TOPIC 3C: Deciduous woodlands 🪵🦔 Flashcards
What are deciduous woodlands ?
- deciduous woodlands, are vegetation that loses its leaves every year, due to seasonal changes
What are the abiotic characteristics of deciduous woodlands ?
- the abiotic characteristics of deciduous woodlands are:
- climate
- soil
- and, water
What are the biotic characteristics of deciduous woodlands ?
- the biotic characteristics of deciduous woodlands are:
- plants
- animals
- and, humans
What is the climate of deciduous woodlands ?
Hint: bewteen
- 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]
What is the climate of deciduous woodlands in the winter ?
Hint: freeze
- 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
- Fill in the gaps: In ________ woodlands, the vegetation cover decreases and leaves fall off trees- this is to minimise energy and moisture loss.
- ; in deciduous woodlands, the vegetation cover decreases and leaves fall off trees- to minimise energy and moisture loss.
What is the climate of deciduous woodlands in the summer ?
Hint: vegetation
- 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
How is water an abiotic characteristic of deciduous woodlands ? [Hint: throughout]
- 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
How are plants an abiotic characteristic of deciduous woodlands ? [Hint: large]
- 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
What can you tell me about the shrub layer, of deciduous woodlands ? [Hint: beneath]
- 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]
How is soil, an abiotic characteristic of deciduous woodlands ? [Hint: rich]
- 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.
What is humus ?
Hint: not rich
- humus, is a dark and organic material that forms in the soil during decomposition
How is the Gersmehl model different in deciduous woodlands, in comparison to tropical rainforests ? [Hint: why ?]
- 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.
Why do deciduous woodlands have less biodiversity, compared to tropical rainforests ? [Hint: why?]
- 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
[Easy] Why do plants and animals have to adapt in deciduous woodlands ?
- plants and animals have to adapt, as the four distinct seasons of deciduous woodlands forces them to adapt
Describe three animal adaptations, of deciduous woodlands [Hint: climates]
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.
Describe three plant adaptations of deciduous woodlands [Hint: groundwater]
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
What seasons are in decidous woodlands ?
- ; the winter and summer months are not the only season in deciduous woodlands, as there are four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter
How do leaves in deciduous woodlands, contribute to soil nutrients ? 🍁
Hint: autumn
- 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.
