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Geography > Topic 3 - Ecosystems, biodiversity and management > Flashcards

Topic 3 - Ecosystems, biodiversity and management Flashcards

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1
Q

What is an ecosystem?

A

A community of flora and fauna that interact with their abiotic environment.

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2
Q

What is the biosphere?

A

Any region on earth that is made up of living organisms.

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3
Q

Name 7 large-scale ecosystmes (biomes).

A

Tropical, temperate and boreal forests.
Tropical and temperate grasslands.
Deserts
Tundra

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4
Q

Describe the characteristics of tundra .

A

Found near the North and South poles. Very few plants and animals can survive here

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5
Q

Describe the characteristics of boreal (coniferous forest).

A

Found in Scandinavia, Russia and Canada. Evergreen trees thrive in this cool temperate climate.

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6
Q

Describe the characteristics of temperate (deciduous) forest.

A

Found across Europe and in the USA. These trees lose their leaves every year and thrive in mild and wet conditions known as a temperate maritime climate.

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7
Q

Describe the characteristics of a desert.

A

Found near the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. Conditions here are very hot and dry. Plants and animals are specially adapted to survive in the harsh conditions.

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8
Q

Describe the characteristics of a tropical rainforest.

A

Found near the Equator. The climate is hot and humid and many different species can be found here

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9
Q

Describe the characteristics of temperate grasslands.

A

Consists of grass and trees that thrive in a temperate continental climate of moderate rainfall and mild conditions.
Has cold winters and warm summers.

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10
Q

Describe the characteristics of tropical grasslands.

A

Have dry and wet seasons that remain warm all the time. Temperate grasslands have cold winters and warm summers with some rain.

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11
Q

What are the 4 main terrestial ecosystems in the UK?

A

Moorland
Heathland
Woodland
Wetland

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12
Q

What are 4 global factors that cause biome distrubution?

A

Solar radiation
Atmospheric circulation
Axial tilt
Seasons

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13
Q

What are 4 local factors that cause biome distribution?

A

Humans
Soils
Altitude
Contientality

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14
Q

Explain contientality.

A

When the interior of the world’s continents experience much higher summer temperatures and much colder winter temperatures than the coast.

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15
Q

Explain how humans alter local characteristics of large-scale ecosytems.

A

Centuries of human activity have altered the local characteristics of large-scale ecosystems.

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16
Q

What is another word for large-scale ecosystems?

A

Biomes

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17
Q

How does soil cause biome distribution?

A

The characteristics of an ecosystem can change when the underlying geology or relief produces different types of soil or soil conditions.

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18
Q

How does axial tilt cause biome distribution?

A

The tilt of the earth creates seasons, which often have different precipitation patterns.
The equator is least affected by the tilt of the Earth, so precipitation is similar all year round.

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19
Q

What does ITCZ stand for?

A

Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone.

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20
Q

How do seasons cause biome distribution?

A

The ITCZ shifts northwards in June, following the overhead of the Sun.

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21
Q

How does atmospheric circulation cause biome distributin?

A

The cells create high-pressure and low-pressure systems, resulting in different levels of precipitation.

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22
Q

How does altitude cause biome distribution?

A

Temperature drops by 1 degree celcius by every 1000m gain in heigh.

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23
Q

How does solar radiation cause biome distribution?

A

Temperature decreases with latitude. The equator receives the most heat from the sun, futher away from the equator temperatures are lower.

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24
Q

What are biomes?

A

Large-scale ecosystems defined by the distinct climate, geology, plant and animal life.

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25
Q

What human activities degrade marine ecosystems?

A

Eutrophication
Construction of deep-water ports and channels
Construction of wind farms
Climate change
Over-fishing

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26
Q

What is eutrophication?

A

When fertiliser used on farmland gets washed into the sea, it causes extensive plant growth which absorbs oxygen and damages other organisms in the water.

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27
Q

What resources does the biosphere provide?

A

Food, medicine, fuel, building materials.

