1B - Ecosystems and Tropical Rainforests Flashcards
(30 cards)
What is an ecosystem?
All the biotic and abiotic factors of an area
What is a producer?
An organism that uses sunlight energy to produce food
What is a consumer?
Organism that gets its energy by eating other organisms (e.g. Eats producers or other consumers)
What is a food web?
Shows lots of food chains and how they overlap
What factor determines the type of fromation of an ecosystem?
The climate
Name 7 types of ecosystems (& their latitude, vegetation and climate)
- Grassland
- Temperate Deciduous Forest
- Polar
- Hot Desert
- Tropical Rainforest
- Tundra
- Taiga (Boreal forest)
Name two types of grassland
Savannah & Temperate grassland
Why is the growing season very short (2 months) in polar regions?
It remains dark for several months
What is permafrost and where can it be found?
Permafrost is a permanent layer of frozen ground in Tundra
What is the climate like in tropical rainforests?
Same all year round, no definite seasons:
- Hot (20-28C) doesn’t vary much (sun is overhead
all year round, thus the sunlight is more
intense)
- Rainfall is very high (2000mm per year)
Why type of trees are most of the trees and why?
Evergreen - to take advantage of the continual growing season
What are epiphytes?
Plants that grow on other living plants and take nutrients and moisture from the air e.g orchids
What is the soil like?
Not very fertile
Why is the soil not very fertile?
Heavy rain washes nutrients away
Where are the nutrients found in the soil and why?
At the thin surface due to decayed leaf fall
Why is the layer of nutrients found on the soil very thin?
Decay is fast due to warm and moist conditions
Why does very little light reach the forest floor?
Trees are really tall and vegetation cover is very dense
What is biodiversity?
The variety of living organisms in an area
What is the effect of dead plant material being decomposed quickly?
Makes the surface soil high in nutrients = plants can grow quickly and easily
Why are animal populations high?
Dense vegetation provides lots of food
Why are rainforests very stable and productive?
They have a constant wet and warm climate, so the plants and animals do not have to cope with changing conditions
What decreases biodiversity in tropical rainforests?
Deforestation and uncontrolled development
Why does rainfall vary throughout the year?
The equatorial low-pressure area is directly overhead. There is a distinct wet season lasting for about six months
What is a symbiotic relationship?
Plants and animals depending on each other for survival
