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Eleanor Rowe Geography GCSE > Biomes > Flashcards

Biomes Flashcards

(67 cards)

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1
Q

What is an ecosystem

A

A unit that includes all the biotic (living) parts and and the abiotic (non living) parts in an area

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2
Q

Example of biotic thing in ecosystem

A

Plants animals

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3
Q

Example of abiotic thing in ecosystem

A

Soil and climate

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4
Q

What is a producer

A

Organism that uses sunlight energy to produce food

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5
Q

What is a consumer

A

An organism that gets its energy by eating other organisms

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6
Q

What is a food chain and a food web

A

A food chain shows what eats what

A food web shows lots of food chains and how they overlap

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7
Q

What is a decomposer

With example

A

A organism that gets its energy by breaking down dead material eg bacteria

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8
Q

What happens when a dead martial is decomposed

A

Nutrients are released into the soil
They nutrients are then taken up from the soil by plants
The plants are eaten by consumers
The consumers die and return nutrients back to soil
Called nutrient cycling

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9
Q

What are the six main types of ecosystem in the world

A 
Grassland 
Tundra 
Temperate deciduous forest 
Polar 
Tropical rainforest 
Hot desert
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10
Q

What are the two types of grassland

A

Savannah and temperate

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11
Q

What is savannah grassland like

A

Distinct dry and wet seasons
Mostly grass vegetation
Found between tropics

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12
Q

What is temperate grassland like

A

Found at higher latitudes
More variation in temperature
Less rainfall
No trees

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13
Q

What is tundra like

A 
Found at high latitudes 
Very cold winters 
Short summer 
Little rainfall
No trees 
Moss vegetation 
Layer of permafrost
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14
Q

What is temperate deciduous forest like

A

Four distinct seasons
Warm summers
Mild winters
Rainfall all year round

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15
Q

What is tropical rainforest like

A

Found around the equator
Hot and wet all year
Dense canopies of vegetation with distinct layers

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16
Q

What is the polar region like

A

Cold and dry
Remains dark for several month
Plants can only grow for 2 months each year

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17
Q

What is the hot desert region like

A

Found either side of equator
Hot during day and cold at night
Cactus and shrubs dispersed in sandy soil

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18
Q

What is the climate of tropical rainforests

A

Same all year round no seasons

Hot weather around 28 degrees high rainfall

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19
Q

What is the soil like in the rainforest

A

Isn’t fertile as rain washes nutrients away

Only little nutrients on surface

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20
Q

What are plants like in tropical rainforests

A

Most trees don’t drop leaves
Tall trees
Dense cover of vegetation
Very little light on floor

