Unit 1B The Living World

Question 1

What is an ecosystem?

Answer 1

unit includes all biotic(living)parts and abiotic (non-living)parts in an area

Question 2

What is a producer

Answer 2

organism that uses sunlight energy to produce food

Question 3

What is a consumer

Answer 3

organism that gets its energy by eating other organisms-it eats producers or other consumers

Question 4

What does a food chain show

Answer 4

What eats what

Question 5

What does a food web show

Answer 5

Lots of food chains and how they overlap

Question 6

What is a decomposer

Answer 6

An organism that gets its energy by breaking down dead material

Question 7

Describe the nutrient cycle

Answer 7

When dead material decomposed, nutrients released into soil. Nutrients then taken up from soil by plants. Plants may be eaten by consumers. When plant consumers die, nutrients returned to the soil. This transfer of nutrients is called nutrient cycle

Question 8

Describe the tundra

Answer 8

Found at high latitudes(above 60°N) in Northern Europe, Alaska and northern Canada, summers are brief, little rainfall. hardly any trees-vegetation included mosses,grasses and low shrugs.layer of permanently frozen ground called permafrost

Question 9

Describe the tropical rainforest

Answer 9

Found around the equator, between tropics, where it’s hot and wet all year round. an area of lush forest, with dense canopies of vegetation forming distinct layers

Question 10

Describe polar regions

Answer 10

Found around the north and south poles. very cold, icy and dry. Not much grows at all. What get remain dark for several months each year should the growing season is very short-about 2 months

Question 11

Describe grassland regions

Answer 11

2 types of grassland. Savannah grasslands are found between tropics. There are distinct dry and wet seasons, although rainfall is still relatively low. Most of the vegetation is grasses with a few scattered trees. Temperate grasslands are found at higher latitudes where there is more variation in temperature and less rainfall. There are no trees.

Question 12

Describe temperate deciduous forest

Answer 12

Found mainly in mid latitude where there are 4 distinct seasons . Summers warm, winters relatively mild and there’s rainfall all year round. Deciduous trees lose their leaves in winter to cope with the colder weather

Question 13

Describe hot desert regions

Answer 13

Found between 15° and 35° north and south of the equator where there’s little rainfall. It’s very hot during day and very cold at night. Shrubs and cacti are sparsely distributed in the sandy soil

Question 14

Describe climate of tropical rainforests

Answer 14

-hot temp generally between 20-28 °c and only varies by a few degrees over the year, due to sun being overhead all year round near the equator

Rainfall is very high around 2000mm per year, it rains every day

Question 15

Describe the soil in tropical rainforests

Answer 15

Not very fertile as heavy rain washes nutrients away. There are nutrients at surface due to decay ed leaf fall, but this later is very thin as decay is fast in the warm, moist conditions

Question 16

Describe plants in tropical rainforests

Answer 16

Most trees are evergreen to take advantage of the continual growing season. Many trees are really tall and the vegetation cover is dense-little light reaches forest floor . Lots of epiphytes (plants that grow on other living plants to take nutrients and moisture from air)

Question 17

Describe animals in tropical rainforests

Answer 17

-contain more animal species than any other ecosystem. Gorillas, jaguars, anacondas, tree frogs and sloths are examples of rainforest animals

Question 18

Give 3 ways in which plants in tropical rainforests have adapted

Answer 18

• plants have thick, waxy leaves with pointed tips.the pointed tips(drip tips) Chanel the water to a point so it runs off-that way weight of water doesn’t damaged the plant and there’s no standing water for fungi and bacteria to grow in. The waxy coating of leaves helps to repel the rain
• many trees have smooth, thin bark as there is no need to protect the trunk from cold temperatures . Smooth surface allows water to run off easily
• plants in undercanopy have large leaves to absorb as much light as possible

Question 19

Give 3 ways in which animals in tropical rainforests have adapted

Answer 19

• some animals are camouflaged
• many animals are nocturnal as at night it’s cooler therefore helps them save energy
• many animals spend their entire lives high up in the canopy. They have adding limbs so that they can spend all day climbing and leaping from tree to tree

Question 20

Give 3 reasons why tropical rainforests are chopped down

Answer 20

Population pressure- as population in area increases, trees are cleared to make land for new settlements

Commercial logging- trees are felled to make money.road building for logging also requires more free clearance

Commercial farming- forest cleared to make space for cattle grazing or hugs palm oil or soya plantations

