carbon cycle and water cycle Flashcards
what causes the distribution of organisms
environmental changes
what key environmental changes cause a change in the availability of water
- a change in the availability of water
- a change in the temperature
- a change in the composition of atmospheric gases
how can a change in the availability of water affect the distribution of species
the distribution of some animal and species change between the wet and dry seasons, the times of year where there is more or less rainfall so there are certain seasons with more or less water available
how can a change in temperature affect the distribution of species
a rise in temperature causes species to migrate to areas where its cooler or migrate in higher altitudes where the air is cooler
how does a change in the composition of atmospheric gases affect the distribution of species
as air pollution increases the distrubution of species will decrease
what are environmental changes caused by
seasonal factors, geographic factors or human interaction
stages of the water cycle
1) energy from the sun causes the water to evaporate from the surface of the sea, turning it into water vapour
2) water also evaporates from the plants known as transpiration
3) the warm water vapour travels into the air and cools down and when it cools the water vapour condenses to form clouds
4) the water in the clouds then falls to the ground as precipitation
5) once the water hits the ground some of it evaporates back into the atmosphere as water vapour, some of the water passes through rocks and form aquifers whilst others provide freshwater for plants and animals
6) it then drains into the sea before the whole process starts again
how plants play a role in the water cycle
1) plants take up water in their roots
2) the water then moves up the plant in the xylem and passes out of the leaves through stomata as water vapour (this is transpiration)
how do animals take part in the water cycle
1) they take in water through drinking and in their food
2) they release water in their urine, faeces and when they exhale
what transpiration
when water evaporates from the plants
whats precipitation
when rain, snow, hail and sleet fall from the sky
whats percolation
the movement of water through the soil itself.
what are living things made out of
materials they take from the world around them
where do the materials that make up living things go
they get passed up the food chain and then are returned to the environment as waste products or are decayed when an organism dies
why do materials decay
as they are broken down by microorganisms
how can you increase the rate of decay and why
in warm, moist aerobic conditions as the microorganism are more active in these conditions
what does decay do
it puts the stuff that plants need to grow back into the soil
what happens to the materials in a stable community
the materials that are taken out of the soul and used by plants are put back in
how does plants release carbon into the air
1) CO2 is removed from the atmosphere by green plants and algae during photosynthesis, the carbon is used to make glucose which can be tuned in to make carbohydrates, fats and proteins that make up the bodies of plants and algae
2) when the plants and algae respire some carbon is returned to the atmosphere as CO2
3) when the plants and algae are eaten by animals some carbon becomes part of the fats and proteins in their bodies, the carbon then moves through the food chain
4) when plants, algae and animals die detritus feeders and microorganisms feed on their remains, and when these organisms respire CO2 is returned to the atmosphere
how do animals release C02 into the atmosphere
5) when the animals respire some carbon is returned to the atmosphere as CO2
6) when plants, algae and animals die detritus feeders and microorganisms feed on their remains, and when these organisms respire CO2 is returned to the atmosphere
7) animals also produce waste that is broken down by detritus feeders and microorganisms
how do fossil fuels release CO2 into the atmosphere
7) the combustion of wood and fossil fuels also release CO2 back into the air
how does carbon enter the carbon cycle
by photosynthesis
stages f the carbon cycles
1) CO2 is removed from the atmosphere by green plants and algae during photosynthesis, the carbon is used to make glucose which can be tuned in to make carbohydrates, fats and proteins that make up the bodies of plants and algae
2) when the plants and algae respire some carbon is returned to the atmosphere as CO2
3) when the plants and algae are eaten by animals some carbon becomes part of the fats and proteins in their bodies, the carbon then moves through the food chain
4) when the animals respire some carbon is returned to the atmosphere as CO2
5) when plants, algae and animals die detritus feeders and microorganisms feed on their remains, and when these organisms respire CO2 is returned to the atmosphere
6) animals also produce waste that is broken down by detritus feeders and microorganisms
7) the decomposers release mineral ions into the soil and under certain conditions the decomposers cannot function properly so the carbon in the dead remains are slowly converted to fossil fuels, causing the carbon to be trapped in the ground
8) the combustion of fossil fuels and wood caused carbon dioxide to be released into the atmosphere
what is compost
a decomposed organic matter that is used as a neutral fertiliser for crops and garden plants
