Sustaining Ecosystems Flashcards

1
Q

What is an ecosystem

A

An ecosystem is a community of plants and animals whose lives are closely linked to each other and to the climate and soil of the area in which they grow or live.

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2
Q

What does interdependent mean

A

That two or more things rely on each other for things such as shelter or food

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3
Q

What components are in an ecosystem

A

Biotic

Abiotic - like Climate and soils

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4
Q

What is Biomass

A

The mass, or weight, of living material

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5
Q

What is Litter

A

Rotting leaves on the ground below growing vegetation

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6
Q

What is Soil

A

A mixture of weathered rock and organic matter (decomposed plants)

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7
Q

What is surface runoff

A

It is when water washes the nutrients in the litter away.

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8
Q

What is leaching

A

It is a loss of nutrients by them dissolving in water.

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9
Q

What is Littering

A

Dead leaves falling from plants onto the litter.

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10
Q

What is a trophic cascade?

A

The transfer of energy through different living things

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11
Q

Describe the 4 inputs & outputs in/out of the nutrient cycle

A

Weathering of parent rock which will add more of it to the soil as it is a key ingredient to soil
Rainfall which adds more nutrients to the litter but to much can cause one of the outputs, surface run-off. Surface run-off is when water washes over the litter taking lots of nutrients into rivers or lakes.
Leaching which is when the nutrients dissolve in water.

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12
Q

What are producers

A

Producers are plants that get their energy from the sun to carry out photosynthesis

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13
Q

What are primary consumers

A

Primary consumers are the animals that eat the producers for food, they are herbivores e.g. Cows, pigs

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14
Q

What are secondary consumers

A

Secondary consumers are the animals that eat the primary consumers for food, they are carnivores e.g. Snakes

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15
Q

What are Tertiary consumers

A

These are the top carnivores in that biome and will normally eat most animals e.g. wolves

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16
Q

Why is energy lost between the levels of the food chain?

A

Because animals and plants will use up energy to carry out processes to keep them alive, such as respiration.

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17
Q

What are biomes?

A

Biomes are natural ecosystems that are found all around the world. At a large scale, these ecosystems are known as biomes.

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18
Q

What does ‘deciduous’ mean

A

When a plant grows during the summer when the temperature is warm and shed their leaves in winter.

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19
Q

Describe the water cycle in a tropical rainforest

A

Heavy daily rain is intercepted by the trees in the canopy layer but some reaches the ground.
The trees uptake the water on the ground and the water they caught
This will later evaporate out the leaves after it has been used by the tree.
The evaporated water rises in the sky and forms rain clouds which will and continue the cycle.

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20
Q

What are indigenous people?

A

People who over thousands of years developed sustainable ways of life in a place like the rainforest or Australia.

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21
Q

In what ways do indigenous people rely on the rainforest?

A

Food - They hunt, gather and fish in the rainforest with it providing fish or fruit
Timber - They rely on timber to make their homes and boats
Plant materials - They use these to make everyday items such as clothes, rope and oil.
Medicines - These are made from plants found in the rainforest.

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22
Q

What is shifting cultivation

A

A farming technique
A small area of forest is cleared by chopping down trees and burning them
Seeds are grown in the new clearing. Ash from burning trees adds nutrients to the soil.
Initially the crops grow well but after two or three years the soil loses its fertility.
People move on to another part of the forest and the trees in this clearing grow back

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23
Q

What is the impact of rubber tapping

A

No negative impact on the forest or on the tree, sustainable.

