Karteikarten
Ecosystems, Biodiversity, Management
Karten in diesem Stapel (61)
- 1Explain how temperature affects ecosystem distribution.-Temperature decreases with latitude. The equator receives most heat from the sun as the Sun is directly overhead and its rays are most concentrated here. Areas further away from the equator have lower temperatures.
- 2Explain how the convection cell works and how this affects the distribution of the Earth's ecosystems.The high surface temperature at the equator causes a convection cell of rising warm, moist air, due to it being less dense.
-As it rises, it cools and condenses, causing the moisture to be released as precipitation through rainfall in the rainforest regions.
-Cooled air falls over the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, creating high pressure zones of clear skies. This leads to high temperatures, low precipitation.
-The warm, dry air at both tropics then passes through rainforests, gaining moisture and converge at the Inter-tropical convergence zone. - 3Explain the change in the location of the Inter tropical convergence and how this affects ecosystems like tropical grasslands.The inter tropical convergence zone shifts to the northern hemisphere in June, bringing a wet season to the tropical grasslands.
In the winter, the convergence zone shifts into the southern hemisphere. - 4Explain how the Earth's tilt affects ecosystem distribution. (Equator and Precipitation)The tilt of the Earth creates seasons, which lead to different precipitation events. The equator is less affected by the Earth's tilt, so its precipitation levels remain similar throughout the year.
- 5Explain how the interior of the world's continents and how locations nearer the coast have a much more moderate climate.-The sea moderates temperature extremes
-in the summer, the sea takes longer to heat up than the land is able to cool the land giving cooler summers.
-In the winter, the sea retains more heat so it is able to warm up the land giving warmer winters. - 6Explain how high mountains affect the distribution of ecosystems.-Air is forced to rise and cool as it passes over mountains. This means precipitation is high in those regions.
-Once the air has passed over the mountains, it has lost all its moisture as it is in the rain shadow.
-Different levels of precipitations in different regions influences the location of temperate grassland and desert ecosystems. - 7List all the different biomes.Tropical rainforest, tropical grassland, deserts, temperate grasslands, temperate forests, boreal forests, tundra
- 8Describe the characteristics of a tropical rainforest biome.Hot (27-30 degrees Celsius) and wet all year round.
A huge variety of broadleaved plants. Trees often dominate with all plants competing for light. - 9Describe the characteristics of a tropical grassland biome.Hot all year, with a lot of rainfall a year.
But there is always a dry season.
Tall grasses with scattered, drought adapted trees and shrubs dominate. - 10Describe the characteristics of a desert biome.Very hot all year above 30 degrees Celsius.
Very low rainfall.
Plants have water-storage features and extensive root systems. - 11Describe the characteristics of a temperate grasslands biome.Hot in the summer, but very cold in the winter (as low as -40 degrees Celsius)
500-900m of rainfall per year mostly in late spring and summer.
Grasslands dominate, with very few trees or shrubs. - 12Describe the characteristics of a temperate forest biome.Warm summers, cool winters. Precipitation all year.
Deciduous trees dominate which drop their leaves in the autumn. - 13Describe the characteristics of a boreal forest biome.Warm summers, very cold winters.
Low precipitation. Most occurs during the summer.
Coniferous trees dominate with needles instead of leaves to survive the cold and reduce water loss. - 14Describe the characteristics of a tundra biome.Temperatures are below 0 degrees Celsius for most of the year, excluding summer.
Low precipitation.
Very few plants and trees here. Mainly moss and lichens dominate. - 15State and explain the 3 main local factors affecting the characteristics and locations of ecosystems.Altitude- temperatures drop by 1 degrees C for every metre gained in height. High mountains often have cold ecosystems,
Soils-Areas with well drained soil will allow vegetation to thrive. Areas with poorly drained soil won't be able to support vegetation.
Human activity-Human activity has altered the local characteristics of large-scaled ecosystems. - 16Explain what the biosphere is.Includes all life living in Earth, including the hydrosphere, geosphere, humans and all organic matter that has not yet been decomposed.
- 17State the different resources the Biosphere supports us with and explain why we exploit it.Food- There is a huge demand for water with an increasingly growing population. It is needed to support agriculture, industry etc.
Biofuels- Provide renewable energy.
