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

The Living Worlds - Ecosystems Rainforests And Hot Deserts Flashcards

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
What is the nutrient cycle in a rainforest
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
Name 2 plants and how they have adapted to the rainforests
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
Name 2 animals and how they have adapted to the rainforests
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
What % of species can be found in the raindorest
50%
29
What % of the worlds freshwater is in the rainforest
20%
30
What is deforestation
Cutting down of trees
31
What is commercial farming
Farming in a large scale for profit
32
What is subsistence farming
Farming on a small scale, producing enough food for the farmer and familly to survive
33
Where are all rainforests located
On the equator between the tropic of cancer and the tropic of capricorn They are in areas of low pressure
34
Impacts of deforestation on the soil
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
Impacts of deforestation on the climate
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
Impacts of deforestation on the biodiversity
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
Two positive economic impacts of deforestation
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
Name one negative economic impact of deforestation
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
Where are hot deserts located
In hadley cells Areas of high pressure 30° N/S of the equator
40
What happens when air falls
High pressure
41
What is the climate like in the desert
Its very arid (Less than 250mm of rain per year) Extremely jot during day Very cold at night
42
What is desert soil like
Thin sandy and rocky soil Extremely dry - when it rains they instantly soak up water
43
How has the saguaro cactus adapted to the desert (Most cacti the same)
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
How has the cresote bush adapted to the desert
Waxy leaves to reduce water loss Extensive fibrous root systems extending 4m - shallow to intercept new water
45
How have camels adapted to the desert
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
How have fennec foxes adapted to the desert
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
Why is it so arid in desert
The air is sinking, so clouds do not form (high pressure areas)
48
Challenges of development in deserts - temperature
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
Challenges of development in deserts - water supply
Lack of water / rivers throughout Not enough water for most plants
50
Challenges of development in deserts - accessibility
Lack of roads - high temperatures melt the roads Most of the area in deserts is inaccessible Goods cant be transported easily
51
What is desertification
The reduction in agricultural capacity due to exploitation of resources and natural processes like drought (Degradation of fertile land)
52
What is the sahel
A region in the saharah desert
53
How is desertification affected by: climate change
Climate change causes increased levels of drought In the sahel rainfall is lower than it has been for the past 90 years
54
How is desertification affected by: population pressure
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
How is desertification affected by: soil erosion
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
How is desertification affected by: poor land management
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
What is appropriate technology
Technology suited to the needs, skills and knowledge of local people. Usually with cheap and accessible materials.
58
Ways to manage desertification/ examples / descriptions/ limitations : national parks
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
Ways to manage desertification/ examples / descriptions/ limitations : afforestation
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
Ways to manage desertification/ examples / descriptions/ limitations : magic stones (appropriate tech)
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
Ways to manage desertification/ examples / descriptions/ limitations : Zai pits
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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