P1B Living world Flashcards
(38 cards)
1
Q
define ecosystem
A
a community of plants/animals (biotic factors) that interact with each other and their physical environment (abiotic factors)
2
Q
describe the location of rainforest biomes
A
on/around the equator, between the tropics, across the globe, largest Amazon in south america
3
Q
describe the conditions of rainforest biomes
A
- hot/wet/humid climate all year
- greatest biodiversity+productivity due to greatest biomass
- high rainfall all year
- due to Hadley cell circulation forming warm/moist air around the equator
4
Q
describe reasons why there are high levels of biodiversity in rainforests (3)
A
- lots of sunlight+rain - plants can grow well due to faster rate of photosynthesis
- large areas of rainforest left untouched by humans - variety of nature can thrive
- canopy structure - many habitats for plants/animals to grow/live
5
Q
describe the location of desert biomes
A
near tropics 30 degrees N+S of equator, across the globe, largest is Sahara in north africa
6
Q
describe the conditions of desert biomes
A
- hot/dry climate in day, cold at night
- thin/sandy soil
- very low rainfall
- lack of plants+species, few adapted to drought
7
Q
describe food webs
A
a network of food chains (plants+animals) relying on each other for food
8
Q
describe the hierarchy of a food chain (5)
A
producer (gets energy from sun by photosynthesis)
-> primary consumer
-> secondary consumer
-> tertiary consumer/apex predator
-> decomposer
9
Q
describe the structure of a rainforest (5)
A
- emergents: leaves have drip tips to shed heavy rain
- upper canopy: tall/thin trunks to reach sunlight, woody vines (lianas) climb to reach sunlight
- lower canopy/ understory: dense vegetation
- shrub layer/ forest floor: buttress roots support trees, litter layer of decaying vegetation
- shallow soil
10
Q
describe the condition of rainforest soil
A
- low in nutrients, infertile
- due to leached soil by heavy rainfall + abundance of vegetation (high competition)
- deforestation further leaches the soil due to less interception/ surface storage
11
Q
state rainforest plant adaptations (5)
A
- emergents have no branches - conserves energy needed to grow upwards for sunlight
- buttress roots - wide+triangular to stabilise tall/thin trees
- tree leaves - drip tips drain excess water during heavy rainfall, large surface area to absorb maximum amount of light for photosynthesis, waxy upper layer reduces water absorption
- pitcher plants - traps insects in sticky water inside to digest nutrients, source of food as leached soil lacks nutrients
- epiphytes - plants that grow on surface of another plant + gets nutrients from air+rain, don’t use much energy to grow upwards, benefit from lots of sunlight
12
Q
state rainforest animal adaptations (5)
A
- tail - assists with climbing+ balance (spider monkey)
- large eyes - help vision in dense/dark lower canopy (tarsiers)
- strong/long claws - help grip branches (toucan)
- long/strong limbs - assist with climbing (spider monkey)
- camouflage - hiding from predators or sneak up on prey (frogs)
13
Q
state the causes of deforestation (7)
A
- LOGGING: timber for homes/furniture or pulp for paper, either selective logging (cutting most valuable/minimum required amount) or clear-cutting/felling
- MINERAL EXTRACTION: forests cleared for open-cast mines, minerals found underneath Amazon rainforest eg. iron/ gold/ bauxite
- (HEP) ENERGY DEVELOPMENT large areas of forest flooded for dams/reservoirs, displaces people+animals, dams have a short life as become blocked with soil washed by heavy rain, eg. Jirau dam on Madeira river Brazil
- COMMERCIAL CATTLE FARMING: causes 80% deforestation + responsible for 340million tonnes carbon release, land has a short life as pasture quality declines quickly so more land is cleared
- COMMERCIAL CROP FARMING: forest cleared for palm oil/ soy plantations, due to high demand for resources, soil won’t sustain crops for long so more land cleared, eg. sugar cane used for biofuel / palm oil farmed in Indonesia
- ROAD BUILDING: built to bring in equipment+ bring products out, opens up dense parts of forests for development, many roads unusable during wettest parts of the yr unless paved, eg. Trans-Amazonian Highway
- SETTLEMENT/ POPULATION GROWTH: housing for forest workers, families need homes+ services+ jobs, eg. Parauapebas Brazil- iron ore mining town
14
Q
state local impacts of deforestation (5)
A
- DECLINE OF INDIGENOUS TRIBES: forced out of forest by road building/ logging/ plantations/ farms/ opening of mines, struggle to adjust from traditional living to modern towns, loss of forest knowledge of medicinal species
- SOIL EROSION: exposed topsoil removed by heavy rainfall, soil loses fertility so plants struggle to grow, so pastures/plantations abandoned due to low fertility so more areas cleared