Increasing demand for mineral resources-leads to extreme mining for coal as well as felling trees for timber.
Medicine is an important resource we obtain from the biosphere. - 18Explain how our exploitation of the biosphere resources has negative impacts.Food and Water-Other parts of the biosphere are deprived of water.
Biofuels-Huge areas of forested land has been cleared for biofuel crops, instead of food crops. This make food more expensive for local people.
Mineral Resources- Extreme examples involve removing the tops of mountains for access to coal seams which damage the environment. - 19Explain the function of the nutrient cycle.-All ecosystems have 3 compartments: soil, litter, biomass which all act as a store nutrients.
-As plants and animals die, their tissues fall into the litter store.
-As living tissue decomposes, nutrients are transferred to soil store.
-Some nutrients are lost from litter by surface run off.
-Plants uptake nutrients from the soil. Soil loses some of its nutrients by leaching but gain nutrients from the weathering of rock beneath it. - 20State the UK's 4 main terrestrial woodlands.Woodland, Moorland, Wetland, Heathland
- 21Describe the characteristics and distribution of woodland.This is mostly the deciduous Scotland, or Wales' monoculture non-native plantations.
- 22Describe the characteristics and distribution of moorlands.Rough grassland, peat bogs. Distinctive plants and animals dominate, often heather or rare birds.
Moorlands are managed for grouse shooting.
They are distributed in upland areas too high to be used for crops. - 23Describe the characteristics and distribution of wetlandsLow nutrient, waterlogged soils. Distinctive plants and animals thrive e.g. sedges or bog mosses. It is a vital habitat for wading birds and dragonflies.
Only a small amount of wetland ecosystem is left as much of it has been drained to make fertile arable land, - 24Describe the characteristics and distribution of heathland.Can be sandy dry, can be marshy. Has species rarely found elsewhere.
Scattered across lowland locations in the UK. - 25Explain the differences between inshore and offshore habitats for marine ecosystems and their importance.Inshore habitats are close to the shore. They are important in recreation and tourism.
Offshore ecosystems are found away from the shoreline and are important for commercial fishing and energy production. They are important in reducing the effect of global warming. - 26State and explain the benefits of the marine ecosystem.Tourism-Many people visit the UK's coasts, supporting jobs in coastal tourism and brings billions into the UK's economy.
Fishing-Able to provide jobs and short term income.
Energy Oil- Employs many people and has at least 30 more years of production.
Energy Offshore wind farms-Provides renewable energy, provides lots of energy to a growing population. - 27State and explain human activities that damage marine ecosystems.-Overfishing can lead to the removal of important species such as cod, affecting a whole ecosystem.
-Eutrophication caused by the leaching of fertilisers on farmland can wash into rivers, decreasing biodiversity.
-Economic development of the coastline which removes coastal ecosystems such as salt marsh.
-Construction of large windfarms interferes with bird migration routes and the noise pollution can also disturb animals that rely on sound e.g. dolphins. - 28Explain and state characteristics of Tropical Rainforests. (types of trees, roots, layers)-Trees are deciduous, different species lose their leaves at different times for a few weeks, so the forest is always green.
-Trees grow very tall, up to 30-40 metres, but have shallow roots.
-The canopy layer is under the emergent layer. Beneath the canopy is the understorey, beneath the understorey is the shrub layer. - 29Explain how biotic factors affect TRF ecosystem. (decomposers, humans)-When leaves fall as litter, decomposers work very quickly to release the nutrients back in the soil, so the plants uptake them again very quickly.
-Human activity involves hunting animals for food, spreading the seeds of plants through fruits that they eat as well as the use of fire. - 30Explain why plants have short roots in rainforests.-There is only a very thin layer of nutrients at the surface of the soil, so the trees aren't adapted to having long roots.
- 31Explain some abiotic factors that affect TRF ecosystem. (temperature, rainfall)-Warm temperatures and moist conditions are suitable for chemical weathering of the rock 30-40m deep, releasing lots of minerals into the soil that aren't able to reach the upper layers of the soil.
-However, lots of rainfall means increased leaching of nutrients, making tropical rainforest soils low in nutrients. - 32Explain how plants and animals are adapted to TRF conditions.-Trees have shallow, buttress roots, allowing them to keep their tall trunks stable, as well as providing them nutrients at the top of the soil.
