Topic 7 - People And The Biosphere

Question 1

What affects the distribution of rainforests ?

Answer 1

Temperature/Sunlight:
-Often located near the equator where there is high temperature and lots of sunlight, this allows for the growth of the rainforest’s vegetation. The high temperature increases the decomposition process, increasing the speed of the nutrient cycle which increases the rate of growth
Precipitation:
-Areas with lots of sunlight and continuous rainfall are necessary for the continuous growth of vegetation to form a rainforest

Question 2

What is a biome ?

Answer 2

A large scale ecosystem

Question 3

What is an ecosystem ?

Answer 3

An ecosystem is the study of the living (biotic) and non living (abiotic) aspects of an
environment such as a woodland where the living things interact between each other
and also with the non living environment they are found within

Question 4

How does altitude affect biomes

Answer 4

• The higher the altitude the lower the temperature
• Decrease between 0.5C-1C per 100m
• Steeper land decreases possibility of vegetation growth
• Forest biomes decrease with altitude

Question 5

Give some examples of local factors and how affect biome distribution

Answer 5

Altitude - the greater the altitude the lower the temperature and possibly steeper the land
Rock Type - Affects the permeability of the soil
Drainage - if area becomes waterlogged only certain species can survive

Question 6

How would damage to the biosphere affect indigenous people

Answer 6

Deforestation:

• Takes away habitat from animals (causing them to migrate) they may hunt
• Less resources for the indigenous people to make structures or energy sources
• Plants they may feed will be reduced
• Certain plants used as medicine may also be reduced

Question 7

Give some reasons for increased exploitation

Answer 7

Greater Demand for resources e.g. wood:
-Population increase
-Wealth increase / New technologies and greater disposable income
Greater demand for energy:
-Increased wealth so increased demand due to its affordability
-Reduction in fossil fuel energies so new demand for renewable energy such as HEP

Question 8

Name some ways the Biosphere regulates the Earth

Answer 8

Atmosphere:
-Carbon sink and releases O2
Soil health:
-nutrient cycle, Decay, Growth, Fallout
Water:
-Hydrological cycle, store of water preventing flooding and gradual release so reduced drought

Question 9

What is the Malthus theory ?

Answer 9

Human population will overtake the amount of resources e.g. food, once the population exceeds the amount of resources a global catastrophe will occur leading to a harsh decrease in the population (Malthus drop) before once again increasing. This cycle continuous

Question 10

What is the Boserup Theory ?

Answer 10

The population will continue to increase, however due to the humans innovative nature, new technologies will arise that will increase the amount of food produced so there will not be a shortage

Question 11

Summarise the climate and characteristics of the tropical rainforest

Answer 11

Climate:
-Same all year round
-Warm, between 20C-28C due to being at equator
-Rains every day and annual rainfall is around 2000mm
-Typically located near the equator so days are almost always the same length
Characteristics:
-Plants are evergreen and grow quickly
-Animal species are diverse with large populations
-soil is nutrient rich due to high nutrient cycling

Question 12

Summarise the climate and characteristics of the Boreal Forests

Answer 12

Climate:
-Short summers and long winters
-Very large temperature range, -20C to 10C
-Low precipitation, about 500mm per year (mostly snow)
-Lots of sunlight during summer months but little or none during winter
Characteristics:
-Evergreen coniferous trees
-Few animals species
-Soil is thin, nutrient poor and acidic

Question 13

How does soil type affect affect biome distribution

Answer 13

On certain soils, e.g. alkaline soils, only certain plants can survive. This limits the biodiversity and therefore limits the biomes that can occur in the areas

Question 14

Summarise the climate and characteristics of the Temperate forest

Answer 14

Climate: (mild, wet)
-Four distinct seasons, warm summers, cool winters
-High Rainfalls (1500mm)
-days shorter in winter than in summer, sunshine hours vary
Characteristics:
-Fewer species than tropical but more than boreal forests. Often made up of broad-leaved trees
-Mild climate provides food and habitats for mammals, birds and insects
-Soil is relatively nutrient rich due to quick decomposition and leaf fall in autumn

Question 15

Summarise the climate and characteristics of the tropical Grassland

Answer 15

Climate:
-low rainfall with wet and dry seasons
-Sunshine all year round and temperature range of 15-30C
Characteristics:
-Animals and insects are high in population e.g. lions, zebras, grasshoppers and beetles
-Soil varies in nutrients throughout dry and wet season

Question 16

Summarise the climate and characteristics of the temperate grassland

Answer 16

Climate:
-40 degree summers and -40 degree winters
-little rainfall
-light varies throughout the year
characteristics:
-few trees and mostly grasses
-some mammals such a bison and wild horses
-decomposition is fast so soil is nutrient rich

Question 17

Summarise the climate and characteristics of the desert

Answer 17

Climate:
-little rainfall
-temperature from 45 - 0C
-little to no cloud cover
Characteristics:
-not many plants
-few animal species, mostly: lizards, snakes and scorpions
-Soil is thin and nutrient poor