Ecosystems Flashcards
What factors play a part in where ecosystems occur?
Temperature, precipitation and sunshine hours.
How is the biosphere important?
It is important because it provides resources for people such as food, medicine and fuel resources.
How are marine ecosystems important to the UK?
It is important because of Tourism, Energy and Fishing.
What are the UK’s terrestrial ecosystems?
Moorlands, Heathlands, Woodlands and Wetlands.
How are marine ecosystems degraded?
They are degraded because the development of coastlines can lead to destruction of plant and wildlife habitats including salt marshes, climate change allows new species to move into new areas which may alter the food web, overfishing of fish affects and impacts the wider ecosystem and fertilisers used by farmers can lead to eutrophication.
What is a biotic component?
A biotic component are living parts of the ecosystem.
What is a abiotic component?
An abiotic component is a non-living part of the ecosystem.
How do animals adapt to living in a rainforest?
They adapt by getting food off the main canopy, they camouflage by using the shrub layer and they also use the herb layer.
How do plants adapt?
Plants adapt due to the emergent trees, deciduous trees, drip tips and buttress roots.
What does the rainforest provide in terms of goods and services?
Goods: sources of food for indigenous tribes, diverse range of plant species provide key ingredients in drugs and timber for manufacturing.
Services: acts as a carbon store, source of revenue and is home to many indigenous tribes.
What are the causes of deforestation?
Resource extraction, conversion to agriculture and population pressure.
What are the abiotic components of deciduous woodland?
Humans share the woodland by walking, cycling, horse-riding and picnics.
What are the biotic components?
The thick layer of leaf creates deep, fertile soil, slower leaching, plants blossom and bogs provide habitats for a range of animal species.
How do animals adapt to the deciduous woodland?
- Birds migrate away from the UK to warmer conditions.
- squirrels store food.
- some animals such as hedgehogs hibernate.
How do plants adapt?
- deciduous trees drop leaves in the autumn to reduce transpiration and conserve water.
- trees spread their branches to access sunlight.
- plants have evolved broad thin leaves to absorb maximum sunlight in the summer.
- deciduous trees have large deep root systems for stability.
