Topic 3: Ecosystems (PAPER ONE) Flashcards
What is the Biosphere and how dependent are we on it now?
- Vital system that provides us with food, many medicines, building materials and sources of fuel
- Modern technologies have reduced our day-to-day dependence on the biosphere
How is the Biosphere being exploited for water?
- There is a huge demand for water around the world for cities, industry and agriculture. So, other parts of the biosphere are deprived of water.
How is the Biosphere being exploited for energy?
- Commercial production of biofuels means areas of land are cleared and devoted to biofuel crops instead of food crops.
- This makes food and fuel more expensive for the local people and reduces biodiversity as habitats are destroyed to clear land
- e.g. decline in orangutans in Malaysia linked to clearing land to produce biofuel palm oil
How is the Biosphere being exploited for mineral resources?
Mountain top removal mining: Coal is mined by removing tops of mountains to allow easier access
Explain how distance from the equator impacts distribution of biomes
Climate effects distribution of the world’s large-scale ecosystems:
- Temperature decreases with latitude (equator receives the most heat from sun as it is directly overhead)
- High surface temperatures at the equator power convection cell of rising air. It rises as it cools and the moisture condenses so rain falls.
- So, there are tropical rainforests at the equator
- Distance from the equator can determine the biome
Name all of the World’s Biomes (large-scale ecosystems)
Tropical Rainforest
Tropical Grasslands
Deserts
Temperate Grasslands
Temperate Forest
Boreal Forest
Tundra
What are the characteristics of the world’s biomes?
See mind map in textbook
How does the Earth’s tilt explain rainfall patterns in tropical rainforests?
- Equator is the least affected by the tilt of the earth ibn its axis so it does not have pronounced seasons
- So, precipitation is similar all year round
Explain how the sea influences biome distribution
- The sea can moderate temperature extremes
- So, in the interior of the world’s continents, summer temperatures are high and winter temperatures are lower than nearer the coast
- Temperate grasslands and deserts are influenced by this
Explain how high mountains influence biome distribution
- High mountains force air to rise and cool as it passes over them so precipitation is high in the mountains
- After the air has passed over, it loses moisture and is called a rain shadow
- This influences the location of some desert and temperate grassland ecosystems
What are the local factors that influence distribution of different large-scale ecosystems?
Altitude - Temperature drops 1’C every 100m gained in height. High mountains in the tropics have cold temperature ecosystems
Soils - Vegetation in poorly drained, swampy areas are different from well-drained areas. This can cause the characteristics of an ecosystem to change
What are the UK’s main terrestrial ecosystems?
Moorland
Heathland
Woodland
Wetland
Describe the Distribution and characteristics of Moorlands (UK)
Distribution:
- Upland areas that are too high to be used for crops
Characteristics:
- Rough grassland and peat bogs
- Low growing plants
Describe the Distribution and characteristics of Wetlands (UK)
Distribution:
- Only a small amount left in the UK because wetland areas can e drained to make fertile and arable land
Characteristics:
- Low-nutrient, waterlogged soils
Describe the Distribution and characteristics of Heathlands (UK)
Distribution:
- Scattered across the UK in lowland locations
Characteristics:
- Some heaths are dry and sandy, some are marshy
What are the benefits of marine ecosystems in the UK?
Tourism:
- 250 million people visit the UK’s coasts, supporting 200,000 jobs in coastal tourism
- This brings about £3 billion to the UK’s economy
Energy - oil:
- UK has oil reserves of around 24 billion barrels in the North sea
- Industry employs 450,000 people
Fishing:
- UK fishing fleet 7th largest in European union
How are human activities causing damage to marine ecosystems in the UK?
- Overfishing
- Eutrophication: caused by fertilisers being washed into the sea, killing fish
- Economic development of the coastline can remove coastal ecosystems such as salt marshes
- Construction of windfarms interferes with bird migration routes. The sounds they make could also disturb animals that rely on sounds such as dolphins.
