhausts the land

More nutrients are taken from the soil - killing it quicker

57
Q

What is appropriate technology

A

Technology suited to the needs, skills and knowledge of local people.

Usually with cheap and accessible materials.

58
Q

Ways to manage desertification/ examples / descriptions/ limitations : national parks

A

In the Tahr desert farming is restricted in 13 regions
Protects 3000km2 of desert

Prevents over-cultivation and overgrazing
Soil is under less pressure

Lims:
Resources cant be taken
Continous management needed
Illegal farming and hunting here

59
Q

Ways to manage desertification/ examples / descriptions/ limitations : afforestation

A

The great green wall in Africa - 4000 miles / 10 miles deep - began in 2007

Stops the sahara from spreading south
Tree roots provide shelter for the soil and roots bind the soil together, and holds water in the soil
Increases humidity
The leaves act as compost

Lims:
Estimated cost of $8bil
Trees take time to grow / some die

60
Q

Ways to manage desertification/ examples / descriptions/ limitations : magic stones (appropriate tech)

A

O.5m - 1.5m high walls (of rocks) on slopes.
Built in equal rows and trap nutrients water and soil
They prevent water from running over the surface letting it sink into the soil

Lims
Labour intensive to move
Education on how they work needed
Takes long time

61
Q

Ways to manage desertification/ examples / descriptions/ limitations : Zai pits

A

20-30cm wide
10 - 20 cm deep
Placed equally apart
Hold crops

Puts full of organic matter, with a bartier behind them
Nutrients and rain runs into the pits from the bartier
Soil brings termites which bring minerals by burrowing

Lims:
Low crop productivity
Labour intensive
Takes a long time to dig

Geography - Basics (6 decks)

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