Ecosystems Flashcards
(15 cards)
Ecosystem
The interaction of living and non-living things in an environment.
Biome
A large scale ecosystem or group of ecosystems; an area of the earth where the vegetation and animals are determined by the climatic factors.
Climatic factors affecting the distribution of large scale ecosystems
Earth’s tilt causes seasonal variation except at the equator.
Temperature highest at the equator due to concentration of sunlight.
Warm air rises at the equator, condenses and cools, leading to high rainfall.
Dry air cools and falls at the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, which creates clear skies and high temperatures but low rainfall.
Local factors affecting the distribution of large scale ecosystems.
Altitude - temperature drops by 1 degree celsius for every 100 metres gained in height.
Soil - Type of soil determines what vegetation can grow there.
Humans - humans have altered ecosystems over centuries through actions such as deforestation.
Biosphere
The biosphere is the zone of life or the part of the earth and its atmosphere in which living organisms exist or that is capable of supporting life.
We get food, medicine, fuel and building materials from the biosphere.
Exploitation of the biosphere
Our large demand for water for industry and agriculture deprives other parts of the biosphere of water.
Biofuels such as palm oil lead to deforestation and the destruction of habitats to grow them.
Mineral resources involve the removal of parts of the biosphere to be obtained (e.g. mountain top removal for coal mining).
The UK’s terrestrial ecosystems
Heathlands - Dry and sandy or marshy areas in lowland locations that are an important source of the UK’s drinking water.
Moorlands - Developed by humans in upland areas through grazing land with sheep and grouse shooting. Made up of rough grassland and peat bogs and covered with heather.
Wetlands - Most wetlands have been drained to make fertile farmland. Made up of low-nutrient water-logged soils which are an important habitat and a source of water.
Woodlands - 12% of the UK is woodland and only 5% is ancient forest. Most forests are deciduous but some in the Scottish highlands are coniferous. Important for carbon capture.
UK’s marine ecosystems
Made up of inshore and offshore ecosystems.
Inshore ecosystems are used for tourism and recreation whilst offshore ecosystems are used for energy production and commercial fishing.
Benefits of marine ecosystems
250 million people visit the UK’s coast. There are 200,000 jobs in coastal tourism. The economic value is £3 billion.
24 billion barrels worth of oil reserve in the North Sea. 450,000 jobs in the oil industry. Value of £37 billion.
World’s largest wind farm with 175 turbines.
UK ports responsible for over £5 billion worth of trade.
Threats to marine ecosystems
Overfishing, eutrophication, deep-water ports and navigation channels, large wind farms.
Tropical Rainforest in Madagascar
50% of Madagascar’s TRF has been lost since 1950.
80% of deforestation is due to tavy - a slash and burn agriculture which removes all of the nutrients from the soil.
Population growth has led to more demand for food so more land is needed for agriculture.
Commercial and illegal logging cause a lot of deforestation.
Sustainable management of TRF in Madagascar
Association Mitsinjo employs local wildlife guides to take tourists around wildlife reserves to raise money for members who patrol the forest looking for illegal logging and animal traps.
Farmers have also agreed to set aside some land as a nursery for young trees - more than 1 million new trees have been planted.
Farmers are educated about more sustainable alternatives to tavy such as The System of Rice Intensification where more food is grown without the need to clear more land.
New Forest - impacts of tourism
Visitors can cause damage by trampling delicate plants, erosion by walking, cycling, horse riding and car parking on verges, starting fires with barbeques, dropping litter and killing wildlife.
Half of the woodland is privately owned and overgrown and other parts are restricted.
New Forest - sustainable woodland management
Conifers that are cut down are replaced by native deciduous trees.
Pesticides and herbicides are used sparingly.
Work is minimised between April and August so that nesting birds aren’t disturbed.
Half of the forest is owned by the Forestry Commission, which runs courses on woodland management and supports conservation work.
New Forest - sustainable use
Car parks built to prevent erosion from people parking on verges.
Bike hire, electric vehicle charging points and bus tours to encourage sustainable transport.
Green Leaf businesses use local products and set aside 10% of their grounds for local wildlife.
The Forest Marque certifies that local wood products are made from sustainable forest timber.
Grants can be given to improve biodiversity in their woodlands by planting native species.
