Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Geography > Global Ecosystems and Importance > Flashcards

Global Ecosystems and Importance Flashcards

(69 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

Ecosystem

A

The relationship between living and non-living organisms in an environment.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Biome

A

A world scale ecosystem

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Biosphere

A

Part of the Earth’s surface inhabited by living things

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Environment

A

The physical surroundings where plants and animals live

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Examples of non-living environment and their name?

A

Rocks, soil, the air and climate
Abiotic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Examples of living environment and their name?

A

Animals, birds, fish, insects and people
Biotic features

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Natural ecosystem

A

A community of plants and animals unaffected by human activity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Name 7 biomes

A

Tundra, Temperate forest, Boreal forest, Desert, Tropical grassland, Tropical rainforest, Temperate grassland

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Tundra
Characteristics?
Vegetation?
Where?

A

Low temps, low rainfall, covered in ice or snow
Little vegetation
Around the North pole

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Boreal forest
Characteristics?
Vegetation?
Where?

A

Seasonal temps, warm summers cold winters
Mostly coniferous trees
Northern hemisphere

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Hot desert
Characteristics?
Vegetation?
Where?

A

High temps, low precipitation
Sparse vegetation
Near tropics

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Tropical grasslands
Characteristics?
Vegetation?
Where?

A

High temps all year, wet and dry seasons
Grassland with scattered shrubs and trees
Near equator

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Tropical rainforest
Characteristics?
Vegetation?
Where?

A

High temps and rainfall all year round
High biodiversity
Around the equator

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Temperate forest
Characteristics?
Vegetation?

A

Distinctive seasons, warm summer, cold winter, moderate rainfall
Deciduous trees

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Temperate grassland
Characteristics?
Vegetation?

A

Seasonal temps, periods of rainfall
Grassland with scattered shrubs and trees

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

7 global factors of distribution of biomes?
3 local factors of distribution of biomes?

A

Latitude; Rain shadow effect; Proximity to oceans; Inter-tropical convergence zone; Convection cell at equator; Tilt of the Earth; Cool air at tropics.
–>Soil, altitude, humans

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Effect of latitude

A

As the latitude increases, the temp decreases
The angle of the suns rays affects the temp

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Convection cell at equator

A

High temps at equator causes evaporation
Vapour condenses forming clouds and heavy rainfall
Area of low pressure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Inter-tropical convergence zone

A

A belt of low pressure that moves north in Jun, creating a wet season, moves south in Jan

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Proximity to oceans

A

Places near oceans have more moderate climates-cooled by the sea in the summer and warmed in winter

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Rain shadow effect

A

High mountains force clouds to rise, cool and release precip. No moisture after, dry biomes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Cool air at tropics

A

Air moves away from equator, cools, sinks, causing high pressure, high temps, low precip

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Tilt of Earth

A

Distance from sun creates seasons, weather patterns, equator remains unaffected

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Local factors:
Altitdue

A

Every 100m gain in height, the temp decreases by 1oc High mountains can have tundras

