Ecosytems

Question 1

Define Ecosystem

Answer 1

a natural system made up of living things and their non living environment and all interactions between them. (animals, plants, bacteria and fungi –> atmosphere, rocks, water, climate)

Question 2

Define Biome

Answer 2

an ecosystem on a global scale, that share the same types of plants and animals bc they share same general climate (large bands of land running roughly parallel to the equator)

Question 3

What are the different layers that make up a tropical rainforest (5)? FUCE

Answer 3

1. 🪳🍄Forest floor/shrub layer - ferns and other plants that grow close to ground
2. 🌳👶Under-canopy - young trees, shorter trees and bushes
3. Canopy - thickest layer where most animals live
4. Emergents - tallest trees (up to 60m)

(FUCE)

Question 4

How are tropical rainforest plants adapted to their surroundings?

Answer 4

1. Buttress roots - stop tall trees 🌳 falling over 💀
2. Emergents - reach ☀️ sunlight by growing TALL
3. Epiphytes - plants that perch on high branches, feed on rain 💧 and nutrients 💊 from rotting leaves
4. Large leaves - in shady 😎 shrub layer, plants grow these with CHLOROPHYLL to trap sunlight amap
5. Surface roots - not grown deep in soil, spread out near surface, take up nutrients 💊 quickly from dead leaves and animal faeces 💩 (released from decomposers)
   (BEELS)

Question 5

Describe the distribution of tropical rainforests 🌴 around the world 🌎

Answer 5

They are in the tropics (tropic of cancer and capricorn) around the equator
Over 80 countries have some tropical rainforest, but 10 countries have nearly 80% between them
Mainly in South America (Amazon Basin), Africa (Congo Basin) and Southeast Asia (Malaysia etc.)

Question 6

Describe major threats to tropical rainforest ecosystems

Answer 6

1. Large areas are being burned to clear land for farming, for poor farmers to grow food 🌾 , and for cattle 🐮 ranches,palm oil plantations to make money 💰
2. Logging companies cut down trees 🌲 timber🪵 and furniture 🪑 and doors🚪

Question 7

Describe 4 impacts of tropical rainforest deforestation

Answer 7

1. less carbon sequestration, rainforests are giant carbon sinks, they photosynthesise
2. burning 🔥 and destroying rainforests releases CO2, speeds up global warming
3. cutting trees down = drier weather (less transpiration into clouds and rain 🌧️) so more risk of forest fires 🔥
4. Species/wildlife unable to thrive may go extinct

Question 8

Describe 2 strategies to reduce rates of tropical rainforest deforestationd

Answer 8

1. Ecotourism - minimise ways in which tourists damage environment when they travel, locals make money as tour guides, gov prevent deforestation because profit from ecotourism
2. Consumer power - change eating and shopping habits, products w/o palm oil, certain brands that ethically produce stuff, rainforest alliance, boycotting companies

Question 9

What is palm oil used for?

Answer 9

cooking oil, bread, cakes, chocolate, candles, soap, detergents and etc.