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24
Q

What is the impact of logging

A

Mahogany is worth £500 per cubic metre. 1 to 2 mahogany trees grow in a hectare, 1 mahogany tree can damage 28 other trees.
Trees are felled with chainsaws
Mahogany is very valuable and rare
Asian forest is exhausted

25
Q

What is the impact of mining

A

Removing the vegetation and the soil so you couldn’t grow on it after
Water used would be contaminated with chemicals
Mining scars the land
Cassiterite for tin, gold, copper, iron, nickel, manganese, lead

26
Q

What is the impact of cattle ranching

A

Biggest cause of deforestation
xebu cattle specialty breed for tropical conditions
Land not productive - soil holds few nutrients so huge amounts of fertiliser is needed
Way of claiming land

27
Q

What is the impact of farming

A
Roads built for access to houses 
1 million people took up the offer for free land in the amazon
Lots of farmers deserted their land
Leads to infertile soil and poor harvest
P&G palm oil
28
Q

What is the impact on the nutrient cycle

A

Trees removed
Less dead matter
Less nutrients in ecosystem
Other organisms (plants and animals affected)

29
Q

What are the impacts on the Hydro logical Cycle

A

Less interception - more run-off, more soil erosion
Less evaporation and transpiration
Less rain

30
Q

How is the rainforest managed sustainably in Costa Rica?

A
Legislation
Agroforestry
Selective logging
Afforestation
Monitoring
31
Q

What are Legislation’s

A

They passed laws to stop deforestation and gave landowners an incentive to protect the forest by paying them.

32
Q

What is Agroforestry

A

Trees and crops are grown together. Some crops benefit from the shelter of the tree canopy. Trees also prevent soil erosion and crops benefit from the nutrients in the leaf litter.

33
Q

What is Selective Logging

A

Trees are felled only when they reach a certain height. Young trees are allowed to mature to ensure that the height of the canopy is maintained.

34
Q

What is Afforestation

A

Trees are planted to replace the original primary forest that has been lost. However, this secondary forest lacks the biodiversity of primary forest as it takes a long time for species to re-establish.

35
Q

What is Monitoring

A

Satellite technology and photos are used to ensure that no illegal activities are taking place and that landowners follow guidelines for sustainability.

36
Q

What is ecotourism?

A

It is travel that aims to conserve the natural environment and local communities. It is a type of sustainable development that aims to create local employment as well.

37
Q

What is Lapa Rios

A

an ecotourism resort
Central America, Costa Rica, Osa Peninsula,Puerto Jimeneza
Young 30s, Couples, Wealthy, No attachments, Honeymooners
Wild waterfall tours, waterfall rappelling, Dolphin tours, beach and rainforest horseback tours.

38
Q

How does ecotourism help to manage the rainforest sustainably?

A
Small scale
Blends in to the canopy
Local building materials
No air con
Hill top -  gets the breeze
No concrete
High ceilings
Local workforce
Gives money back to the community
Can make money from TRF without deforestation
Empowers local people
They educate visitors
Reduces food miles money into community
Pigs eat waste food
Produce biogas which is used for cooking
39
Q

Describe the traditional Inuit way of life.

A

Traveling by sledge pulled by dogs and by kayaks on water. They hunt sea animals

40
Q

How is the Inuit way of life changing? Why?

A

Sea ice is melting, so it’s harder to travel around and find food. Because of global warming

41
Q

Describe the distribution of fishing areas.

A

Near the arctic circle, with the most popular fishing area off the north coast of Scandinavia.
A lot of fishing around Iceland and in the area between Alaska and Russia. They are all coastal.

42
Q

Why does climate change make it easier to drill for oil and gas in the Arctic?

A

There is less ice so there are more places which are easily accessed which can have gas. There is also less ice that needs to be drilled through.

43
Q

What opportunities does retreating sea ice in the Arctic present?

A

Creates an opportunity for tourism with cruise ships. Creates the North West passage which shortens the journey from Europe to West America by four thousand miles.

44
Q

What are the threats of this increase in human activity in the area?

A

Oil spills which would affect the wildlife and would take a long time to clear up, also the Arctic is a fragile ecosystem because it will take so long to recover

45
Q

Mineral exploitation: Norilsk Nickel

What are the ecological impacts?

