Extreme Environments_1

Extreme Environments

1. Living in the cold

   • Flora and Fauna
     • Flora
       • Boreal(coniferous) forests
         • adaptations:
           • shallow roots to avoid permafrost
           • thin at top
             • bends in strong winds
           • evergreesn
             • photosynthesis can start early in the growing season
           • small (needle) leaves limit water loss
       • tundra vegetation
         • adaptations:
           • Cushion shape traps warm air in the centre
           • flowers can turn to follow the sun
           • Low to ground to keep out cold wind
     • Fauna
       • adaptations:
         • Migrating into the region in spring
           • but leaving before winter
         • thick, white fur
           • camouflage in snow
         • thick blubber
           • acts as insulation
   • unique cultures
     • Inuits
       • knowledge of arctic animals and environment
         • know first if environment is changing
     • Aleut
       • skilled in using every part of a seal and whale
   • Adaptations
     • Building styles
       • Built on gravel pad
         • so heat from house doesn't melt permafrost
       • Triple glazing
       • thick insulation
       • Slopping roofs to shed heavy snow
     • Clothing
       • Traditional Inuit clothing
         • made from animal skins
           • sewn together with sinew
       • modern insulating clothing has replaced this
       • gloves, hats and multiple layers are essential
         • to prevent hypothermia
     • Transport
       • skis, traditional dog-sleds and snowmobiles are traditionally used
       • frozen lakes
         • become 'ice roads' in winter
           • allow goods to be transported on trucks
     • energy use
       • Oil and Gas
         • main resources
     • Farming
       • Among Sami people
         • reindeer herding is traditional
     • Food
       • Inuit diet
         • 50% fat
         • 40% protein

2. Living in the desert

   • Flora
     • 3 ways they have adapted
       • Succulence
         • store water in
           • stems
           • roots
         • desert rains are infrequent
           • light and short
           • water evaporates quickly
             • water must be captured and stroed
         • adaptations
           • quickly aborb large amounts of water
             • through extensive shallow roots
               • can store water for long periods
           • stems and leaves have waxy cuticles
             • leaves almost waterproof
           • during drought
             • stomata remains closed
           • camouflage
             • attractive to thirsty animals
       • Drought tolerance
         • shed leaves
           • preventing water loss
             • through transpiration
         • extensive deep roots
         • photosynthesise with low leaf moisture
       • Drought avoidance
         • seeds last for years
           • only germinate when moisture is high
         • only germinate in autumn
   • Fauna
     • The red kangaroo
       • adaptations
         • hopping to find food
         • feeds at dawn and dusk
           • when air is cooler
             • sleeps during day
         • dew is important part of water intake
       • largest marsupial
   • Adaptations
     • Buliding
       • traditional houses
         • thick walls
           • keep summer heat out
         • flat roofs
           • sleeping area when it's too hot
       • verandas keep sun off windows and walls
     • energy use
       • modern buliding
         • have air conditioning
         • solar panels
     • Transport
       • traditionally used camels
       • 4x4 get stuck in sand
       • light air craft and trains
         • more reliable
     • clothing
       • traditionally
         • loose
           • reduces water loss by sweating
         • light coloured
           • reflects sun's heat
         • head coverings
           • prevents sunburn
           • keep head cool
           • keeps dust out
     • Water Supplies
       • Most farms have dams and reservoirs
         • to store water
           • that cattle and sheep can drink
       • fragile methods
         • sustainable?
           • underground water is being over used

3. Values of Desert Culture

   • Aboriginal culture
     • beliefs
       • land is sacred
         • should be protected
       • live with few posessions
         • waste nothing
       • conserve water, firewood and other scarce resources
       • knowledge of medical properties of plants
       • understand impact of climate change
         • before everyone else
     • lifestyle
       • traditionally survived by hunting and gathering
       • customs and stories were spoken not written down
       • cultures dissappearing
         • younger generations are moving to cities
       • deep knowledge of medicines etc

4. Threats to the indigenous

   • Tourism
     • Popular to tourists
       • Ayres rock
         • Uluru
           • sacred to the aboriginis
     • Fragile
       • Aboriginal paintings could be destroyed in Uluru
       • traditional cultures have previously had limited contact
     • Cultural dilution
       • indigenous put on a 'show' for tourists
         • over time beliefs and values might be lost
   • Resources and Pollution
     • extreme environments are often exploited for resources
       • super pit gold mine in Kalgoorlie, australia
       • mining and drilling provides jobs
       • mining and drilling has environmental risks
         • mine waste spoils landscape
         • mining uses lots of water
           • this can be limited in arid regions
         • oil leaks causes environmental damage
   • decreasing population
     • limited economic opportunities
       • forces people to move away
     • lots of young people moving to cities and towns
       • attracted by jobs and education

5. Climate Change

   • In hot, arid regions...
     • farmers are using intermeadiate technology
       • e.g. diguettes
       • and conservation farming methods
         • to help trap moisture in the soil
         • and to prevent soil erosion and drought
         • includes:
           • multi-cropping
             • alternative to single crop farming
             • reduces risk of crop failure
               • helps to increase crop yield
             • planting different crops on 1 area of land
   • Global agreement
     • to slow down climate change
       • by cutting greenhouse gas emissions
     • Kyoto Summit 1997
       • to cut greenhouse gas emissions
         • by 5.3%
           • by 2012
       • not very sucessful
         • if countries had met targets
           • it would only have reduced temperatures by 0.1oC
         • countries didn't meet targets
     • 2009- Copenhagen
       • They agreed
         • climate change was a major challenge
           • should be limited to 2oC
       • no targets set
         • so many countries set their own