Battle for the biosphere Flashcards
What’s a biome
A global scale eco system
What’s an ecosystem
A community of plants and animals interacting with their non-living physical environment (a pond)
Name and describe the 5 main biomes
Tropical rainforest found either side of the equator (hot and wet)
Tundra freezing, icy locations (Arctic and the Antarctic)
Desert found in the tropics (very hot, arid)
Temperate deciduous (lose their leaves in autumn to preserve energy) (Europe, North America)
Coniferous forest (taiga) - Trees have evolved needle leaves and waxy resin to reduce heat and moisture loss (Russia)
What’s a biosphere
The living part of the earth
Name the local and global factors affecting biome distribution
Local: Soil type, altitude, drainage
Global: Temperature and precipitation
How are temperature and precipitation linked as global factors?
The temperature is the decider as to whether the precipitation that falls is frozen or not and type of plants that grow there.
Name as many services the biosphere provides us with as you can
Temperature and rainfall Atmospheric gases (lungs of the earth) Water regulation/purification Soil formation Tourism
Name as many goods the biosphere provides us with
Food
Medicine
Raw materials
Name direct impacts to the destruction of the Amazon Rainforest
Cattle ranching
HEP
Logging
Farming
All use deforestation to clear the land for the above
Name the indirect impacts to the destruction of the Amazon rainforest
Climate change
Increase in gases, pollutants and particulates
Changes in weather patterns, temperature, sea level and extreme events happen
Climate becomes arid, rainforest dies
Animal migration
Species extinction
CASE STUDY : Name and describe a global biosphere management
CITES - convention on international trade in endangered species, treaty signed in 1973, protects 34,000 animals/plants, e.g ivory trading
CASE STUDY : Name and describe a national biosphere management
National parks, preserve landscapes and biosphere but allow others to enjoy them through tourism
CASE STUDY : Name and describe a local biosphere management
UNESCO - Try and teach others how to protect the biosphere
Name 3 ways the world is trying to save the biosphere
Economic alternatives such as fish farming have been used
Education and training on how to effectively farm
Ecotourism is being developed (entrance fees used to conserve the biosphere)
What is sustainable management
Conservation that’s allows the biosphere to be saved for today and for future generations