A

Acid rain from the sulfur dioxide - 4 million tonnes from Nickel processing plant
‘Dead Zone’ surrounds the city
Trees can’t grow
Soil becomes acidic - nutrients aren’t replenished
Soil pollution by factories
Habitat loss for animals

46
Q

Mineral exploitation: Norilsk Nickel

What are the impacts on human health?

A

People who live there have a life expectancy 10 years lower than Russia on average and they are very likely of getting cancer.

47
Q

What products were produced from whales?

A

Margarine, chemicals, cosmetics and animal feed

48
Q

Which three countries are responsible for catching most of the whales killed since 1950?

A

Japan, Norway and Iceland

49
Q

Why do you think that these countries still want to catch and kill whales?

A

Because they think they have been doing it for a long time and for money. Japan after WW2, whale meat was a cheap alternative. Iceland ship it to Japan and use it in pet food.

50
Q

How has the number of whales caught by indigenous communities changed? Can you suggest any reasons for this change?

A

It hasn’t changed, it has stayed much the same. This is because they don’t need any more or less meat.

51
Q

Case Study: A marine wildlife sanctuary - Clyde River Marine Wildlife Area, Canada
Location:
Reason for creation of sanctuary:

A

Located 120 kilometers south of the Clyde River, on the north east coast of Baffin Island, Nunavut. Northern Canada
It is to protect and conserve the Bowhead whales and their habitat. Contains nationally significant habitat for Bowhead whales. Protecting them from industrial whaling and shipping.

52
Q

Case Study: A marine wildlife sanctuary - Clyde River Marine Wildlife Area, Canada
Environmental characteristics:
Why is this a good location for a marine wildlife sanctuary?

A

It has ocean and wind currents, with the shallow banks off the coast of Isabella Bay. It also has some deep troughs further offshore.
Nationally significant habitat for Bowhead whales - on the Bowhead whales migration route and shelter from the troughs makes good fishing area for the whales.

53
Q

Case Study: A marine wildlife sanctuary - Clyde River Marine Wildlife Area, Canada
Management of the sanctuary (how the wildlife is protected):
Threats to the sanctuary and its wildlife:

A

Protected by the Wildlife Area Regulations under the Canada Wildlife Act. Not accessible to the public and all activities can be stopped which may harm the animals. Restrictions on hunting and permits for whaling for indingeous groups. Restrictions on shipping.
Increased shipping of hydrocarbon exploration, development and cruise ships. Ships could hit whales or risk of oil spills. Noise from engines disrupts their communication and mating.

54
Q

Explain how Inuit whale hunting can be part of the sustainable management of whaling.

A

Because the Inuit people only kill one whale a year and use all of it for a variety of things. So the whales in that year can recover and maintain numbers.

55
Q

Antarctic Treaty
Date signed
Number of countries currently involved
What is ‘consultative status’

A

1st December 1959
52
Consultative parties (28) have voting status. Consultative status is open to any country that can demonstrate its commitment to antarctica by conducting significant research.

56
Q

Key restrictions of the Antarctic Treaty

A

Prohibits military bases and weapons testing
Requires cooperation between countries to share the results of scientific research
Prohibits nuclear explosions and nuclear waste disposal
Does not recognise any country’s claim on territory
All visits to the territory must comply with the treaty.

57
Q

How does the environmental protocol protect the Antarctic?

A

By banning mining for 50 years or until all countries agree to end it.
A ban on killing or interfering with wildlife - no dogs can go to Antarctica
All waste must be removed - dumping or burning rubbish is banned
There are controls on fishing in the southern ocean around antarctica
All activities must be assessed for their likely impact on the environment before they are allowed.
Prevents marine pollution
Conservation of Antarctic flora and fauna

58
Q

Why is the Antarctic Treaty considered to be so successful?

A

No calls to review the treaty
All nations with consultative status can ‘veto’ proposals
Territorial claims set aside
Has encouraged international cooperation
Significant contribution to scientific knowledge and understanding.
Ozone hole