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Geography > Unit 5: Carbon Stores In Different Biomes > Flashcards

Unit 5: Carbon Stores In Different Biomes Flashcards

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1
Q

What is a biome?

A

Is an ecological community whole global distribution corresponds with climatic regions of the Earth.

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2
Q

What two climatic variables determines biomes distribution?

A

• Temperature -> plant growth, transpiration, evaporation
• Precipitation-> determines vegetation, water availability, photosynthesis, growth

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3
Q

What are the world’s 3 major rainforests?

A

• Amazon Rainforest - Brazil
•Central African rainforest - Congo Basin
•Indo-Malaysian Rainforest

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4
Q

What is the distribution of tropical rainforests?

A

Between the tropics (cancer and Capricorn) . On/near the Equator

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5
Q

What is the Climate of tropical Rainforests?

A
  • High average rainfall ( 250-450cm)
  • High average temperature (20-30 degrees)
    > High humidity
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6
Q

What is the distribution of temperate grasslands?

A

Bordering desert regions. Outside the tropics mainly.
On every continent bar Antarctica

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7
Q

What is the climate of Temperate Grassland?

A

> Variance in temperature -10 to 20 - seasonal
* Moderate average rainfall of 3mm to 110mm

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8
Q

What is carbon and approximately how much percentage of the dry weight of plant biomass globally does it make up?

A

Carbon is an essential plant macronutrient and makes up approximately 44 % of the dry weight of plant biomass globally.

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9
Q

What is the total amount of carbon stored in he terrestrial (land) biosphere?

A

3,000 Gigatons

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10
Q

Explain the carbon storage in green plants

A

Nearly 20% of carbon in earths biosphere is stored in plants, including root systems below the soil surface

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11
Q

Explain the carbon storage in animals

A

These play a small role in carbon storage because the biomass of animals is much less than plant biomass

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12
Q

Explain the carbon storage in litter

A

This is fresh and un-decomposed plant debris on the surface of the soil; it includes leaves, other dead organisms and excrement

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13
Q

Explain the carbon storage in soil

A

Humus is a black substance that remains in the soil after most of the organic litter has decomposed; it gets dispersed throughout the soil by earthworms

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14
Q

The amount of carbon stored in each global biome varies, due to what factors?

A

> The size of the surface it covers
The type and the amount of vegetation present
Human activities - deforestation, climate change, materials, land use - agriculture
Climate conditions - seasons

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15
Q

How does carbon in green plants get to carbon in animals?

A

Consumption

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16
Q

How does carbon in green plants get to carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?

A

Respiration

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17
Q

How does carbon in animals get to carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?

A

Respiration

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18
Q

How does carbon dioxide in the atmosphere get to carbon in green plants?

A

Photosynthesis

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19
Q

How does carbon in the soil get to carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?

A

Decomposition

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20
Q

How does carbon in animals get to carbon in litter?

A

Excretion and death

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21
Q

How does carbon green plants get to carbon in litter?

A

Death and leaf shedding

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22
Q

How does carbon in litter get into carbon in the soil?

A

Decomposition

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23
Q

What is the diagram called which represents the movement of all nutrients within an ecosystem?

A

Gersmehl

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24
Q

What is leaching?

A

This is the removal of soluble nutrients in water percolating downwards through the soil.

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25
Q

Describe the tropical rainforest biome

A

The tropical rainforest is a hot, wet biome found near Earths equator. They generally found between 10 degrees north and 10 degrees south of the equator in South America, western Africa and Asia.
> consistent rainfall - no less than 200mm a month
> very consistent temperature - little variance

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26
Q

How does light influence plant growth and carbon storage in a tropical rainforest?

A

Light is consistent.
Dense coverage of biomass means its hard for small plants to get light - only 35% of light penetrates to the ground floor.

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27
Q

How does temperature influence plant growth and carbon storage in a tropical rainforest?

A

Consistent temperature
Increases shoot growth
If its too hot plants will wilt and die

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28
Q

How does precipitation influence plant growth and carbon storage in a tropical rainforest?

A

Aids with plant growth
Plants under water stress will wilt

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29
Q

Globally how many gigatons of carbon do tropical rainforests store?

A

550 gigatons

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30
Q

Tropical rainforests are a globally important what?