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21
Q

What are the animals like in tropical rainforests

A

Contain more animal species than any other ecosystem

Many are brightly coloured and make lots of noise

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22
Q

What are people like in the rainforest

A

Home to many tribes that make living by hunting and fishing

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23
Q

What does interdependence mean

A

All parts of the ecosystem are dependent on each other

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24
Q

What causes the animal population to be so high in TR

A

Dense vegetation as plants pass on nutrients

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25
What does deforestation do to the ecosystem in a TR
Adds to greenhouse effect so changes climate | Trees take up water so risk of drought increases
26
How have plants adapted in TR
Tall trees have big roots to support trunks Plants have drip tops to run off water Climbing plants up trees to get sunlight
27
How are animals adapted for TR
Strong limbs do spend day climbing Suction cups for climbing Birds have short wings to fly between trees Camouflages Nocturnal to feed when it is cooler to save energy Swim to cross river channels
28
How are TR stable and productive environments
It is hot and wet all year | Plants and animals don’t have to cope with changing conditions and there is always plenty to eat
29
What is deforestation likely to lead to
Extinction of many species and loss of biodiversity
30
What are the reasons of deforestation
Population pressure for new settlements Mineral extraction Energy development (build dams) Commercial logging (build roads) Commercial farming (cattle grazing and soya plantations) Subsistence farming ( farmers can grow food for themselves and families)
31
What are the environmental impacts of deforestation
No trees to stabilise soil leads to landslides and flooding More water reaches soil so less nutrients Increases co2 in atmosphere
32
Economic impacts of deforestation
``` Creates jobs Makes lots of money Destroys resources the country depends on eg timber Reduces attractiveness for tourists Livelihoods is local people destroyed ```
33
How is the rate of deforestation changing
Rate is still very high however is slowing down | There are still hotspots where rate is increasing eg Borneo and Nigeria
34
Fact file of the amazon rainforest
Largest on earth Covers 8million km ^2 Since 1978 over 1million km^2 of it has been destroyed
35
What were the main reasons of deforestation in the Amazon
Commercial (cattle ranching) | Small scale substinance farming for tribes
36
What were the environmental impacts of deforestation on the amazon rainforest
Releases 100 billion tonnes of carbon | Losing 55 million tonnes of topsoil because of soil erosion
37
What are the economic impacts of deforestation of the amazon rainforest
Farming makes lots of money for Brazil -$7 billion in 2008 | Mining industry creates lots of jobs
38
Why is it important to protect TR
To preserve its biodiversity Species in the Tr may have medicines that have yet been discovered Ecotourism will be reduced Rainforests help regulate the climate and water cycle
39
What is selective logging and how does does it manage the rainforest
Where only some older trees are felled This is less damaging as the overall forests structure is kept Allows it to regenerate
40
What is replanting and how does it manage the rainforest sustainabily
When new trees are planted to replace the ones that were chopped down Mean that there will be trees in the future
41
What is ecotourism and how does it manage the rainforest
``` Tourism that minimises damage to the environment and benefits local people Only small number of visitors each time Litter is disposed of properly Provides income Trees aren’t cut down Been very successful in Costa rice ```
42
What are international hardwood agreements and what do they do
Hardwood is used to make furniture High demand for mahogany in rich countries mean that poor countries sell it Hardwood trees are becoming rarer There are agreements in place to make this illegal
43
How does education help manage tropical rainforests
People know the impacts of deforestation and encourages them to buy products from sustainably manages sources Some local people don’t understand the impacts of it Educates people on alternative ways to make money
44
How does reducing debt allow sustainable management of rainforests
Often poor countries allow logging and farming of rainforests to make money to pay off debt Reducing debt means countries don’t have to do this and rainforests can be conserved in the future Eg 2008 the USA reduced Peru’s debt by $25 million in exchange for rainforest conservation
45
How does conservation sustainably manage rainforests
Places restrictions in areas of importance | Some countries set up funds for businesses to invest in and in exchange conserve the rainforest
46
What is the climate like in polar environments
``` Very cold Winters never above 10 degrees Lowest of -90 Low rainfall Clearly defined seasons ```
47
What is the climate like in tundra
Max 10 degrees Low -50 Low rainfall ( more in summer)
48
What is the soil like in polar and tundra
Polar covered in ice sheets so no soil and few plants Tundra soil is think acidic and not fertile Normally layer of permafrost beneath soil that contains greenhouse gases
49
What are the plants like in polar and tundra
Very few in polar | Plants grow slowly and not very tall
50
What are the animals like in polar and tundra
Different species Polar bears, penguins, whales, seals in polar Lemmings, wolves, reindeer in tundra
51
What are the people like in polar and tundra
Polar are almost inhabited | Tundra is home to indigenous people and oil and gas workers
52
How are the tundra and polar regions interdependent
Nutrient cycle occurs | Melting ice caps has effect on whole ecosystem- leads to floods so habitats are ruined and plants can’t grow
53
How have plants adapted in the polar and tundra region
Plants don’t grow in winter Plants are small to protect from wind Leaves are small to limit moisture lost
54
How have animals adapted to tundra and polar
Have thick fur coat for insulation Hibernate Can survive on limited food White coats to camouflage
55
Is the polar and tundra high in biodiversity or low
Low
56
What are the development opportunities in the Alaska tundra
Oil and gas- over half of Alaska’s income comes from this industry Mineral resources eg the tintina gold belt Fishing Tourism
57
What are the three main challenges for development in Alaska
Extreme temperature Inaccessibility Buildings and infrastructure
58
How is extreme temperature in Alaska a challenge
Exposure to extreme cold can cause injury or death, which limits tourism, and healthcare is far away
59
How is inaccessibility a challenge for development in Alaska
It’s mountainous terrain makes it difficult to get around and it is expensive to do so In winter the only way to get around is by air or on dangerous ice roads In summer there is no roads as the ground is too muddy and soft People in small towns may be a long way from employment opportunities
60
How is buildings and infrastructure a challenge for development in Alaska
Difficult to build buildings that can cope with ground and weather Construction work can only take place in short summer
61
Why is the trans Alaska pipeline on stilts
So it doesn’t melt the permafrost making the ground unstable
62
Why are cold environments worth conserving
They provide habitats for organisms Scientists can study wild plants and animals They are natural ecosystems They are the last remaining areas that haven’t been altered by human activity
63
How are cold environments fragile
Plant growth is slow so if they are damaged it is bad | Species are highly specialised so find it difficult to adapt to change
64
How does the use of technology help balance conservation with economic development in cold regions
Modern construction methods minimise environmental impacts eg elevating buildings on poles or building on gravel beds can prevent mending of permafrost
65
How can conservation groups help balance conservation with economic development in cold regions
They pressure governments to protect cold environments that we at risk or have been damaged Eg WWF encourages sustainable management of cold environments
66
How does international agreements help balance conservation with economic development in cold regions
The 1959 Antarctic treaty limited 100 visitors at a time to go to Antarctica, meaning wildlife isn’t disrupted
67
How does the role of governments help balance conservation with economic development in cold regions
Unregulated development can damage the environment Governments make laws to protect cold environments Eg 1964 wilderness act the designated certain areas and protected them from development including large parts of Alaska

Eleanor Rowe Geography GCSE (7 decks)

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