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28
Q

What resources from the biosphere are exploited by humans?

A

Food, fuel, medicine

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29
Q

What are some abiotic characteristics of a TRF?

A

Climate, soils, water.

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30
Q

What are some biotic characteristics of TRF?

A

Plants, animals, humans.

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31
Q

What is the nutrient cycle?

A

Describes how nutrients are transferred around an ecosystem.

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32
Q

How does the litter store get it’s nutrients?

A

From biomass from a process called fall-out.

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33
Q

What process transfers nutrients from the litter store to the soil store?

A

Decay.

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34
Q

What are the 3 stores in the nutrient cycle?

A

Biomass, litter, soil.

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35
Q

What 2 processes mean that some nutrients get lost?

A

Leaching.
Surface run-off.

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36
Q

What 2 processes add nutrients to the cycle?

A

Input from nutrients dissolved in rain.
Input from weathered rock.

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37
Q

What stage of the cycle does surface run-off occur?

A

Litter.

38
Q

What stage of the cycle does leaching occur?

A

Soil.

39
Q

What stage of the cycle does nutrients from weathered rock come in?

A

Soil.

40
Q

What stage of the cycle does input dissolved in rain come in?

A

Litter.

41
Q

How are nutrients transferred from the soil store to the biomass store?

A

Uptake by plants.

42
Q

How are nutrients transferred from the biomass store to the litter store?

A

Fall out as tissues die.

43
Q

What is leaching?

A

The process of water removing the nutrients in the soil.

44
Q

How does a TRF release more nutrients into the nutrient cycle?

A

Warm temperatures and moist conditions are perfect for the chemical weathering of the bedrock.

45
Q

Why is the chemical weathering of bedrock in a TRF not seen to be useful?

A

Soil is often 30 to 40 metres deep so nutrients don’t reach upper layers.

46
Q

What does the constant rainfall mean for the nutrient cycle?

A

Leaching occurs.

47
Q

What is the biggest nutrient store in a TRF?

A

Biomass.

48
Q

What word can be used to describe a TRF food web?

A

Complex.

49
Q

Why do trees have shallow roots?

A

Because the only fertile bit of the soil is a very thin nutrient layer right at the surface.

50
Q

Why are drip-tip leaves importat?

A

So water runs off leaves quickly so moss and algae don’t grow over the leaf surface and cut off it’s light.

51
Q

Why are buttress roots important?

A

Keeps tall trunks anchored upright.
Shallow because most nutrients are at the top layer.

52
Q

Why is camouflage important for animals?

A

To avoid being eaten.

53
Q

Why is a strong grip and tail important fro animals?

A

Enable to leap from tree to tree.

54
Q

Describe the rate of decomposition in TRF?

A

Very quick due to warm and humid conditions.

55
Q

What goods do TRF produce?

A

Drugs.
Oxygen.
Timber.
Food.

56
Q

What services does a TRF provide?

A

Biodiversity - pharamcuetical purposes
CO2 intake.
Tourism.
Home to indigenous people.
Prevents flooding and soil erosion.

57
Q

How does a TFR prevent flooding and soil erosion?

A

Trees intercept water.

58
Q

What 3 aspects of a TRF will we see changes in due to CC?

A
  1. Changes to Biodiversity.
  2. Changes to Structure.
  3. Changes to Function.
59
Q

What makes up 80% of deforestation in the TRF?

A

Tavy.

60
Q

What is tavy?

A

A type of “slash and burn” agriculture.

61
Q

Describe the process of tavy.

A

Trees are cut down on a small plot and the undergrowth is burned and then crops are planted.

62
Q

Why is tavy not sustaninable?

A

Because the nutrients in the soil are so low, so the farmers have to keep clearing plots to get produce.

63
Q

What are 3 causes of deforestation in the Madagascan TRF?

A

Population Growth.
Tavy.
Logging.

64
Q

What is commercial logging?

A

The business of cutting down trees .

65
Q

What are 3 reasons for logging?