A

Carbon sink

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31
Q

How many tonnes of carbon are released each year by deforestation?

A

1.5 billion tonnes

32
Q

How many tonnes of carbon are taken in by the Amazon each year?

A

1.7 billion tonnes

33
Q

How many tonnes of carbon are stored each year?

A

4.8 billion tonnes

34
Q

What is the Gross Primary Productivity (GGP)?

A

The amount of energy produced by photosynthesis in a unit area during one year.

35
Q

What is the Net Primary Productivity (NNP)?

A

To measure the amount of carbon stored, the amount of new biomass produced each year need to be measured; this is measure by the NPP, which is GPP minus the energy lost in respiration.

36
Q

What are the units which NNP is measured in?

A

g C m-2 yr-1

37
Q

What is the average Rainforest NNP?

A

Around over 2000g C m-2 yr-1
Comparison - British temperature deciduous forest - 1000g C m-2 yr -1

38
Q

What is the rainforest biomass in tonnes per hectare?

A

700
reflecting the optimum climatic conditions for growth

39
Q

What are the key factors of the emergent layer?

A

> over 50m tall
waxy leaves
advantage over other biomass
buttress roots of tall trees which spread out roots

40
Q

What are the key factors of the Canopy layer?

A

> absorbs 80% sunlight
high interception loss
Liana - vines
up to 30m tall

41
Q

What are the key factors of the under canopy layer?

A

> limited plant growth
shrubs/small trees
20m tall

42
Q

What are the key factors of the ground/shrub layer/understorey layer?

A

> dark- sunlight blocked by canopy - less than 3% of sunlight gets to ground floor
litter
top layer of soil contains nutrients
mushrooms and fungi thrive - moist and warm conditions

43
Q

What is the carbon efficiency of the rainforest?

A

40-60%

44
Q

How many tonnes of carbon do rainforests store per hectare each year?

A

200 - 300 tonnes

45
Q

Why are rainforests important in the global carbon cycle?

A

They take CO2 out of the atmosphere, maintain the global carbon balance, are a huge carbon sink, never are in negative flux, there’s more carbon stored in the above ground vegetation in rainforest than all ecosystems put together.

46
Q

Describe the circles and arrows of the Gersmehls Nutrient Cycle?

A

Circles: Compartments size proportional to amount of nutrient stored
Arrows: Width proportional to amount of nutrient flow

47
Q

Why is the biomass the largest store?

A

High volume of vegetation (most biodiverse ecosystem). Optimum climatic conditions - large uptake pathway.

48
Q

Why is the litter store the smallest store?

A

Small volume of litter, trees have leaves all year round(evergreen) but limited leaf input. Rapid decomposition occurs so carbon doesn’t stay in litter store for long, large decay pathway.

49
Q

Explain the soil store

A

Rapid plant uptake (top portion of soil) to support the biomass. 2 large exit pathways - weathering and leaching (large volume of precipitation moves soluble things through soil.

50
Q

During the last 50 years approximately how much of the tropical rainforests have been deforested?

A

A third

51
Q

What does increasing demand for resources from a growing and increasingly affluent global population lead to?

A

> timber harvesting of valuable tropical hardwoods such as mahogany and teak
to create land for agriculture - cattle ranching (red meat/beef) and crop production (soya beans, palm oil, grow in food/feed for animals/cattle)

52
Q

During the 1980s and 1990s how much of the amazon was deforested per year?

A

17500km^2

53
Q

Whats a primary rainforest?

A

A rainforest that has never been deforested so it has very high biodiversity and it cant be recreated.

54
Q

What is the Palm Oil Plantations and Deforestation case study?

A

Borneo, Indonesia
Since 1950 Borneo has lost half of its tropical rainforests for logging and palm oil plantations.

55
Q

How many tons of carbon are stored per hectare in the primary forest?

A

200 - 3000 tons

56
Q

What affect does deforestation have on the carbon store and GGP?

A

Reduces amount of carbon stored in forest by 50%. Less photosynthesis occurs. More dead trees means more decomposers which means more respiration which releases more CO2. Less GGP. However, it helps under canopy reach sunlight.

57
Q

Why does deforestation turn rainforests from a carbon sink to a carbon source?

