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Ecosystems refresh Flashcards

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1
Q

What is an ecosystem?

A

The interaction of living and non living things in an environment.

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2
Q

What is a biome?

A

A large scale ecosystem or group of ecosystems.

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3
Q

What is the climate of a rainforest?

A

Hot and wet all year.

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4
Q

What is the vegetation in rainforests?

A

There is a huge variety of broadleaved plants. Trees dominate with other plants competing for light.

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5
Q

Where are tropical rainforests found?

A

Low lying areas near the equator (Brazil, Rwanda, Indonesia).

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6
Q

What is the climate of tropical grasslands?

A

Hot all year with distinct wet and dry seasons.

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7
Q

What is the vegitation of tropical grasslands?

A

Tall grasses with scattered, drought-adapted trees and shrubs

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8
Q

Where are tropical grasslands found?

A

Near the equator (Brazil, Australia)

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9
Q

What is the climate of deserts?

A

Very hot and dry all year with very low rainfall.

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10
Q

What is the vegitation in deserts?

A

Plants have water-storing features, spines instead of leaves and extensive root systems.

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11
Q

Where are deserts found?

A

In a belt of high pressure and low rainfall (Australia, Algeria).

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12
Q

What is the climate of temperate grasslands?

A

Hot summers and cold winters.

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13
Q

What is the vegitation of temperate grasslands?

A

Grasslands with very few trees or shrubs.

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14
Q

Where are temperate grasslands located?

A

High altitudes and latitudes (North American plains, European steppes)

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15
Q

What is the climate of temperate forests?

A

Warm summers and cool winters with precipitation all year

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16
Q

What is the vegitation of temperate forests?

A

Deciduous trees, which drop their leaves in autumn.

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17
Q

Where are temperate forests located?

A

England, France, Germany.

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18
Q

What is the climate of boreal forests?

A

Very cold winters and low precipitation.

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19
Q

What is the vegitation of boreal forests?

A

Coniferous trees with needles instead of leaves to survive cold and reduce water loss.

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20
Q

Where are boreal forests located?

A

High latitudes (Russia, Canada).

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21
Q

What is the climate of Tundras?

A

Low temperatures for most of the year with low precipitation.

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22
Q

What is the vegitation of tundras?

A

Little plants and trees, only mosses, grasses and low shrubs.

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23
Q

Where are tundras located?

A

High latitudes (Russia, Canada, The Arctic).

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24
Q

What is they key factor affecting the distribution of large-scale ecosystems?

A

Climate (temperature, rainfall, sunlight hours).