Question 21

What are the environmental impacts of deforestation

Answer 21

• with no trees to hold soil together, heavy rain washes it away, can lead to landslides and flooding
• without tree canopy to intercept rainfall and tree roots to absorb it, more water reaches soil. Reduces soil fertility as nutrients washed away
• more co2 in the air which adds to greenhouse effect, deforestation responsible for 15% of global co2 emissions each year

Question 22

What are the economic impacts of deforestation

Answer 22

• logging, farming and mining create jobs
• lots of money made from selling timber, mining and commercial farming
• long term, can destroy resources countries depend on
• livelihoods of some locals are destroyed -deforestation can cause loss of animals and plants that they rely on to make a living

Question 23

Deforestation case study: The Amazon

Answer 23

• Amazon is largest rainforest on earth-covering an area of 8 million km^2
• since 1978, over 750,000 km^2 has been destroyed by deforestation
• population growth and migration to area also putting pressure on amazon, especially as Brazilian government offers land in rainforest to poor people from overcrowded cities

Question 24

Causes of deforestation in the Amazon

Answer 24

• 65-70% caused by commercial (cattle) ranching
• 20-25% caused by small-scale subsistence farming
• 5-20% caused by other commercial farming
• 2-3% caused by logging,including lots of illegal logging
• 1-2% caused by other activities such as mineral extraction, road building, energy development and building new settlements

Question 25

Environmental impacts of deforestation in the Amazon

Answer 25

• Amazon stores around 100 billion tonnes of carbon- deforestation will release some of this as carbon dioxide, which causes global warming
• Brazil is losing 55 million tons of topsoil every year because of soil erosion caused by soy farming

Question 26

Economic impacts of deforestation in the Amazon

Answer 26

• economic development brought wealth to countries that were very poor
• farming makes a lot of money for countries in rainforest. E.g. In 2008, Brazil made $6.9 billion from trading cattle. It is also worlds biggest exporter of soy beans
• mining industry creates jobs for lots of people - logging contributed to a huge amount of Brazil’s economy
• local Brazilian rubber tappers who extract natural rubber from rubber trees have lost their livelihoods as trees have been cut down

Question 27

How are tropical rainforests valuable to people and the environment

Answer 27

• many products are sourced from rainforest (rubber, coffee, chocolate and medicines)
• rainforests help reduce greenhouse effect
• rainforests can help regulate climate and water cycle

Question 28

Sustainable management of tropical rainforests: selective logging

Answer 28

Only Some trees felled. If only few trees taken from each area overall forest structure is kept- canopy’s still there and soil not exposed, means forest be able to regenerate

Question 29

Sustainable management of tropical rainforests: replanting

Answer 29

New trees planted-replace ones cut down. Important same type trees planted as ones cut down,to keep variety.

Question 30

Sustainable management of tropical rainforests: ecotourism

Answer 30

Small number visitors allowed in area at a time-environmental impacts minimised. Provides source of income to locals. Very successful in Costa Rica

Question 31

Sustainable management of tropical rainforests: international hardwood agreements

Answer 31

International agreements in place to try to reduce illegal logging, and promote hardwood from sustainably managed forests

Question 32

Sustainable management of tropical rainforests: education

Answer 32

Education of international community about impacts of deforestation can encourage people to buy products certified from sustainably managed sources.

Question 33

Sustainable management of tropical rainforests: reducing debt

Answer 33

LICs often borrow money from HICs to fund development schemes or cope with emergencies. This money has to be paid back with interest. These countries often allowed w logging, farming and mining in rainforests to make money to pay debt- by reducing debt means they don’t have to do this

Question 34

Sustainable management of tropical rainforests: conservation

Answer 34

Areas of rainforest that are restricted. Lack of funds= difficult to police restrictions. Some countries set up funds which overseas governments and businesses invest in. Countries get money in exchange for rainforest conservation

Question 35

Describe the climate in cold environments(polar and tundra)

Answer 35

• polar areas very cold, temps never normally above 0°c, winters normally below -40°c and can reach -90°c
• tundra also cold, temp in warmest month are maximum of 10°c and winters can reach -50°c
• low rainfall, no more than 100mm a year in polar areas and 380mm or less in tundra
• clearly defined seasons, cold summers and even colder winters

Question 36

Describe the soil in cold environments (polar and tundra)

Answer 36

• polar covered by ice sheets, no soil exposed

- tundra soil thin and acidic, layer of permafrost beneath thin soil which contains trapped greenhouse gas

Question 37

Describe the plants in cold environments (polar and tundra)

Answer 37

• very few in polar, some lichens and misses found on rocks, and a few grasses
• some small, short trees in warmer, sheltered areas

Question 38

Describe the animals in cold environments (polar and tundra)

