EQ1 - 7.1 The Earth is home to a number of very large ecosystems the distribution of which is affected by climate and other factors. Flashcards Preview

Geography - C3 Topic 7 - People and the Biosphere > EQ1 - 7.1 The Earth is home to a number of very large ecosystems the distribution of which is affected by climate and other factors. > Flashcards

Flashcards in EQ1 - 7.1 The Earth is home to a number of very large ecosystems the distribution of which is affected by climate and other factors. Deck (16)
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1
Q

What is an ecosystem?

A

The study of the biotic and abiotic aspects of an environment such as a woodland where the living things interact between each other and also with the non-living environment they are found within.

2
Q

What is a biome?

A

Large scale ecosystem found across the globe; each bone has its own group of plants, animals and climate which makes it unique and distinctive.

3
Q

What are the characteristics of a tropical rainforest?

A
  • Hot all year - 25-30C.
  • Wet all year (200-3000mm annual precipitation).
  • Dense forests with several layers of trees, with other plants competing for light.
4
Q

What are the characteristics of tropical grasslands?

A
  • Hot all year 25-35C.
  • 500MM-1000MM of rainfall annually - always tie a dry season.
  • Tall grasses, with some drought-adapted shrubs and trees.
5
Q

What are the characteristics of deserts?

A
  • Hot all year, 30C+.
  • Cool nights.
  • Very low rainfall. 250MM- per year.
  • Plants are scarce and have water storing features, spines instead of leaves and extensive root systems.
6
Q

What are the features of Temperate Grasslands?

A
  • Hot in summer 25C
  • Very cold in summer - can reach -40C
  • 500-900MM of rainfall per year, most in late spring/summer.
  • Short grasses with very few trees and bushes.
7
Q

What are the characteristics of Boreal (Taiga) Forests?

A
  • Mild summers - 10-20C.
  • Very cold winters - below 0.
  • Low precipitation 500MM - which is mainly in summer.
  • Coniferous tress such as pine.
8
Q

What are the characteristics of Tundra?

A
  • Temperatures below 0C for most of the year.
  • Reaches 10C in summer.
  • Low precipitation. 250MM-
  • Short daylight hours in winter.
  • Very few plants can live here, mostly lichens and mosses.
  • Trees rare and stunted.
9
Q

What are the four factors that affect biome distribution?

A

Rock type.
Soils.
Altitude.
Drainage.

10
Q

How does the local factor rock type affect biome distribution?

A
  • Some are easily weathered to form soils.
  • Different rock types have different minerals.
  • Minerals affect how rich the soil is in nutrients.
  • Permeable rocks allow water to flow through them.
  • Impermeable rocks don’t allow water to flow through them.
11
Q

How does the local factor altitude affect biome distribution?

A
  • Higher altitudes are colder, therefore, less plants grow.
  • Higher the altitude means less animal species there too.
  • Not much organic matter, so soils are thin or non-existent.
12
Q

How does the local factor soil type affect biome distribution?

A
  • More nutrient-rich soils can support more plants.

- Acidity and drainage of soils vary, affecting the plants that can grow.

13
Q

How does the local factor drainage affect biome distribution?

A
  • If drainage is poor, soil gets waterlogged and only plants adapted to wet conditions can grow there.
  • Very wet areas may be home to aquatic species of plants and animals.
14
Q

How does water affect biotic and abiotic components of the biome?

A
  • Affects the plants that grow.

- Plants take in water from the soil and release it into the atmosphere, providing moisture for further rainfall.

15
Q

How does the type and density of vegetation affect the type of soil it forms and the type of vegetation grows from the affected soil?

A
  • Dense vegetation cover and lots of leaf fall means that lots of nutrients will be added to the soil, which can then support more plant growth.
16
Q

What happens when some organisms create biological weathering?

A
  • Rocks in the ground are broken up into smaller pieces by living things.