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25
What causes seasonal variations in some ecosystems?
The earth's tilt - In summer, the northen hemisphere is tilted towards the sun, while in winter it is tilted away.
26
Do seasons change on the equator?
No as it always receives the same amount of sunlight.
27
What happens as altitude increases?
Biodiversity decreases.
28
How does soil type affect the distribution of large-scale ecosystems? (local factor)
More nutrient-rich soils in an area can support more plants.
29
Why does the equator receive the most heat from the sun?
The sun is directly overhead and therefore it's rays are most intense there.
30
Centuries of human characteristics have altered the local characteristics of large scale ecosystems.
Local factor
31
How does the distance from the sea affect the distribution of large scale ecosystems?
In inland areas, summer temperatures are much higher and winter temperatures much lower than in coastal regions.
32
Why are summer temperatures and winter temperatures much higher/lower in inland regions than coastal regions?
Because the sea absorbs and loses heat so it keeps the coast cooler in summer and warmer in winter.
33
How does altitude affect the distribution of large-scale ecosystems?
Temperature drops by 1 degree for every 100 metres gained in height. Higher altitude areas, like mountains, have lower temperatures. Higher altitudes are colder, so fewer plants grow there.
34
Why are some soils thin on mountains?
They do not have enough nutrients from decomposed leaves so large trees cannot grow.
35
How do prevailing winds affect the distribution of large scale ecosystems?
Winds blowing across the oceans will bring moisture and rainfall, whereas winds blowing across warmer continents bring warm dry air.
36
What is the biosphere?
The zone of life or part of earth and it's atmosphere in which living organisms exist.
37
What are the 4 main things living organisms in the biosphere provides?
Food, medicine, fuel and building materials.
38
Whats foods does the biosphere provide?
Crops like wheat and rice, fruits, berries, fish and meat.
39
How is medicine provided from the biosphere?
Lots of plants have medical properties and are used to cure illnesses: Periwinkle used to treat leukaemia and aloe plant used in cosmetics.
40
How is fuel provided from the biosphere?
Animal dung used for fuel, wood from trees, biofuels covert plant products to fuel.
41
What building materials are provided from the biosphere?
Straw using for roofing + insulation, animal dung used in bricks, timber.
42
What are the 3 ways humans exploit the biosphere?
- Water - Fuels (energy) - Minerals
43
How is water exploited by humans in the biosphere?
Huge demand for water means water sources like lakes and aquifers can be over-exploited, meaning plants and animals no longer have enough water to survive.
44
How is fuel/energy being exploited by humans in the biosphere?
- Large areas of forest are cut down to clear land for the growing of crops to make biofuels, or to build coal mines and power stations. - Drilling for oil and gas in the tundra is damaging as pipelines are melting the permafrost.
45
How are minerals causing the biosphere to be exploited?
- Parts of the biosphere can be removed to access minerals, reducing habitat for plants and animals. - Mines in rainforests cause deforestation and toxic chemicals are washed into rivers, killing wildlife.
46
What are the UK's 4 terrestrial ecosystems?
- Heathlands - Moorlands - Wetlands - Woodlands
47
Describe the heathlands.
- Scattered across the UK in lowland locations. - Can have dry and sandy soils or marshy soils in the north-west. - Important source of drinking water.
48
Describe the moorlands.
Developed by humans in upland areas through grazing land with sheep and grouse shooting. - Rough grassland and peat bogs. - Heather is the most common plant.
49
Describe the wetlands.
- Low nutrient, water-logged soils. - Provides habitats for plants and animals. - Important source of water.
50
Describe the woodlands.
- Mostly deciduous woodland. - Important for recreation and carbon capture.
51
What are inshore ecosystems?
Habitats that are close to the shore and coastal margins and support activities such as tourism and recreation.
52
\what are offshore ecosystems?
Habitats that are away from the shoreline and support activities such as energy production and commercial fishing.
53
What are benefits of marine ecosystems?
- 200,000 jobs in coastal tourism - Oil reserves of 24 billion barrels - 450,000 jobs in the oil industry - UK ports are responsible for £5 billion worth of trade - Submarine cables enable 99% of communication, through internet.
54
What is aquaculture?
The farming of fish, seafood and algae for commercial purposes.
55
What are the main threats to marine ecosystems?
- Overfishing has led to the collapse of cod stocks in the UK. - Eutrophication is caused by fertilisers used on farmland being washed into the sea. - Construction of deepwater ports and navigation channels for global trade disrupts the ecosystem and destroys habitats. - Construction of large wind farms interferes with bird migration routes and the noise they make disturb dolphins.
56
What are biotic factors?
Living parts of an ecosystem.
57
What are abiotic factors?
Non living parts of an ecosystem that are essential to life.
58
What are biotic/abiotic factors of the tropical rainforest?
- Large biomass as there is a large amount of biodiversity - Small litter layer because all dead plants and animals decomopose very quickly due to the high heat, humidity and rainfall. - Small soil store because nutrients are taken up from the soil by plants very quickly and the remaining nutreints are leached by the rainfall. - Chemical weathering is common in the bedrock of the TRF because of the high heat and humidity, but the nutrients are not available for plant growth.
59
Are plants biotic or abiotic?
Plants are biotic.
60
What are animal adaptations in the TRF?
- Monkeys have evolved strong gripping hands and feet to help them find food. - Animals have evolved camoflage to match their surroundings and hide.
61
What model shows the nutrient cycle?
The Gersmehl model.

Geography (12 decks)

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