People and The Biosphere Flashcards
(39 cards)
1
Q
Biome
A
global-scale ecosystem like tropical rainforest or temperate grassland
2
Q
ecosystem
A
biological community of interdependent factors
3
Q
biotic factor
A
living organism that shapes its environment
4
Q
abiotic factor
A
non-living organism that shapes its environment
5
Q
What local factors can alter the biome distribution locally?
A
- altitude
- rock
- soil type
- drainage
6
Q
How does altitude affect biome distribution?
A
- higher altitude = more precipiation
- higher = steeper slopes + soils are thinner
- vegetation changes with altitude because of temp and precipiation
- temp decreases
7
Q
location,climate,vegetation
Tropical rainforest
A
- Location: near equator
- Climate: warm temp + high rainfall
- Vegetation: high biodiversity
8
Q
location,climate,vegetation
Temperate forests
A
- Location: 30-60 latitude (UK)
- Climate: mild temp, mod rainfall
- Vegetation: deciduous trees
9
Q
location,climate,vegetation
Boreal forests
A
- Location: High latitudes (Canada)
- Climate: cold winters, cool summers, low rain
- Vegetation: coniferous trees
10
Q
location,climate,vegetation
Tropical grasslands
A
- Location: near equator
- Climate: warm, seasonal rainfall
- Vegetation: grasslands with scattered trees
11
Q
location,climate,vegetation
Temperate grasslands
A
- Location: mid-latitudes
- Climate: hot summer, cold winter, mod rain
- Vegetation: grass
12
Q
location,climate,vegetation
Deserts
A
- Location: low latitudes
- Climate: very hot/cold, little rain
- Vegetation: cacti, drought-resistant plants
13
Q
location,climate,vegetation
Tundra
A
- Location: high latitudes
- Climate: cold, low rain
- Vegetation: moss, lichens
14
Q
List biotic and abiotic factors
A
Biotic
* flora
* fauna
Abiotic
* soils
* rock
* water
* atmosphere
15
Q
2 characteristics of temperate forest biomes
A
- rain all year round
- deciduous trees
- seasonal climate
- nutrient rich soils
- covers UK
16
Q
How does geology affect biomes?
A
- permeable rock - allow water to soak through them
- permeability is a factor
17
Q
Describe the nutrient cycle
A
- B = Biomass
- S = Soil
- L = Leaf litter
- B -> L = leaves fall
- L –> S = decomposition
- S -> B = plant uptake (roots)
- L = rainfall causes flooding - washes nutrients away + speeds up decomposition, surface runoff
- S = Leaching, weathered rocks = nutrients (windy), brings nutrients
18
Q
sandy soil
A
- pale coloured
- small air gaps
- supports rye, barley and some root crops
19
Q
clay soil
A
- orange/bluish sticky soil
- few air gaps
- impermeable
- puddles stay on top of soil for a long time
- holds nutrients well
- supports wheat, grass
20
Q
Biosphere
A
living layer of earth between lithosphere and the atmosphere
21
Q
uses of the biosphere
A
- food
- fuel resources
- building matierals
- medicine
22
Q
Food from biosphere
A
- fish/meat
- sustainable harvesting of fruits, berries and nuts
23
Q
Medicine from biosphere
A
- Poppies - source of painkiller morphine
- periwinkle - treats leukaemia and Hodgkins disease
- Aloe plant - soothing properties - used in cosmetics
24
Q
Fuel resources from biosphere
A
- wood from trees/shrubs
- Animal dung dried and burnt
- biofuels convert plant products to fuel through a range of diff processes
25
Building materials from biosphere
* timber, for construction from trees
* animal dung mixed with clay and straw to make bricks
* straw, dry stalks of cereal plants used for roofing and insulation
26
dangers of commercial exploitation
* deforestation for timber or rearing cattle - cause mathane/pollution
* indigenous ppl impacted by oil and logging companies
* mining metal ore like cu and fe
* construction of dams to supply water to cities - dams destroy habitats
27
How can soil become damaged by the loss of vegetation?
* nutrients come from plants and loss leads to lower soil health
* vegetation and soil are interdependent
28
Hydrological cycle - water regulation
* trees infiltrade water - intercept, absorb, transpire water - stop flooding
* flooding = nutrients washed away
* ecosystems purify water and make it clean
29
regulation of atmosphere
* biospere maintains GG in atmos
* forest areas - carbon sinks
* process of locking up carbon is called carbon sequestration
* carbon stored in trees, soils, sea rocks
30
Reasons for high demand for resources
* fast fashion - cotton
* rising pop
* energy
* changing diets - west - more beef and ultra processes
* industriablsiton
* war
* for clean water
* urbanisation
* people getting richer
31
MINT
Mexico, indonesia, nigeria, turkey
emerging
32
BRIC
Brazil. russia, india, china
33
Population theory
malthus - pessimistic
boserup - optimistic
34
Malthuses theory
* we will reach a point of crisis - good will decrease populatio
* there will be a balance
* pop will increase more quickly
35
Boserup theory
* people will never hit the point of crisis
* technology will have a solution
36
Evidence for boserup
* mechanisation and irrigation - tractors in agriculture increased productivity - irrigation methods - possible to grow crops in arid areas
* rice terracing in asia - rice terraces made to increase food production in mountainous areas
* Modern medicine
* GM crops - drough resistant crops
37
evidence for malthus
* Food insecurity - poor rely on food importants and internaitonal aid
* desertification and water shortages - overpopulation = ruining of arable land and water svarcity
* Benagl famine - due to war mismanagement and weath - died of starvaion
38
Ways to increase food supply
* GM crops
* machinery
* pesticides
39
Why does Boserup think that resources will never run out?
when pop grows new resources are created because of a larger pool of innovative scientists