Answer 38

• relatively few different species of animals
• polar bears, penguins and marine animals like whales, seals and walrus found in polar regions. Lemmings, Arctic hares, wolves and reindeer found in tundra areas

Question 39

Describe the people in cold environments (polar and tundra)

Answer 39

• polar regions almost uninhabited, few scientists live on Antarctica for short periods, some indigenous people live in arctic areas
• many people in tundra including indigenous people, and oil and gas workers in larger towns

Question 40

How bad plants adapted to the cold, dry climate in cold environments

Answer 40

• small and round-shaped protection from wind
• shallow roots because of layer of permafrost under soil layer
• use underground runners or bulbs instead of seeds to reproduce because growing season so short
• small leaves limit amount of moisture lost through transpiration

Question 41

How have animals adapted to the cold, dry climate in cold environments

Answer 41

• many have white coats for camouflage
• tend to be well-insulated, they have thick fur or layer of blubber, reduces amount of energy they have to use to keep warm
• birds migrate
• some hibernate to conserve energy and survive winter

Question 42

Issues related to biodiversity in cold environments

Answer 42

• low biodiversity, means when population of 1 species changes it can effect the population of dependent species.
• global warming cause some species to love towards poles, where it’s cooler, to cope with temp rises. Species already adapted to polar can’t go anywhere colder, so at risk of decline or extinction in climate change causes polar areas to warm up

Question 43

Cold environments case study: oil and gas opportunities in Alaska

Answer 43

Over 1/2 Alaska’s income from oil and gas industry. Most oil fields around Prudhoe Bay, and Trans-Alaska oil pipeline links oil fields with Valdez, from where oil can be shipped to customers.

Question 44

Cold environments case study: mineral extraction opportunities in Alaska

Answer 44

Gold, silver, iron ore and copper mined, particularly in Tintina gold belt. It contributed $2.2 billion to Alaska’s GDP in 2013

Question 45

Cold environments case study: fishing opportunities in Alaska

Answer 45

Salmon, crab and pollock fished. Fishing employs 79,000 people and contributes over $5 billion to Alaska’s economy

Question 46

Cold environments case study: tourism opportunities in Alaska

Answer 46

Tourists attracted by wilderness scenery. Around 2 million tourists visit each year, brining in money and creating opportunities for employment

Question 47

Cold environments case study: extreme temperatures challenge in Alaska

Answer 47

• really cold, in Prudhoe Bay mean annual temp = -9°c. Extreme weather such as snow and strong winds common. Exposure to extreme cold can cause injury or death, and healthcare long distance away.
• subject to extremes in amount of daylight it gets, in winter dark nearly all the time

Question 48

Cold environments case study: inaccessibility challenge in Alaska

Answer 48

• long way from rest of US. Mountain terrain makes access difficult and expensive
• in winter, only way to get to some towns is via air or dangerous ice roads. In summer no roads to some towns as ground too soft.
• population small and scattered , people long way from employment opportunities or services

Question 49

Cold environments case study: buildings and infrastructure challenge in Alaska

Answer 49

• providing buildings and infrastructure that can cope with ground and weather is difficult and expensive
• most construction work only happen in summer, when days longer and temps warmer
• value of some resources mans that people find ways to overcome the challenges

Question 50

Explain the value of cold environments as wilderness areas and why these fragile environments should be protected

Answer 50

Wilderness areas are wild, natural environments that haven’t been changed significantly by people.

• provide habitats, so protect biodiversity
• scientists can study wild plants + animals in natural habitat
• natural ecosystems useful to compare to managed ecosystems

Question 51

Explain the use of technology as a strategy to balance economic development with conservation

Answer 51

• development cause problems can be solved by modern technology
• modern construction methods can minimise environmental impacts, eg elevating buildings prevent them warming ground

Question 52

Explain the conservation groups as a strategy to balance economic development with conservation

Answer 52

• they pressure governments to protect cold environments damaged or at risk
• eg world wide fund for nature and green peace encourage sustainable management of cold environments and argue for governments to prevent actions that’d cause damage

Question 53

Explain the international agreements as a strategy to balance economic development with conservation

Answer 53

• some cold environments protected by international agreements
• 1959 Antarctic Treaty, signed by 12 nations, limits visitors landing at 1 site to 100 at time, ensures peaceful non-military activities, prohibits nuclear activities and prevents cruise ships of over 500 passengers stopping.

Question 54

Explain the role of governments as a strategy to balance economic development with conservation

Answer 54

-governments can make laws to protect cold environments, such as 1964 wilderness act, that designated wilderness areas and protected them from development