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Geography GCSE > Ecosystems & Cold Environments 🌿 > Flashcards

Ecosystems & Cold Environments 🌿 Flashcards

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1
Q

What is an ecosystem

A

And ecosystem is a community where rocks, soil, vegetation, animals, humans, water, the atmosphere and climate all interact
Ecosystems are made up of biotic and abiotic things

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2
Q

What are biotic things

A

Living things eg. Plants and bacteria

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3
Q

What are abiotic things

A

Non-living things eg. Climate and soil

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4
Q

What is a food chain

A

A simple diagram of the flow of energy between the producers and consumers

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5
Q

What is a food web

A

The interconnections of the food chain with many other species within the ecosystem

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6
Q

What is decomposition

A

The breaking down of dead organic material

This process is essential in order to release nutrients back into the soil

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7
Q

What are some of the causes of hedgerow loss in the UK

A

Larger agricultural machinery
Desire for larger profits
Move from low intensity to high intensity arable farming
Initially driven by need for more food

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8
Q

What are the 3 elements in the nutrient cycle

A

Litter, biomass, soil

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9
Q

Methods used to manage Epping Forest

A

Pollarding trees
cattle grazing re-introduced to a small area
volunteers to clean and maintain footpath
recreation is controlled

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10
Q

How many biomes can the earth be divided into

A

8

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11
Q

What are the physical characteristics of rainforests

A

Warm weather causes air to rise and evaporate causing large amounts of rainfall

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12
Q

What are the 2 ways in which the rainforest copes with heavy rain

A

Interception

Drip and flow

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13
Q

How high is the canopy off the floor

A

30m

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14
Q

How high is the emergent layer off the forest floor

A

50m

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15
Q

How high is the understory off the forest floor

A

10m

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16
Q

Name 3 plant adaptations in the rainforest

A

Buttress roots
Drip tips
Leaf angling

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17
Q

What is leaf angling

A

Leaves arranged at different angles so the plant avoids shadowing its own leaves - important because competition for light is intense

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18
Q

What are drip tips

A

Pointed tips and waxy surface enable water to run off easily

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19
Q

What are buttress roots

A

Rainforest soils are very thin and therefore shallow roots are needed to soak up nutrients in these thin soils
buttress roots also form to give tall trees extra stability in the shallow soils

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20
Q

What is interdependence

A

The idea that within an environment or ecosystem things become totally dependent on one another being there and working 

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21
Q

What are the 3 main causes of deforestation in the rainforest

A

Cattle ranching
Logging
Agriculture

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22
Q

What resources does the rainforest provide

A 
Sugar 
Rubber
Cocoa 
Oxygen production 
Medicines
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23
Q

What is sustainable management

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A

Meeting the needs of the current population without compromising the needs of future generations

24
Q

What is conservation

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A

Means that natural resources such as timber can still be used, but must be used sustainability

25
What is protection
Means that the environment should be untouched and humans should not interfere so ecosystems can find their own balance
26
What are the 2 strategies for rainforest sustainability
Conservation | Protection
27
What methods can be used to sustain the rainforest
``` Selective logging and replanting conservation and education eco-tourism international agreements about the use of tropical hardwoods debt reduction e.g. conservation swaps agroforestry ```
28
What is permafrost
Permafrost are areas of ground which are permanently or semi permanently frozen for 2 or more years
29
What are the benefits of Alaska’s onshore oil fields
They are safe from earthquakes brings in money and employment some of the pipeline passes underground in order to not disturb the Caribou
30
What are the costs of Alaska’s onshore oil fields
Took 5 years to build and costed $US 8billion debate over whether they should begin drilling foil in neighbouring areas destroys habitats any oil spilled can that kill wildlife migrant workers take the majority of the jobs
31
What is a wilderness area
Wilderness areas are unspoiled, remote and isolated regions which have limited human activity (currently)
32
Why is the Tundra’s food web so basic
The soils are infertile, the climate is extreme and so not much can survive
33
How have plants adapted to permafrost in the tundra
They have shallow root systems because otherwise permafrost would be a barrier to root growth 
34
How have plants adapted to poor drainage in the tundra
Favours hardy organisms such as moss which can tolerate the melting of the active layer
35
How have plants adapted to low insolation in the tundra
Most shrubs are perennials and flowers are cup shaped to catch weak sun rays and direct them to the centre
36
How have plants adapted to strong winds in the tundra
Plants don’t grow higher than 40 cm and grow close together to avoid cold winds They also grow hairs is to capture the heat
37
How have snowshoe hares adapted to the tundra
Fur can change colour depending on the season to blend in | large back feet for larger surface area and support when walking on snow
38
How have musk oxen adapted to life in the tundra
Fur is very long, thick and hollow to trap warm air | Huddle in numbers to keep warm and protected their young
39
How have caribou adapted to the tundra
Double coat adapted to consume all different things to survive when there is nothing to eat split hooves allows a larger surface area so they don’t sink into the snow
40
How has the Alaskan wolf adapted to life in the tundra
To fur coats creates a layer of of trapped warm air | large feet to allow them to walk on snow
41
What are the benefits of Alaska is onshore oilfields
They are safe from earthquakes brings in money and employment  Rising oil prices in the Middle East left the US desperate to improve its energy security
42
What are the costs of Alaska is onshore oilfields
Took 5 years to build and costed $US 8 billion debate over whether they should begin drilling for oil in nearby areas destroys habitats any oil spilled can kill wildlife
43
What are the three ways cold environments are conserved
``` Conservation groups (NGO’s) governments international agreements ```
44
What percentage of indigenous tribes have died since the arrival of Europeans in the 16th century?
80%
45
How many tribes are now left in the Amazon
240-330
46
Why is oil and gas production important to the residents of Alaska?
Industry provided 100,000 jobs (1 in 7 Alaskans) Oil and gas contribute 1/3 of the states annual earnings of around US$40 billion
47
What are the pros of tourism in Antarctica
Many guidelines = environmental impact is minimised No evidence that tourism has negatively impacted wildlife Tour operators have codes of conduct eg. Not going within 5m of wildlife Tourists can learn about the threats of climate change
48
What are the cons of tourism in Antarctica ?
Ecosystem is fragile - tourism could disrupt the delicate balance Tourists may unknowingly brings seeds of plants from other areas Threat of pollution from oil spills eg. 2007
49
Where is Luleå?
Sweden
50
What is in Luleå
Facebook
51
What solution does Luleå have to the lack of renewable energy in the wilderness?
Lies near a hydroelectric power station - cheap power
52
What solution does Luleå have to the temperature required for the machines in the wilderness?
Located on the edge of the Arctic circle - equipment will cool itself at no cost
53
What solution does Luleå have to the cost of land and amount of space required in the wilderness?
Land is cheap and there is a lot of it available due to difficult access and remoteness
54
What solution does Luleå have to the requirement of flat land in the wilderness?
Luleå is built on a flat, glacially eroded valley floor
55
What solution does Luleå have to the requirement for employees for low skilled jobs in the wilderness?
Little job availability in the area so people will take the jobs immediately
56
What treaty was signed in Antarctica
Antarctica Treaty of 1959

Geography GCSE (10 decks)

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