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Local factors: Soil
Soil conditions change the features of an ecosystem. Poorly drained=swampy areas. Infertile=low biodiversity
26
Local factors: Humans
Humans change the features of ecosystems by deforestation, using resources
27
Examples of goods in TRF?
Paper, wood, cocoa, fruit, minerals, medicine
28
Examples of services in TRF?
Tourism, mining, atmos regulation, biodiversity
29
Over-exploitation
The use of goods and services to the point where it has a profound impact on the environment
30
4 UK Ecosystems
Wetland, Moorland, Heathland, Woodland
31
Moorland Where?What?
Upland areas, too high for crops Rough grassland, heather,grouse
32
Woodland Where?What?
All over Uk Deciduous trees like oak and ash, bluebells and ferns
33
Wetland Where?What?
Mainly in Scotland, drained to make fertile land, few remain Waterlogged soils, bog mosses
34
Heathland Where?What?
Across lowland areas Can be sandy or marshy, sand lizards, marsh gentian
35
4 UK marine ecosystems goods and services
Energy (wind) Energy (oil) Tourism Fishing
36
Marine service: Tourism
250mil people visit UK coast
37
Marine service: Fishing
UK fishing fleet is 7th largest in EU
38
Marine good: Energy (oil)
UK has oil reserves of around 24 bil barrels
39
Marine good: Energy(wind)
London Array is world's biggest wind farm
40
4 ways we degrade our marine environment
Overfishing Large wind farms Waste Eutrophication
41
Overfishing affecting the marine environment?
Overexploitation-fish stocks at very low levels
42
Eutrophication affecting the marine environment?
Fertilisers washed into rivers, lack of sunlight to plants, plants can die
43
Large wind farms affecting the marine environment?
Produces electricity, destroys landscape and plant life
44
Waste affecting the marine environment?
Sewage being released into oceans and rivers
45
Differences to the gersmehl model in TRF and deciduous woodland?
TRF has larger biomass due to more optimum conditions Smaller soil store in TRF due to heat causing quick cycles The cycle is slower in deciduous woodland
46
Description of Gersmehl model in deciduous woodland?
Fairly equal stores, biomass bigger due to precipitation and summer warmth
47
Description of Gersmehl model in TRF?
Large biomass store, high biodiversity. Small soil store, high uptake and leaching
48
2 examples of interdependency in TRF?
Plants need soil, water sunlight Butterflies that pollinate flowers
49
4 layers of the TRF?
Forest floor, under canopy, canopy, emergents
50
Forest floor?
Dark, high decomposition, tigers
51
Under canopy?
In shade of big trees, tree frogs
52
Canopy?
Overlapping branches, more sunlight, monkeys
53
Emergents?
Most sunlight, few trees, eagles
54
Gersmehl model 3 stores? 3 pathways and def?
Biomass, soil, litter Uptake pathway- between soil and biomass, biomass takes nutrients from the soil Fallout pathway- between biomass and litter, leaves and dead animals fall to litter Decay pathway- between litter and soil, release nutrients
55
Gersmehl model 2 gains? 2 losses?
Gain from precipitation, rainfall into litter Gain from weathering, break down of rocks release nutrients Loss by run off, nutrients removed when water runs off surface Loss by leaching, nutrients leave soil, seep deeper into rocks
56
Food chain 5 types of consumers in order?
Producers-->primary consumers-->secondary consumers-->tertiary consumers-->decomposers
57
2 plant adaptations in TRF? 2 animal adaptations in TRF?
Buttress roots- roots above the soil, stability, thin nutrient rich soil Drip tip leaves- pointy leaves to funnel water off, lot of rain -Sloths- still for long enough, algae grows, helps camouflage -Poison dart frog- brightly coloured skin, warns then releases toxins that kill predators
58
3 ways climate change will affect the TRF?
Structure--> trees will have deep roots to reach groundwater Function--> less dense forest, absorb less CO2, lower atmos regulation Biodiversity--> temps are very similar all year, species won't cope with fluctuations and risk becoming extinct
59
2 economic causes of deforestation in TRF?
Resource extraction- gold price increased, trees cut down to make room for excavation sites Commercial logging- illegally cutting down rare trees like Rosewood to make money
60
2 social reasons for deforestation TRF?
-Cattle ranching- high demand for meat, makes up 80% of deforestation, needs large amount of space -Population growth- 1940 Brazil introduced immunisations, more space and materials needed for housing
61
Governance? Commodity value? Ecotourism?
Actions the government have taken to protect the Amazon Actions that change the price of goods to sustain TRFs Tourism that doesn't harm the environment
62
3 sustainable management strats of Amazon rainforest?
Reducing demand of illegal enterprises- green frog certifications show the enterprise is sustainable, encourages people to buy Monitoring- REDD scheme guides activities in the Amazon to reduce emissions Entrance fees- paid by tourists, invested in conservation and education projects
63
Layers of deciduous woodland and what is found there?
Forest floor- mosses and lichens Shrub- bluebells and brambles Under canopy- saplings, birch and maple trees Canopy- oak, beech trees
64
2 plant adaptations in deciduous woodland? 2 animal adaptations in deciduous woodland?
Oak tree- Drops leaves, due to lack of sunlight, conserves energy and water Bluebells- flower early, maximise light access before other trees come into leaf -Birds- migrate to warmer conditions in winter -Squirrels- store food to eat in winter
65
Deciduous woodland 2 goods? 2 services?
Goods: fuel-> wood burning stoves, timber-> construction of houses Services: conservation-> visits to woodlands are managed, recreation-> activities like GoApe canopy walkways
66
2 economic causes of deforestation in deciduous woodlands?
-Land in UK is suitable for farming, profitable -Timber extraction of softwood trees to sell
67
2 social causes of deforestation in deciduous woodlands?
-Population increase, woodland cleared for housing -Increase in cars, cleared for road construction
68
3 ways climate change will affect deciduous woodlands?
Structure--> droughts lead to more forest fires Function--> disrupt process like seed germination as they are triggered by cold temps Biodiversity--> tree species that don't adapt to seasonal changes will die out
69
4 sustainable management strats of the New Forest
-Coniferous trees cut for timber are replaced to maintain no of them -Reduced work in Summer to not disturb nesting birds -Pesticides and herbicides are used sparingly to avoid damage -Electric charging points are in the National Park to encourage electric vehicles

Geography (20 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions