Deciduous woodland Flashcards
(21 cards)
Deciduous woodland have … seasons
Distinct
Where are deciduous woodlands found
In the mid-latitudes between 40o and 60o N and S of the equator eg. Europe, USA, New Zealand
Climate in deciduous woodland
-the climate is t…
—>no e… of temp or r…
-four … seasons
—>summer is … and longest …, winter is … and … daylight
-rainfall is quite …, and rains … the year
-the climate is temperate
—>no extremes of temp or rainfall
-four distinct seasons
—>summer is warmest and longest daylight, winter is coolest and shortest daylight
-rainfall is quite high, and rains throughout the year
Soil in deciduous woodlands
-fallen … decompose quite … in the mild, … climate forming a thick … of organic m… which e… the soil
-earthworms and other o… in the soil m… the organic … with m… from weathered …
—>forming a rich, f… brown e… soil
-fallen leaves decompose quite quickly in the mild, wet climate forming a thick layer of organic matter which enriches the soil
-earthworms and other organisms in the soil mix the organic matter with minerals from weathered rock
—>forming a rich, fertile brown earth soil
rainfall in deciduous woodland
-rains all year round
-supplying water to streams, lakes and rivers
Plants in deciduous woodlands
-dominated by t.., broad-… trees
-most of the trees are … and lose their … in the a…
-have 3 layers: c…, s… and h…
-dominated by tall, broad-leaved trees
-most of the trees are deciduous and lose their leaves in the autumn
-have 3 layers: canopy, shrub and herb
Animals in deciduous woodland
-different … of trees and plants provide … for different …
—>eg birds and small m…, and l… mammals like f…
-different layers of trees and plants provide habitats for different animals
—>eg birds and small mammals, and larger mammals like foxes
Humans in deciduous woodlands
-home to people who make a l… by getting g… from the woodland
—>eg f…, sap, nuts
-people also e… these woodlands for c… purposes like t… and as places for r…
-home to people who make a livelihood by getting goods from the woodland
—>eg fuel, sap, nuts
-people also exploit these woodlands for commercial purposes like timber and as places for recreation
How are plants adapted in deciduous woodlands to make the most of sunlight
-trees have b…, flat leaves that spread their b… wide to capture s…
-some plants get sunlight by c… trees
—>eg. …
-the s… layer is dominated by p… that are adapted to a … of sunlight
-plants that grow on the … floor are …-tolerant
-trees have broad, flat leaves that spread their branches wide to capture sunlight
-some plants get sunlight by climbing trees
—>eg. Ivy
-the shrub layer is dominated by plants that are adapted to a lack of sunlight
-plants that grow on the woodland floor are shade-tolerant
What do deciduous trees do in the winter and in autumn
-they start to … their resources by drawing f… and nutrients back from the … into the s…, the leaves stop capturing … and dry … and fall …
—>this helps to conserve … normally lost through …
-they start to conserve their resources by drawing food and nutrients back from the leaves into the stems, the leaves stop capturing sunlight and dry up and fall off
—>this helps to conserve water normally lost through transpiration
Why do animals hibernate
-to protect themselves from the cold and reduce their need for food
-their heartbeat and breathing rate slow down so they vanish survive on the fat stored in their body
In deciduous woodlands what stores are nutrients cycled between
-biomass (living organisms)
-litter (dead organisms)
-soil
What is a Gersmehl model
Shows all the stores, inputs, losses and transfers between biomass, litter and soil
What is soil formed from
-humus (a layer of dead, decaying leaves) combines with minerals from weathered bedrock
What is humus
A layer of dead decaying leaves
What is the biggest to smallest stores in deciduous woodland
- Biomass
- Litter
- Soil
Why do deciduous woodlands have a temperate climate
-no extreme t…
-plenty of r…
-several h…
-s… environments
—>s…: high rates of … cycling
—>winter: … rates of nutrient …
-lots of human …
-no extreme temperatures
-plenty of rainfall
-several habitats
-seasonal environments
—>summer: high rates of nutrient cycling
—>winter: low rates of nutrient cycling
-lots of human disturbances
What is the difference between the nutrient cycle in deciduous woodlands and tropical rainforests
-transfers in d.w are … and slower that t.r
—>because of lower r…
—>litter d… more …
—>c… climate
-d.w are less p… and have a much shorter g… season that t.r
—>so less b…
—>lower r… of n… uptake by plants
-transfers in d.w are smaller and slower that t.r
—>because of lower rainfall
—>litter decomposes more slowly
—>cooler climate
-d.w are less productive and have a much shorter growing season that t.r
—>so less biomass
—>lower rates of nutrient uptake by plants
Uses of deciduous woodland
-t…: provide hard … uses for b…
-f…: wood for c… and heating
-c…: home to rare s…
-r…: mountain-…, waking, … lines
-timber: provide hard wood uses for building
-fuel: wood for cooking and heating
-conservation: home to rare species
-recreation: mountain-biking, waking, zip lines
How are deciduous woodlands threatened by climate change
-s…:
-more e… weather events
-some trees may grow s… or even … if they don’t have enough w…
-strong … and wind can knock … trees
-f…:
-animals may come out of h… too early
—>animals could s…
-high r… can cause l… so there are less n… in the soil
-b…:
-i… that damage t… can increase
-with warmer w… more pests s…
-more i… species movie into d… woodland
—>lead to a d… in b…
-structure:
-more extreme weather events
-some trees may grow slowly or even die if they don’t have enough water
-strong storms and wind can knock down trees
-functioning:
-animals may come out of hibernation too early
—>animals could starve
-high rainfall can cause leaching so there are less nutrients in the soil
-biodiversity:
-insects that damage trees can increase
-with warmer winters more pests survive
-more invasive species movie into deciduous woodland
—>lead to a decline in biodiversity
Economic and social causes of deforestation
Economic:
-… extraction
—> … trees grow slowly so are cut down more q… than can be r…
—>so … trees are being planted … as they grow …
-… change
—>woodlands are cleared to make … fields which are more … to farm using … farming methods
Social:
-u… and … growth
—>increasing number of … living in … and cities so woodlands are … to make … for buildings and r…
—>also increased d… for t…
Economic:
-timber extraction
—> deciduous trees grow slowly so are cut down more quickly than can be replaced
—>so coniferous trees are being planted instead as they grow quicker
-agricultural change
—>woodlands are cleared to make bigger fields which are more efficient to farm using modern farming methods
Social:
-urbanisation and population growth
—>increasing number of people living in towns and cities so woodlands are cleared to make space for buildings and roads
—>also increased demand for timber