-Plants have drip tip leaves, which allows water to run off them easily in the humidity of the canopy.
-Animals live in the canopy, eating the fruits that tree species produce. Lemurs have strong legs and long tails enabling them to leap from tree to tree. Some birds have strong legs and have wings adapted for manoeuvring as well as good eyesight to spot and grab prey such as lemurs, frogs etc.
-Many animals can camouflage to avoid being eaten. - 33Explain the difference between goods and services.Goods are physical products, whilst services are intangible.
- 34List some important good we obtain from TRFs.-Drugs and medicine
-Oxygen
-Hardwood timber e.g. rosewood for furniture and construction. Wood for fuel.
-Help produce clean water supplies by preventing soil erosion.
-A source of food e.g. fruit. - 35List some important services we obtain from TRFs.-Supports biodiversity.
-Buffers climate change by acting as a carbon store.
-Brings tourists and money.
-Vegetations intercepts surface run off, reducing flash flooding. - 36Explain how climate change affects the structure of the tropical rainforest.-Vegetation is likely to change to seasonal tropical forest, as the dry seasons start to last for months.
-This means trees will drop their leaves in the dry season to avoid water loss.
-No canopy in the dry season.
-Lack of vegetation means animals will hibernate or adapt to live on stored food.
-Trees will be more adapted to have deep roots instead to reach ground water or store water.
-Falling leaves makes more leaf litter, whilst decomposition is slow in the dry season, resulting in a smaller nutrient store in biomass. - 37Explain how climate change affects the function of the tropical rainforest.-Less vegetation means more surface run off due to less infiltration. More sediment will be carried into drainage systems, polluting the water.
-Less dense forest means less rainfall.
-Drier conditions could stop 'cloud stripping function', resulting in a lack of water supply.
-Drier forests will result in less storage of CO2. - 38Explain how climate change affects the biodiversity of the tropical rainforest.-Plant species will not survive in prolonged droughts or forest fires.
-Other plant species more adapted to the new conditions will outcompete the other deciduous trees. This can introduce pests or diseases which the deciduous trees are not resistant to. - 39Explain 'tavy' in the Madagascan rainforests.-A type of slash and burn agriculture where trees are cut down on a small plot and the undergrowth is burned and crops are planted. This often results in weed growth, meaning the farmer will have to clear another plot.
- 40Explain how population growth leads to deforestation.-An increasing population puts pressure on the amount of land available for agriculture. More farmers get tavy plots to support their families, but this only exhausts soil fertility and results in more plots being cleared at a fast rate.
- 41Explain how logging affects deforestation.Commercial logging was used by the government to sell timber to earn short term income to pay debt.
-Logging is now illegal but it still occurs due to corruption, high demand for rosewood and the low income of Madagascan people. - 42State the different methods used to reduce deforestation in the tropical rainforests in Costa Rica.Ecotourism, Forest Reserve, Agroforestry, Selective Logging
- 43Explain the function as well as pros and cons of ecotourism-Tourism for rainforest.
Pros: Generates a good source of income for local people leading to access to healthcare and education. It is sustainable for the rainforest.
Cons: Small scale. Not able to make an immediate effect. - 44Explain the function as well as pros and cons of forest reserve.-An area protected from exploitation using environmental laws.
-Pros: Provides a high biodiversity. Creates jobs for the local community. Provides locals with good healthcare and education.
Cons: Corruption, doesn't generate much income. - 45Explain the function as well as pros and cons of agroforestry.-Growing rainforest trees and commercial crops.
Pros: Prevents soil erosion which benefits crops. Can generate income through sale of bananas, cocoa and crops. Provides healthcare and education.
Cons: Involves chopping down some trees. - 46Explain the function as well as pros and cons of selective logging.Involves only cutting certain types of trees at particular heights.
Pros: Maintains the overall structure of the forest. Helicopters are used instead of trucks to clear trees, preserving habitats. Provides a short term income for workers.
Cons: Still damaging as it involves cutting down trees. - 47Explain characteristics of deciduous woodland system.-Dominated by deciduous trees which shed their leaves in colder, drier months.
