Year 9 Geography Topic Test Sustainable Biomes Flashcards
What are biomes?
Biomes are large communities of plants and animals that extend over large areas due to similar climatic conditions. They are a ‘major terrestrial vegetation community’.
Where are biomes located?
Biomes cover the whole world, changing due to separate areas with different atmospheric conditions and climates. The vegetation and animal populations will change in each biome, depending on their preferred weather conditions.
How does the variation in climate affect biomes?
The climate, and atmospheric conditions of an area affect the biome type. Levels of precipitation, and temperature changes will influence the types of vegetation, animal populations, salinity, fertility of soil and other conditions.
What are the parallels of latitude?
- Arctic circle - 60°32’N
- Antarctic circle - 60°32’S
What are the meridians of longitude?
- Greenwich Meridian - 0°
- International Date Line - 180°
Why are biomes used for productivity?
Humans rely on biomes for survival since they provide resources used for producing food, clothing, shelter and energy.
They can be adapted to produce items needed like livestock and clothing.
How do humans change biomes?
- pollution
- removing vegetation
- killing fauna
- increasing human populations
- invasive species
- introducing non-native plants
- deforestation
- livestock in forests
- overuse of natural resources
- pesticides
- construction
- mining
- agriculture
Where can the tundra biome be found?
Closely below arctic circle, and closely above the antarctic circle.
Where can the taiga biome be found?
Below the tundra biome, but still towards the top of Earth.
Where can the Deciduous Forests be found?
Around the tropic of Capricorn and cancer, mid-Russia and mid-North America.
What is the order of biomes - arctic circle to the equator?
arctic tundra taiga deciduous forests grasslands savanna desert/rainforests
Where can grasslands be found?
Typically just above savanna, and around-just inward from the tropics.
Where is savanna found?
Typically just above the equator.
Where are deserts/tropical rainforests found?
Usually on the equator or around it.
Features of tundra
low precipitation (snow) - stays moist due to little evaporation low temp
Features of taiga
cold and wet
Features of arctic
freezing and dry
Features of deciduous forests
wet and cool
Features of grasslands
too wet for deserts, but too dry for forests
hot summer, cold winter
Features of savannas
long, dry, dry season and short, wet, wet season warm temperatures (20-30degrees)
Features of Deserts
dry and typically very hot.
Features of rainforests
very wet average temp (20-25degrees)
Impacts of human alterations (advantages)
- supplies land for agriculture, housing and roads
- intensive farming provides food and supplies for communities
- extensive farming provides income and jobs for a region or country
Impacts of human alterations (disadvantages)
- land clearing causes erosion and deforestation.
- roads can divide up biomes and cut off essential parts of the ecosystem.
- habitat and biodiversity loss
- drainage
- water pollution
- salinity
Management strategies for salinity in Australia
Investment in salinity, including major programs, research, salinity reviews and salinity mapping. Aussie government has started supporting salinity management in programs like National Dryland Salinity Program and the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality. Together, they’re focusing on working out the causes, to create practical solutions to the issue.
How does the Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s Basin Plan aim to address the salinity problem?
The 2030 strategy in broad terms, aims to improve irrigation drainage in riverine plains, reduce salt entering river by constructing salt interception schemes, and reduce groundwater levels by: improving irrigation practise, improving irrigation management, drainage reuse, improved infrastructure and establishment of deep-rooted vegetation.
Environmental factors influencing agricultural yields
- Biotic (living organisms)
- Abiotic (non-living factors; e.g. temp, water availability, soils and topography)
- climate
Economic factors influencing agricultural yields
- commercialism and global trade
- industrialisation (common practise of large corporations)
Technological factors influencing agricultural yields
- Technology and machines
- irrigation practises
- use of agrochemicals
- precision agriculture
- planting high-yield crop varieties (HYV’s)
Water scarcity challenge to food production
- agriculture is the biggest consumer of water in Australia (70% of total water usage)
- water scarcity is big problem (especially Australia)
- less availability of water and poorer water quality leads to reduced production and increased prices of crops
- most pressing food security issues for developing countries.
Water quality decline
main issues causing water quality decline are:
- increased sediment flow
- fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides
- increased salinity
increased nutrient loads cause species of algae to multiply to levels where they produce toxins that are fatal to animals and humans increased turbidity (cloudiness in water)
According to the CSIRO and Bureau of Meteorology, what will the future experience due to climate change?
- more extreme heat
- longer fire seasons
- increasing frequency of bushfires, droughts and floods
