ecosystems Flashcards
what is a producer?
first level in the trophic level
organism that produce foods for themselves and other organisms
what is a primary consumer
the organisms that feed on the producers
tend to be small in size but there are lots of them
herbivores
what is the trophic level?
describes the position of an organism in a food chain, web or pyramid
where are tropical rainforests distributed?
Tropical forests are found between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.
They occur in South America and Africa.
what is nutrient cycling?
system where energy and matter are transferred between living organisms and non-living parts of the environment
strategies used to manage the forest sustainabiliy
selective logging-refers to a forestry practice of where only mature or inferior trees are cut down leaving most of the forest standing
replanting:planting new trees to replace the ones which have been harvested, helping to restore the forest and reduce deforestation
Ecotourism: a sustainable form of tourism that prioritises environmental protection and local community support
order of the rainforest
shrub layer
under canopy
canopy
emergents
how is the amazon rainforest getting exploited?
climate in the rainforest:
temperatures are high throughout the year (averaging 27 degrees) because the sun is mostly overhead
rainfall is high because global atmospheric circulation causes an area of low pressure to form at the Equator. the rising air creates clouds and triggers heavy rain
canopy
sea of leaves blocking out the sun
contains over 50 percent of the forests wildlife
emergents
tallest trees can reach 50 metres tall
Thar desert economic opportunities
1.Mining
2.energy production
3.farming
4.tourism
where is the Thar desert located?
Rajasthan India
most densely populated desert in the world
mining in the Thar desert
the desert has valuable resources such as feldspar, phospherite, gypsum and kaolin
can be used for things like cement and fertilisers
limestone is used for building and producing cement
marble is used in construction
energy in the Thar desert
using solar panels
Jaisalmer wind park-India’s:largest wind park 75 wind turbines with a combined capacity of 60MW
irrigation in the Thar desert
the construction of the Indri Gandhi Canal has enabled irrigation and allowed for the cultivation of crops such as wheat and cotton
how are plants adapted to tropical forests?
leaves:large surface areas to maximise photosynthesis which is also helped by the flexible bases that enable leaves to turn ot face the sun.
smooth branches and trunks:this helps water to flow down easily
the three challenges in the Thar desert
1.extreme temperatures
2.accessibility
3.water supply
what is desertification?
it is the process where fertile land degrades into desert-like conditions often due to climate change and human activities
