TOPIC 3C: Deciduous woodlands 🪵🦔

Question 1

What are deciduous woodlands ?

Answer 1

• deciduous woodlands, are vegetation that loses its leaves every year, due to seasonal changes

Question 2

What are the abiotic characteristics of deciduous woodlands ?

Answer 2

• the abiotic characteristics of deciduous woodlands are:
• climate
• soil
• and, water

Question 3

What are the biotic characteristics of deciduous woodlands ?

Answer 3

• the biotic characteristics of deciduous woodlands are:
• plants
• animals
• and, humans

Question 4

What is the climate of deciduous woodlands ?

Hint: bewteen

Answer 4

• the climate in deciduous woodland regions are highly seasonal.
• this means, the climate greatly varies between the winter months [e.g- December] and the summer months [e.g- July]

Question 5

What is the climate of deciduous woodlands in the winter ?

Hint: freeze

Answer 5

• in the winter months of deciduous woodlands, the temperature remains above zero- which means the soil doesn’t freeze over in the winter.
• and the rainfall in the winter months, is four times less during summer; the level of rainfall still remains high

Question 6

• Fill in the gaps: In ________ woodlands, the vegetation cover decreases and leaves fall off trees- this is to minimise energy and moisture loss.

Answer 6

• ; in deciduous woodlands, the vegetation cover decreases and leaves fall off trees- to minimise energy and moisture loss.

Question 7

What is the climate of deciduous woodlands in the summer ?

Hint: vegetation

Answer 7

• in the summer [of deciduous woodlands], there are high levels of rainfall and temperatures
• ; in the summer, vegetation cover increases largely, with leaves growing back and small plants on the woodland floor

Question 8

How is water an abiotic characteristic of deciduous woodlands ? [Hint: throughout]

Answer 8

• in deciduous woodlands, levels of rainfall are high, as it is between 500-1500 mm per year
• and in deciduous woodlands, rain falls throughout the year- and it supplies: lakes, streams and rivers

Question 9

How are plants an abiotic characteristic of deciduous woodlands ? [Hint: large]

Answer 9

• trees in deciduous woodlands typically have large broad leaves, such as: oak, beach and elm trees.
• These trees form the canopy layer; vegetation is also layered in deciduous woodlands. This is because, some light is able to get through

Question 10

What can you tell me about the shrub layer, of deciduous woodlands ? [Hint: beneath]

Answer 10

• the shrub layers forms beneath taller trees, and tree species such as: hazel, ash and holly are found in the shrub layer.
• [; the ground layer can also contain grass or bluebells]

Question 11

How is soil, an abiotic characteristic of deciduous woodlands ? [Hint: rich]

Answer 11

• deciduous woodlands, have very rich soil and humus
• ; the soil in deciduous woodlands, is also fertile brown earth and during the autumn [season], leaves fall of from the tree and decompose- contributing to soil nutrients.

Question 12

What is humus ?

Hint: not rich

Answer 12

• humus, is a dark and organic material that forms in the soil during decomposition

Question 13

How is the Gersmehl model different in deciduous woodlands, in comparison to tropical rainforests ? [Hint: why ?]

Answer 13

• The Gersmehl model illustrates that in deciduous woodlands,
  biomass and soil stores are larger than the litter store.
• ; in tropical rainforests, the litter
  store is smaller because of decomposition.

Question 14

Why do deciduous woodlands have less biodiversity, compared to tropical rainforests ? [Hint: why?]

Answer 14

• less nutrient cycling in winter due to colder temperatures and less sunlight
• smaller size ecosystem than the tropical rainforest
• higher latitude, which means a lower temperature and less sunlight hours, so less photosynthesis

Question 15

[Easy] Why do plants and animals have to adapt in deciduous woodlands ?

Answer 15

• plants and animals have to adapt, as the four distinct seasons of deciduous woodlands forces them to adapt

Question 16

Describe three animal adaptations, of deciduous woodlands [Hint: climates]

Answer 16

1) birds which migrate
away in the winter to
warmer climates

2) squirrels store food
by burying it in the
summer to use in winter

3) some animals that
hibernate in the winter,
such as hedgehogs.

Question 17

Describe three plant adaptations of deciduous woodlands [Hint: groundwater]

Answer 17

1) trees can spread their
branches for greater
sunlight

2) plants may have broad thin leaves which
absorb maximum sunlight

3) plants may also have large, deep roots which
reach nutrients and
groundwater

Question 18

What seasons are in decidous woodlands ?

Answer 18

• ; the winter and summer months are not the only season in deciduous woodlands, as there are four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter

Question 19

How do leaves in deciduous woodlands, contribute to soil nutrients ? 🍁

Hint: autumn

Answer 19

• the soil in deciduous woodlands, is fertile brown earth.
• and during the autumn [season], leaves fall of from the tree and decompose- which contributes to soil nutrients.