Year 7 - Topic 5 - Ecosystems

Question 1

What are the four biomes?

Answer 1

Tropical Rainforest
Hot Desert
Tundra
Polar Region

Question 2

Where are tropical rainforests located?

Answer 2

Along the equator

Question 3

Where are hot deserts located?

Answer 3

15-30 degrees N/S of the equator

Question 4

Where are tundra located?

Answer 4

60-70 degrees N of the equator

Question 5

Where are the polar regions located?

Answer 5

Arctic/Antarctica

Question 6

Describe tropical rainforests

Answer 6

Hot, wet, high biodiversity

Question 7

Describe hot deserts

Answer 7

Hot, dry, low biodiversity

Question 8

Describe tundra

Answer 8

Cold, windy, dry, low plants

Question 9

Describe the polar regions

Answer 9

Very cold!

Question 10

What is an ecosystem?

Answer 10

An environment where living organisms interact with non-living organisms

Question 11

Examples of living things

Answer 11

Animals, bacteria, plants

Question 12

Examples of non-living things

Answer 12

Climate, soil, air, water

Question 13

What is a food chain?

Answer 13

A food chain shows the path of energy from one living thing to another

Question 14

What is a food web?

Answer 14

When all of the food chains in an ecosystem are joined together, they form a more complex food web

Question 15

The closer a country is to the equator the _____ it will be. This is because…

Answer 15

The closer a country is to the equator the HOTTER it will be. This is because the sun’s rays are more concentrated at the equator.

Question 16

The higher up (altitude) you go, the _____ it will be. This is why…

Answer 16

The higher up (altitude) you go, the COLDER it will be. This is why there is snow on the top of mountains at the equator.

Question 17

Areas further inland (away from the coastline) have a _____ difference between their temperatures between night and day. They are also _____ as there are no winds blowing over water.

Answer 17

Areas further inland (away from the coastline) have a BIGGER difference between their temperatures between night and day. They are also DRIER as there are no winds blowing over water.

Question 18

Winds that blow over the sea will bring _____ weather, whereas winds that blow over land will bring more _____ weather.

Answer 18

Winds that blow over the sea will bring WET weather, whereas winds that blow over land will bring more DRY weather.

Question 19

Why are urban areas hotter than rural areas?

Answer 19

Concrete buildings and tarmac roads hold heat so urban areas will be warmer than rural areas

Question 20

Why are some places 30 degrees N/S from the equator often dry?

Answer 20

Air at the equator rises and cools. Condensation creates clouds then forms rain. The air then moves north and south until it gets to about 30 degrees north and south of the equator where it sinks. The air is dry and no condensation can form, so there is no rain.

Question 21

Name the structure of the rainforest from the highest point to the lowest

Answer 21

HIGHEST

The Emergent Layer
The Canopy
The Understorey
The Forest Floor

LOWEST

Question 22

What are drip tip leaves?

Answer 22

Heavy rain drips off the leaf and doesn’t damage it

Question 23

What are lianas?

Answer 23

Long woody winding branches that grow up the trunks to get the most sunlight

Question 24

What are epiphytes?

Answer 24

Plants that grow on the high branches of trees to get more sunlight

Question 25

What are buttress roots?

Answer 25

Wide but shallow roots that hold tall trees upright

Question 26

Explain why humans use rainforests for medical research

Answer 26

Many plants in the rainforest are used for medicine (e.g. quinine can cure malaria). Approximately 7000 medicines are from plants

Question 27

Explain why humans use rainforests for ecotourism

Answer 27

It makes sure tourists don’t damage the natural environment or local communities. Eco-tourists pay to see a country’s natural beauty

Question 28

Describe how humans use rainforests for ranching

Answer 28

Large areas of forest are cut down to make space for cattle. Since 1950, 66% of the Amazon has been turned into farms for cows/beef

Question 29

Explain why humans use rainforests for logging

Answer 29

Wood from trees is used for furniture, flooring, building etc. Trees are cut down to make space for roads

Question 30

What three things will help us protect rainforests?

Answer 30

International Agreements
Conservation and Education
Ecotourism

Question 31

What are international agreements?

Answer 31

Legally binding agreements between countries
e.g. The Paris Agreement 2015, attended by 195 leaders. All agreed to reduce carbon emissions. 50 of these countries with TRF promised to crack down on illegal deforestation

Question 32

How will conservation and education help protect rainforests?

Answer 32

There are many conservation groups e.g. Rainforest Alliance. They work with the country’s government and local people to set up national park and reserves where deforestation is banned

Question 33

What is ecotourism?

Answer 33

Tourism that minimises damage to the environment. Only a small number of people are allowed into an area at one time. Waste and litter is disposed of properly. Locals benefit (e.g. tour guides)

Question 34

What is a producer?

Answer 34

Usually plants. They produce their own energy through the process of photosynthesis

Question 35

What is a consumer?

Answer 35

These things eat other animals or plants for energy

Question 36

What is a decomposer?

Answer 36

Organisms and bacteria which break down dead or rotting matter from dead plants and animals. This process puts nutrients to the soil