Unit 1 Brainscape terms Flashcards
What are the key characteristics of deciduous woodland?
Warm summers and mild winters with plenty of rain. Deciduous trees lose their leaves in winter because it is too cold and dark for much photosynthesis. Loss of leaves reduces water loss by transpiration.
What are the key characteristics of coniferous woodland?
Cold climates with ground often frozen in winter. Poor, often acidic soil. Coniferous trees have needles which are not lost in winter - no energy needed each spring to re growing them. Needles reduce water loss as water is often unavailable as it is frozen. Cone shaped trees allow snow to fall off and shallow roots help to absorb precious nutrients.
What are the key characteristics of meadows?
Traditionally cut for hay in July. Contain a wide range of wild flowers such as poppies if no fertiliser is added. If the soil is nutrient rich, wild flowers will be out competed by grasses
What are the key characteristics of ley grassland?
Rye grass produces a very high yield allowing several cuts for silage, it requires high levels of fertilisers to maintain productivity. Lower species diversity than meadows.
What are the key characteristics of wetlands?
Water plants are characterised by luxuriant growth and often have large leaves as loss of water from the leaves is not a problem. These plants often have large air spaces within their leaves to store air due to lack of oxygen in the soil.
What are the key characteristics of moorland?
A semi natural habitat over 300m, that was formed when woodland was cleared and grazed 1,000 years ago. Careful management by humans is needed to ensure the heather regenerates.
In which ecosystem would you find - wood mice, foxes, badgers and tawny owls?
Deciduous woodland
In which ecosystem would you find - deer and squirrels.
Coniferous woodland
In which ecosystem would you find - a wide range of invertebrate species such as the marbled white butterfly, burnet moth, bees and hoverflies as well as birds such as goldfinches.
Meadows
In which ecosystem would you find - small mammals such as wood mice and weasels.
Ley grassland
In which ecosystem would you find - otters, water vole and birds such as reed warblers as well as fish such as sticklebacks, frogs and newts, snails, diving beetles and damselflies.
Wetland
In which ecosystem would you find - animals such as red grouse, hen harrier, adders and lizards.
Moorland
Name at least 3 plants found in deciduous woodland
Broadleaved trees such as oak, ash and beech, bluebells and wild garlic
Name at least 3 plants found in coniferous woodland
Native British species like Scots pine and juniper, as well as non-native species like Douglas Fir and Sitka Spruce.
Name at least 3 plants found in meadows
Grasses such as Cocksfoot, Timothy and Common Bent, clover.
Name the plant species found in ley grassland
Agricultural strains of grasses, particularly rye grass together with clover.
Name at least 3 plants found in wetland
Marsh Plants such as willow, yellow iris and water mint as well as water plants such as duckweed and water lilies.
Name at least 3 plants found in moorland
Heather, bilberry and cotton grass - plants adapted to living in acidic soils which are often waterlogged.
What is a microclimate?
A small region of a habitat where conditions are different to normal
How is removing hedgerows damaging to the environment?
Destroys habitats, food sources, shelter, breading areas and links between woodlands leading to isolation of communities
What is a herbivore?
An animal that only eats plants
What is a carnivore?
An animal that only eats meat
What is an omnivore?
An animal that eats plants and meat
In a food chain grass could be described as a ?
Producer
In a food chain a rabbit could be described as a ?
primary consumer/herbivore/prey
In a food chain a fox could be described as a ?
secondary/tertiary consumer, carnivore, predator
What is a food Chain
A simple diagram which shows the feeding relationship between animals and plants
What is a food Web
A complex diagram containing many organisms which shows the feeding relationship of animals and plants
In a food chain or web what do the arrows show?
The direction of energy flow
In a food web or chain where does the energy come from?
The sun