- RIVER POLLUTION: mercury used in gold mining pollutes rivers, poisons fish habitats+ human drinking water in nearby towns, soil also pollutes rivers when washed away
- LOCAL CLIMATE CHANGE: disrupts water cycle (less transpiration as trees removed), lack of moisture so drier climate, water isn’t being recycled so hotter climate, bad conditions for agriculture
- CONFLICT: between indigenous people+ loggers, between developers+ conservationists
15
Q
state global impacts of deforestation (2)
A
- GLOBAL WARMING: less trees absorbing CO2, carbon released when wood burned, contributes to greenhouse effect+ climate change, responsible for 20% of global warming emissions
- LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY: loss of habitats-> species endangered or extinct, loss of medicines/cures to diseases
16
Q
state positive impacts of deforestation (4)
A
- EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES: felling/ mining/ farming/ road building
- BUILDING MATERIALS: timber/ minerals
- FOOD: native food crops eg. fruit/nuts, crops grown in farmland
- FARMLAND: crops/cattle
17
Q
state ways to manage rainforests sustainably at an international level (3)
A
- SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY TREATIES: restricts hardwood (mahogany/teak) trade from rainforests, eg. FSC/ Tropical Timber Agreement 2006, banning illegal logging
- DEBT REDUCTION/DEBT FOR NATURE SWAP: countries borrow money from HICs to fund development in exchange for agreement of conservation, eg. USA gave Brazil £13.5m for Amazon protection
- CONSERVATION/EDUCATION BY NGOs: buy threatened areas to create nature reserves, promote conservation through education in schools/training, eg. Rainforest Alliance ensure source of products (bananas/chocolate) is managed sustainably
18
Q
state ways to manage rainforests sustainably at a local level (3)
A
- SELECTIVE LOGGING+REPLANTING: replanting cleared areas with seedlings of the same specie to protect biodiversity, protects soil from being exposed-> being leached/washed away, eg. Selective Management Scheme Malaysia 1997- selective logging of mature trees over 40yr cycle ensures trees can restore themselves+ carry on growing
- ECOTOURISM: generates income for local people/government, protecting trees for sightseeing rather than felling for short-term profit, creates local jobs (Costa Rica/Malaysia/ Amazon- guided hikes)
- LOCAL CONSERVATION/EDUCATION: area preserved as national parks/nature reserves, areas used for education+ scientific research
19
Q
state goods provided by rainforests (6)
A
- native food crops (fruit/nuts)
- meat/fish
- building materials (timber) / minerals (Amazon- gold/iron/bauxite)
- energy from HEP (Jirau dam, Madeira river, Brazil)
- water
- medicines
20
Q
state services provided by rainforests (6)
A
- air purification (trees absorb CO2)
- water+ nutrient recycling
- protection against soil erosion
- wildlife habitats
- biodiversity
- employment
21
Q
describe the population distribution of Alaska
A
- most live in main southern cities: Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau (capital)
- north is sparsely populated- colder and more remote
- most live around Pacific ocean in south- no permafrost so milder waters, good fishing+ easier boat travel
22
Q
describe the climate and conditions of Barrow, Alaska
A
- extremely cold, very little rainfall, dry winds, very cold winters, annual temp -26 to 12 C
- soil poor in nutrients, permafrost, low biodiversity, sparsely populated
23
Q
describe conditional issues tundra plants face and adaptations (4)
A
- permafrost- shallow roots in active layer
- poor drainage (due to permafrost+ active layer melting during summer)- bog-loving plants eg. mosses/lichens
- low insolation/ weak sun and a short growing season w 24hr sun- plants grow+reproduce rapidly
- strong winds- ground-hugging plants, short in height, woolly plants trap warmth
24
Q
describe tundra plants and their adaptations (2)
A
- ARCTIC WILLOW: shallow roots to avoid permafrost, short in height, branches creep over ground (ground-hugging) to trap warmth
- ARCTIC POPPY: tiny leaves limit transpiration as lack of water, grows+reproduces rapidly in short growing season, tiny black hairs absorb sunlight
25
describe a polar bear's adaptations (7)
* small furry ears+ short tail+ short muzzle reduce heat loss
* thick body fat/ blubber (10cm)- insulation, energy source when food sources depleted, buoyancy when swimming+ avoids using energy to keep their head out of water
* carnivores w/ high fat diet- energy
* large paws spread weight over unstable ice/snow
* thick fur on paw pads to insulate+ for grip
* dig dens in snow to provide insulation in extreme cold
* clear fur (reflects light)- camouflage+ hiding in plain sight in snow
