Ecosystems Flashcards
(14 cards)
What are ecosystems?
Community of plants and animals and environment in which they live.
What do ecosystems contain?
Living and non living parts.
What are the non living parts of an ecosystem and what do they provide?
Climate, soil, rocks and they provide nutrients, warmth, water and shelter.
How is climate an important factor in ecosystems?
Influence natural vegetation and wildlife of a region that biomes broadly match climate zones.
What are biomes?
Large scale ecosystems.
What climatic conditions do tropical rainforests have and how does it influence plants?
Hot, wet conditions that aid plant growth.
What factors affect plant growth?
Amount of sunlight, length of day, warmth, amount of water.
What are the three nutrient stores?
Soil, biomass, leaf litter.
How do high temperatures affect chemical reactions that release minerals from rocks?
They are speeded up.
What does constant heat allow bacteria in leaf litter to do?
Reproduce quickly and decomposition of litter is rapid so nutrients are quickly transferred.
What does rainwater do to nutrients in soil and litter?
Washes them away which is leaching.
What are nutrient flows?
Leaching and chemical reactions.
How do ecosystems benefit people?
Steady supply of clean water to rivers. Prevent soil erosion. Reduce risk of river floods. Provide natural materials such as timber. Provide foodstuffs like honey.
What do peat bogs or moors act as?
Act as huge stores of carbon dioxide, helping to regulate the greenhouse effect.