-Has a canopy 20-30 metres above the ground, a sub canopy layer of saplings and a herb layer of plants such as bluebells.
-Deciduous woodlands have deep root systems.
-Soil has a well developed humus layer at the top. - 48Explain how the biomass store differs across TRF and deciduous woodlands.-Biomass store is much smaller in deciduous woodlands when compared to the tropical rainforest due to the conditions not being at the optimum for growth.
- 49Explain why the leaf litter is not recycled as quickly in a deciduous woodland compared to a tropical rainforest.-Temperatures are too low in the winter for bacteria to decompose the litter.
- 50Explain why the roots in deciduous forests are much deeper.-Help to break up the bedrock and reach the nutrients deeper down in the soil caused by weathering
- 51Why is there less surface run off in the deciduous forest.-Less rainfall.
-Leaf litter and ground layer of plants intercepts the surface run off. - 52What does it mean when new forest ponies 'graze selectively'They eat tall grass, but leave flowers behind. This means the herb layer is less dense, allowing more species tog row.
- 53Explain how plants in the herb layer and canopy have adapted to surviving in the conditions of deciduous woodlands.-Often dominated by oak trees with broad leaves maximising the absorption of solar energy for photosynthesis. Oak trees also have large roots to access water and nutrients deep in the soil.
-In the winter, the tree sheds its leaves to prevent water loss and store water.
-Plants in the herb layer and sub canopy are adapted to flow at the start of spring before the canopy grows and blocks out the sunlight. - 54Explain how animals have adapted to the survive cold winters.Migration of many bird species to warmer winter conditions.
Some animals hibernate during the winter, meaning very little energy is required to keep them alive. e.g. hedgehogs.
Food storage involves storing food throughout the winter. Squirrely often do this. - 55State some examples of goods we obtain from deciduous woodlands.Timber used for construction.
Air dried fuel wood used to burn stoves and charcoal for barbecues.
Forest moss, edible fungi, venison. - 56State some examples of services we obtain from deciduous woodlands.Deciduous woodlands are very popular for recreational activities e.g. cycling.
Acts as a carbon store
Supports biodiversity and acts as a habitat for protected animal species under law. - 57Explain how climate change effects deciduous woodland ecosystems. (3 factors)-Leads to milder winters. Less germination, new tree species outcompeting native deciduous trees, pests and diseases surviving.
-Increased risk of drought leads to increased vulnerability to pests and diseases.
-Increased risk of forest fires resulting in plant species adapted to forest fires replacing deciduous woodland plants. - 58Explain 2 economic causes of deforestation.-Most deciduous trees are cleared to form monocultures of non-native coniferous trees. This meant timber could be extracted sooner and more money could be generated.
-Most deciduous trees are cleared for farming. The woodland species still remaining are often affected by the pesticides used by farmers. - 59Explain 2 social causes of deforestation.-Increasing population needs more area needs to be cleared for housing. Developers want to end the greenbelt which protects deciduous woodland near towns and cities.
-More vehicles in the UK means more land needs to be cleared to reduce congestion. More fuel also needs to supplied, meaning more extraction of timber. - 60State and explain the different issues facing the new forest. (private areas not manage, visitor damage, verderers, timber extraction)-Private areas not managed: Half the woodland in the new forest is privately owned and isn't managed. It can become overgrown and isn't attractable for visitors.
Visitor Damage: Visitors trample plants causing soil erosion by walking, cycling, horse riding, littering.
Verderers: New forest is used by verderers who have rights to pasture ponies, pigs etc. These animals can be run over by cars.
Timber is extracted from conifer plantations and hardwood from deciduous trees. - 61Suggest some solutions that can be used to create sustainable woodland management.-Honey Pot sites which draw people away from forested areas to decrease. An example would be using car parks.
-Green leaf businesses are businesses that have signed up to a scheme to set aside 10 percent of their grounds for local wildlife and sustainability.
Conservation schemes allow landowners to get grants to improve biodiversity through planting.
A visitor leaflet educates visitors about green leaf businesses, driving slowly and reducing damage by trampling on the soil.
Forest Marque ensures that wood product is made from sustainable forest timbers.
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- IGCSE Geography Karteikarten am Ecosystems, Biodiversity, Management, erstellt von Ryan Wu am 23/12/2021.
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