Topic 8 Flashcards
Interdependent
When all factors rely on eachother
Plants in the Taiga forest
Mosses,Lichens as well as evergreen coniferous trees
How are coniferous trees adapted to the taiga environment
They are cone shaped meaning snow will fall of them quickly. They also have needles instead of flat leaves to reduce water loss
Animals in the Taiga forest
Animals are well insulated while some hibernate to conserve energy through the winter. Some animals also have white fur so that they can camouflage
Nutrient cycle in the Taiga forest
Trees are evergreen so they drop leaves all year round. However due to the low temperstures decomposition of the leaves takes longer causing soil infertility. This causes plants to grow slowly
Why does the Taiga forest have low biodiversity
The land was much colder and covered by ice making it difficult for current species to adapt to current climate
Some groups of animals are under-presented becasue they cannot cope with the climate eg: amphibians
Things that are exploited for in the Taiga forest
Logging for softwood Fossil Fuels Pulp for paper HEP for dams Minerals from mines
What is softwood used for
Housing furniture
What are fossil fuels used for
Gas and Oil
What is pulp used for
Paper
What is HEP used for
To generate energy
What is mining used for
To gain access to gold silver and other ores
Types of mining
Open Cast mining
Strip Mining
How does buring fossil fuels cause loss of biodiversity
Combustion releases sulfur. This causes acid rain changing the acidity of soil and kill aquatic life and animals who drink from it
How do pests and disease cause loss of biodiversity
Some pests are only harmful to one specie. And since taiga usually only has one specie it can spread quickly and cause mass damage. Climate change is also making it easier for diseases to survive casuing further damage
How do wild fires cause loss of biodiversity
Can change the distribution of species and tamper with the food chain
Ways Taiga forests are conserved
Wilderness Areas
National Parks
Sustainable Forestry
What is a wilderness area
An area that is undisturbed by human activity
Pros of Wilderness areas
Covers a large area
The area is kept as untouched as possible
Cons of Wilderness areas
Hard to police
Economic pressure on the government from companies that want to exploit the natural resources
What is a national park
A recreational area in its natural state
Pros of national parks
Covers a larged area
Unsustainable activity is not permitted
Cons of national parks
Must take into account indigenous communities
Tourism may cause pollution and harm to the area
What is sustainable forestry
Ways of harvesting timber without long term damage