A

High demand for rosewood.
Madagascan people are very poor.
Corruption.

66
Q

How does corruption lead to logging?

A

Police and government officials often allow illegal logging in return for money.

67
Q

What are some statistics regarding the Madagascan population increase?

A

4 million in 1950 to 20.7 million in 2010.

68
Q

What is the reason for Madagascan people population increase?

A

Inoculation programmes, in the 1940s, resulted in a large drop in infant mortality.

69
Q

How does population increase lead to deforestation?

A

Pressure on the amount of land available for agriculture. Pressure to feed families, means farmers use more tavy plots.

70
Q

Describe the location of the TRF in Madagascar.

A

Off the south-east coast of Africa. 20km north of Analamazortra.

71
Q

What is one very successful sustainable management scheme in Madagascar?

A

Association Mitsinjo.

72
Q

What is government policy in the MTRF?

A

Set up a scheme for local communities to manage their own resources sustainably. International advice was this scheme would only succeed if local people were in charge.

73
Q

What is ecotourism?

A

Tourism that helps conserve and protect the rainforest.

74
Q

What do Association Mitsinjo do?

A

They patrol the 10,000 hectares of the reserve to look out for illegal logging and hunting.
They are local wildlife guides that take tourists around the reserve.

75
Q

Describe the rainforest restoration project that Association Mitsinjo do.

A

They get local farmers to set aside some of their land to help grow young rainforest trees, in return for helping them with their crop yields.

76
Q

What do Association Mistinjo do to help sustainable agriculture?

A

Educates farmers about an alternative to tavy, called SRI. Using this technique more food is grown and there is no need to use more land.

77
Q

What is SRI?

A

System of Rice Intensifaction.

78
Q

What is a problem with Association Mitsinjo?

A

2/3 of the project rely on international aid. Not financially stable.

79
Q

What changes to TRF structure will happen due to CC?

A

Prolonged dry season means that:
1. Thick underbush will grow due to no canopy.
2. Lack of vegetation, animals will adapt to hibernate or store food.
3. Loss in biodiversity.
4. Trees will have deep roots and swollen trunks.
5. Decomposition slow soil store becomes larger, biomass becomes smaller.

80
Q

What changes to TRF structure will happen due to CC?

A

Prolonged dry season means that:
1. Thick underbush will grow due to no canopy.
2. Lack of vegetation, animals will adapt to hibernate or store food.
3. Trees will have deep roots and swollen trunks.
4. Decomposition slow soil store becomes larger, biomass becomes smaller.

81
Q

What changes to TRF biodiversity will happen due to CC?

A

TRF plant species cannot tolerate drier conditions.
Cannot survive in forest fires or drought.
Species cannot cope with fluctuations of temperature.
Spread of pests and diseases that species are not immune to.

82
Q

What changes to TRF function will happen due to CC?

A

Less vegetation cover means increased surface run-off, polluting water and harming fish species.
Lower rainfall in surrounding areas due to the stopping of “cloud stripping”
Dry forests emits more CO2 than it soaks up.

83
Q

Describe the process of “cloud stripping”.

A

TRF on mountains soak up moisture from passing clouds. Provides areas downstream with a steady supply of water all year.

84
Q

How can CC lead to lower rainfall in surrounding areas?

A

Lots of water vapour are pumped out of the extensive vegetation. So, a less dense forest means less rainfall in surrounding areas.

85
Q

Why are most of the nutrients located at the top of the soil?

A

It is where the dead leaves decompose quickly.

86
Q

Where are moorlands found in UK?

A

Scotland - upland areas

87
Q

What are characteristics of moorlands?

A

Peat bogs and rough grasslands

88
Q

Where are wetlands found in the UK?

A

East Anglia and Scotland.

89
Q

What is a feature of a wetland?

A

Waterlogged soils low nutrients

90
Q

Where are heathlands found?

A

Lowland areas of the UK

91
Q

What are the features of heathlands?

A

Marshy or dry and sandy.

Geography (8 decks)

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