Fragile Ecosystems

Question 1

What does change in an ecosystem affect

Answer 1

Any change in one part of your ecosystem will have an effect on all of the other parts.

Question 2

What can bring about change

Answer 2

A period of unusually dry or wet weather.
A disease that affects plants or animals.
The arrival of an alien species of plant or animal.

Question 3

What are fragile ecosystems

Answer 3

Some ecosystems are extremely vulnerable due to disturbances especially as a result of human activities. These are fragile ecosystems , and it’s more difficult for them to readjust. Permanent changes to the ecosystem may occur.

Question 4

What does it mean if an ecosystem is resilient

Answer 4

Most ecosystems will be changed for a period of time but will eventually regulate themselves and go back to normal, such ecosystems are said to be resilient.

Question 5

What is deforestation

Answer 5

He large scale cutting down of rainforests

Question 6

Why are rainforests being destroyed

Answer 6

Land for farming.
Logging.
Mining.
Transport.

Question 7

Fill in this diagram

Answer 7

1. Dead leaves and animal waste fall all year round.
2. Decomposes release the nutrients from them.
3. The soil down here is poor because the nutrients don’t get a chance to sink in.
4. The roots quickly take up the nutrients again.
5. The nutrients help the vegetation grow.

Question 8

What’s the intact nutrient cycle before deforestation

Answer 8

Question 9

What’s the broken nutrient cycle after deforestation

Answer 9

Question 10

What human activities lead to fragile ecosystems

Answer 10

• polluting the environment,
• extracting resources,
•global warming,
• farming,
• development,
• tourism,
• transport.