Unit 1 Notes Flashcards
What are Biotic Components of ecosystems?
Living components such as plants, animals, fungi and bacteria.
What are the Abiotic components of ecosystems?
Non-living components such as rocks, minerals, nutrients, water and energy.
What is a habitat?
A place where an organism lives.
In which other topics have ecosystems been studied?
Temperate Grasslands, tropical rainforests, peat bogs, Belize coral reef, whaling, Arctic ecosystems.
What is a Biome?
A large scale ecosystem, where distribution is controlled by climatic zones.
What are the main types of ecosystems?
Terrestrial ecosystems, Aquatic ecosystems.
What are the examples of Terrestrial ecosystems?
Mountain, Tundra, Grassland, Desert, Forest.
What are the examples of Aquatic ecosystems?
Freshwater, Marine.
What are the facts about Tundra?
Examples - Alaska, Russia. Distribution - 60-75 degrees N and S. Climate - -34 - 10 degrees. 15-25 cm of precipitation annually.
What are the key features of Tundras?
Adapted plant species, low biodiversity, no trees, permafrost.
What are the facts about deserts?
Examples - Sahara, Mojave, Antarctic. Distribution - 15-30 degrees N and S. Climate - Low precipitation, Extreme Temperature.
What are the key features of deserts?
Less than 250mm of rain annually, Quick evaporation, HD - 40 degrees. LD - -40 degrees.
What are the facts about Grasslands?
Examples - North American great plains. Distribution - 30-50 degrees N and S. Climate - Variations in temperature, dry winter, strong winds.
What are the key features of Grasslands?
20-30 degrees in Summer, -20 degrees in winter. 300-1000m of rain annually. Deep roots.
What are the key facts about tropical forests?
Examples - Tropical rainforests. Distribution - Between the tropics. Climate - Limited seasonal variability.
What are the key features about Tropical forests?
Dominated by large tropical trees, high biodiversity, average temperature over 20 degrees, precipitation over 230cm.
What are the facts about Temperate forests?
Examples - Appalaichan forest, Black forest. Distribution - 30-50 degrees N and S. Climate - Warm/mid temperatures.
What are the key features about temperate forests?
Moderate rainfall - 600-2000m of rain per year. Seasonal variation in temperature and rainfall. 20-30 degrees in summer, -10 - 5 degrees in winter.
What are Ecosystem services?
The benefits which the biodiversity of ecosystems provide.
What are the direct services of ecosystems?
Food, Medicine, energy, clothes, cotton, leather, housing.
What are the indirect services of ecosystems?
Carbon capture and storage, flood control, less damage when a storm hits.
What are the cultural services ecosystems provide?
People enjoying the natural world, hidden value and enrichment they bring to people’s lives.
What are supporting services?
The services which ecosystems provide which humans couldn’t survive without.
What are the most important areas of ecosystem services?
Supporting services, provision services, regulating services.
Which cultures do ecosystems play an important role in?
Gwich’in community, Amazon tribes.
What are the regulating services which are provided?
Flood control and defence, carbon sinks - peatland.
How do ecosystems provide cultural services?
Swiss alps, Dolphin watching.
How has human activity degraded some ecosystems?
75% of fish stocks are over exploited, 970 million tonnes of soil eroded each year in the EU. 13 million hectares of tropical forest are cleared annually.
Why is it flawed to view ecosystems in purely economic terms?
There are other factors to consider such as regulatory and cultural values - flood risk, culture, opportunity for tourism, becomes more economically viable.
What is the Anthropocene?
Human induced processes of the planet - in a new geological period.
What damage has been caused to global ecosystems?
Global biodiversity has reduced by 70% in the last 50 years, 3% of all mammals are wild natural animals. 97% are domesticated animals.
How can we restore damage to ecosystems?
Phase out fossil fuels, more renewables. Efficient food production, eat less meat. Manage the ocean effectively - No fish zones. Rewild world - encourage nature.