A

More carbon is released by decomposers and cutting of trees than carbon being absorbed by trees and photosynthesis.

58
Q

How many tons of carbon are stored per hectare in palm oil plantations?

A

30 tons - massive loss - 100x less
They are less dense and have to be replaced every 20-30 years. Carbon is not stored as biomass. Palm oil plants wont survive with any other species which leads to a lower biodiversity.

59
Q

How much precipitation does a tropical rainforest receive per year?

A

3000 - 4000 mm

60
Q

What process operating on the forest floor is aided by the high levels of rainfall?

A

Decomposition - moist and warm conditions

61
Q

Why are rainforest soils heavy leached of nutrients?

A

High levels of heavy rainfall - soluble nutrients washed away (leeching)

62
Q

What affect does deforestation have on levels of runoff and the litter layer and soils?

A

Less rain is intercepted. Washing away of organic layer. Runoff is increased. Lost root structure so soil erosion is increased. Increased flood risk.

63
Q

What affect does deforestation have on levels of evapotranspiration and rainfall?

A

Evapotranspiration levels drop
Rainfall levels drop - less moisture - can lead to drought - wildfires
May get to the point where there’s not enough rainfall to support the large biomass.

64
Q

What is the location example of palm oil and landgrabs?

A

In Indonesia - their land was took over by MNCs for palm oi plantations and weren’t given anything in return.

65
Q

What are some organisation examples where they engage in afforestation projects?

A

> UN-REDD programme - aims to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries.
Ecosia - search engine which use their profits for afforestation projects.

66
Q

Whats the afforestation case study?

A

In September 2016, upon signing the Paris agreement, Brazil pledged to voluntarily reduce its CO2 emissions by 43% by the year 2030. One-way Ecosia are helping with this target is planting 1 million trees during 2019 in the remaining patches of Atlantic Forest on the east coast of Brazil. Only 8% of the forest remains and are the last refuge for 60% of Brazil’s endemic of flora and fauna.

67
Q

Describe temperate grassland ecosystems

A

Temperate grasslands are vast with no vegetation, a flat relief, have grazing animals and no prey and are generally found between latitudes 30C and 50C north and south of the equator. The main locations are the prairies of plains of USA and Canada, the steppes of Eurasia from Ukraine to Mongolia and the pampas of Argentina and Uruguay.

68
Q

Describe the climate of a temperate grasslands

A

Summarised as hot wetter summers and cold drier winters. More fluctuations in temp and precipitation seasonally compared to tropical rainforest. High temp range of 0 C to 27 C

69
Q

What are the dominant vegetation species?

A

Grass (turf) - absence of big trees/biomass

70
Q

What are the dominant animal species?

A

Mongolian gazelles, North-American bison and antelope.

71
Q

Why do fires naturally occur and how might this help maintain the grassland?

A

Lightning on dry land sparks wildfires
Old and weak animals die which reduces competition for animals by culling population - more decomposition which helps movement of carbon through cycle. Lightning gives decomposers energy.

72
Q

In a temperate grassland why is tree growth restricted?

A

The presence of herds of grazing animals
Fire which sporadically burns the vegetation
A lack of rainfall which is insufficient to support large water dependent vegetation

73
Q

Describe the carbon stores in a temperate grassland?

A

temperate grasslands have a lower productivity at just typically 600 g C m-2 yr-1 - NNP
Biomass = 1.6 kg/m^2

74
Q

Did you read the temperate grassland intensive farming vs natural carbon cycle?

A

Read it and quiz on it

75
Q

What % of the worlds lands has been taken over by agriculture?

A

40%

76
Q

What is the case study for water and carbon cycle; drought and soil erosion?

A

The Dust Bowl of 1930s Mid-West USA
- this affected areas that were once temperate grassland. The event had major impacts on agricultural soils and contributed to the ‘great depression’. 15-25% less precipitation than normal
The drought period 1934 to 1939:
- affected 100 million acres centred on the Texas and Oklahoma and affected adjacent of New Mexico, Colorado, and Kansas
- was made worse by poor farming practices that removed the natural drought tolerant grasses and exposed the soil
- caused millions of tons of topsoil to eroded by strong winds
- led to 2.5 million people abandoning their farms

77
Q
A

Geography (15 decks)

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