26
describe Alaska's development opportunities (4)
* FISHING INDUSTRY: cold coastal waters have good fish stocks, fish provide food/oil/resources for natives
* MINERAL EXTRACTION: gold/silver/iron/copper, valuable minerals under tundra
* TOURISM: seasonal visitors for hiking/ skiing/ sight-seeing, 1.9 million visitors in 2019
* ENERGY: fossil fuels, eg. Prudhoe Bay oil fields, previously glaciated valleys now used for HEP plants, geothermal harnessed from tectonically active sites
27
state challenges to development of infrastructure in Alaska (2)
* solifluction: when active layer melts the soil becomes lubricated+ causes a mudslide, uneven ground causes collapse
* permafrost melting: active layer melts deeper - old foundations of buildings are left unsupported and sink
28
state ways of protecting infrastructure in Alaska (6)
* utilities carried by pipes (utilidors) rather than underground so it doesn't freeze
* deep foundations into permafrost to stabilise
* jack up one side of a building to keep it level
* don't allow water under the building so it doesn't freeze+expand
* triple-glazed windows+ double insulated walls/roofs to retain heat
* steep-sided roofs so snow doesn't collect+ cause collapse
29
state challenges to oil production in Alaska (6)
* extreme cold (-40C in winter) - unpleasant working conditions
* frozen ground difficult to build on
* sources (Prudhoe Bay) far from oil markets (Valdez port)
* isolated location
* causes permafrost to melt
* tectonically active area
30
state challenges with climate/weather when creating the Trans-Alaskan Pipeline (2)
* surface thawing+ movement in summer (due to metal expansion)- causes pipe to buckle/collapse
* high snowfall- causes collapse
31
describe attempted solutions used when creating the Trans-Alaskan Pipeline to solve challenges in the tundra environment (6)
* pipeline built on stilts: reduce melting of permafrost, allow animal migration underneath
* teflon sliders: allow movement during earth tremors+ when the metal expands/buckles in summer
* deep foundations into active layer: stability
* refrigeration units underground: regulate temperature underground so permafrost doesn't melt
* pipeline insulated: reduce heat energy transfer to surroundings which melts permafrost
* suspension bridges: carry pipeline across rivers to reach trading ports
32
describe benefits of the Trans-Alaskan Pipeline (4)
* Alaska Permanent Fund: interest from oil profits paid to every resident (up to $2000/yr) to help with living in a remote state
* provides jobs (100,000): contributes to a third of state earnings
* education healthcare: paid by taxes from oil industry
* doesn't interfere with caribou migration (as it is raised above ground)
33
state what happened and what was done after the Exxon Valdez oil spill 1989
* Exxon spent $2billion+ fined $5billion
* local fishermen hired to clean up oil
* oil remained on rocks for 20-30yrs,
* oil spread quickly over Prince William Sound due to offshore wind+ few oil booms available
34
describe environmental cons of the pipeline and Exxon Valdez oil spill (6)
X tundra vegetation damaged by construction- slow regeneration
X pipeline crosses caribou migration- affects feeding+ breeding patterns
X underground pipeline thaws ground- permafrost melts, causes unsuitable vegetation growing conditions
OIL SPILL
X spilled oil can become trapped in ice- remains there until spring, poisons wildlife+ plants cannot grow
X poisons oceans-> wildlife- pod of orcas lost 15 of 22 members, haven't produced a calf since
35
describe economic pros+cons of the Trans-Alaskan pipeline (2+1)
/ oil industry supports third of all Alaska jobs (10,000)
/ taxes from industry pay for services (education/healthcare)
X people moving to renewable energy- oil revenue decrease in past 10yrs
X overproduction of oil across globe- price of oil has fallen- Alaska lost $2.7b in oil profits 2016
36
describe social pros+cons of the Trans-Alaskan pipeline (2+2)
/ taxes from oil industry provide schools/ airports/ roads/ landfills/ healthcare/ powered homes for families- better quality of life
/ Alaska Permanent Fund- helps living in a remote state (£2000/yr)
X noise from oil exploration could force bowhead whales further offshore which becomes dangerous for whalers
X area is home to Alaska native villages which are destroyed
37
describe political pros of the TA pipeline (2)
/ reduces America's dependence on foreign oil
/ Alaska has no state sales tax or income tax- relies on oil revenue to pay for services (state troopers/ roads)
38
describe the main points of the Antarctic Treaty (6)
* demilitarised zone
* nuclear free
* used for collaborative science only
* territorial claims are permanently suspended
* free exchange of info
* any UN member may sign up
