Topic 7 Flashcards

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1
Q

What are biomes

A

Large scale ecosystems with distinctive vegetation

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2
Q

What does an ecosystem include

A

All the living and none living things in an area

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3
Q

What determines what type of biome forms

A

Climates

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4
Q

Climate for tropical rainforest

A

Same all year round: hot, wet
Temp is 20°-28° - near the equator
Lots of sunshine all year, 12 hour days all year
2000mm of rainfall a year

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5
Q

Characteristics of the tropical rainforest

A

Most trees are evergreen
Lots of different species of animals – dense vegetation provides lots of food and different habitats
Constant supply of nutrients in the soil – plants grow quickly and shed leaves all year round

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6
Q

Temperate forest climate

A

Mild, wet
1500 MM of rainfall a year
Day shorter in winter and longer in summer

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7
Q

Characteristics of temperate forests

A

Mild wet climate supports fewer plant species: forests have broad leaf trees that drop leaves in autumn
Range of plants provides food for lots of mammals
Plants lose leaves in autumn, leaf litter decomposes quickly, soil relatively thick and nutrient rich

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8
Q

Boreal forest climate

A

Cold, dry
Short summers long winters
Precipitation less than 500 MM a year
Lots of daylight during summer months, little or noneduring winter

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9
Q

Boreal forest characteristics

A

Most trees are evergreen: commonly coniferous trees, mosses and lichen also
Few animal species because less food available and animals must be adapted to cold
Soil thin, nutrient poor and acidic due to cold climate decomposing slowly

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10
Q

Tropical and temperate grassland climate

A

Tropical grasslands have low rainfall ( 800 to 900 MM per year) and distinct wet and dry seasons.Temps range from 35° to 15°. Lots of sun all year round
Temperate grassland temps range from 40 – -40. 250–500 MM rain per year. Amount of light varies through the year

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11
Q

Characteristics of tropical and temperate grasslands

A

Tropical grasslands have mostly small plants and grass with few trees. Home to lots of insects and larger animals e.g. giraffes. Grass dies back during dry season to form thin, nutrient rich soil but these are washed out of soil during wet season
Temperate grasslands have lots of grasses in small plants and a few trees. Home to fewer animals than tropical grasslands e.g. wild horses. Higher temps in summer me.decomposition is fast, soil is relatively thick and nutrient rich

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12
Q

Desert climate

A

Rainfall low – less than 250 MM per year
Temps range from 45° - 0°
More daylight during summer, little cloud cover, lots of sunlight hours a day

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13
Q

Desert characteristics

A

Plant growth sparse due to low rainfall e.g. cacti
Few animals. Only those adapted to harsh climate e.g: lizards
Little leaf litter and decomposition is slow due to dry climate, soil is mostly thin and nutrient poor

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14
Q

Tundra climate

A

Temps from 10° in summer and -30° in winter
Precipitation low – less than 250 MM per year
Tundra found at high latitudes, near continuous daylight in summer and little daylight in the winter

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15
Q

Tundra characteristics

A

Hard for plants to grow due to cold climate and lack of light, plants include mosses and low shrubs
Cold climate and lack of vegetation means that relatively few animal species in tundra e.g. arctic hares
Sparse vegetation produces little leaf litter ,decomposition slow ( cold, dry climate ), soil is thin nutrient poor

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16
Q

What local factors effect biome distribution

A

Altitude – high altitude are colder, fewer plants grow there, less animals
Rock type - rocks can be easily weathered to form soils, different rocks contain different minerals.Can affect how nutrient rich soil is
Soil type – more nutrient rich soil support more plants, acidity and drainage of soils also varies
Drainage – if drainage is poor, so gets waterlogged and only plants adapted to wet conditions can grow

17
Q

Biotic and abiotic components interacting

A

Water availability effects the plants that can grow, plants take in and release water into atmosphere providing moisture for more rainfall
Type and desnity of vegetation affects type of soil that forms, and soil type affects plants that can grow, lots of vegetation provides leaf litter for nutrients to go into soil
Some organisms cause biological weathering

18
Q

What respurces does the biosphere provide

A

Food - indigenous people and farmers can rely on food provided by biosphere e.g plants and animals
Medicine - plants can have medicinal properties, 7000 drugs created from plants in tropical rainforests
Building materials - trees and plants used for timber and to make furniture
Fuels - wood, moss and animal dung can be burned for fuel

19
Q

How do humans exploit the biosphere

A

Energy: population increase and increasing wealth means that more forest is cut down to grow crops, make coal mines and powerstations

Water: demand for water is increasing, this causes the over exploitation of natural water stores which leaves animals without water

Minerals: metals can be used for: building and electronics. Demand is increasing and mkre mines are set up which deforest and pollute the rainforest which kills animals and plants

20
Q

How does the biosphere control proportions of gases in the atmosphere

A

Plants take in co2 and release oxygen in photosynthesis

Animals take in oxygen and give out co2 in respiration

21
Q

How does the biosphere maintaining the balance of gases in the atmosphere important?

A

Organisms need oxygen to survive
Increased Co2 leads to global warming
Increased Co2 leads to acidic oceans
Some Co2 is needed to keep the earth warm

22
Q

How does the biosphere keep soil healthy

A

Plant roots and animals spread nutrients through soil which maintain soil structure and fertility
Roots hold soil together which stops erosion from wind and rain
Vegetation intercepts rain to prevent leaching

23
Q

How does the biosphere regulate the water cycle

A

Water taken up by plants so less reaches river and causes floods and soil erosion
Plants help to regulate the water cycle by storing water and releasing it slowly into the atmosphere

24
Q

Why are forests essential in maintaining the balance of gases

A

They take in huge amounts of Co2 and release huge amounts of oxygen

25
Q

How is population growth increasing the demand for resources

A

More people require more resources such as food, water and energy so demand rises
Increased demand for one thing may increase the demand for another:
More food needed means that more water is needed, this must be transported in mass which requires more energy

26
Q

How does increasing wealth increase demand for resources

A

More disposable income:
More money for food, buy more than they need
Can afford cars, fridges, TVs which all use energy. Manufacturing these requires energy and uses water
Water use increases as more people can afford flushing toilets and showers

27
Q

How does urbanisation increase demand for resources

A

Growth of proportion of people living in urban areas
Cities are more resource intensive than rural areas e.g. streets light use energy and fountains use water
Food and water must be transported long distances to meet increased demand in cities, a d waste must be removed - this uses energy

28
Q

How does industrialisation increase demand for resources

A

Shift in countries main economic activity from primary to secondary sectors
Energy is used when manufacturing cars, chemicals and electrical appliances
Manufacturing uses a lot of water
Industrialisation increases the production of processed goods which uses lots of palm oil which are grown in huge plantations

29
Q

What is Malthus’ theory

A

Population is increasing faster than resource amount
When population outgrew resource amount ( point of catastrophe ), people would die from famine, illness and wars until population decreased to a level that could be supported by respurces available

30
Q

What is Boserup’s theory

A

However big the population grew, people would find a way to produce sufficient resources to support it
People would come up with new ways to increase production through technology to avoid catastrophe