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Geography > People and the Biosphere > Flashcards

People and the Biosphere Flashcards

1
Q

what is an ecosystem?

A

a grouping of plants and animals that interact with each other and their local environment

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2
Q

what is a biome?

A

a large scale ecosystem

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3
Q

what are the qualities of the vegetation in the desert biome?

A

plants are scarce and having water storing features

plants have spines instead of leaves and extensive root systems

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4
Q

what is the climate like in the desert biome? Where is the desert biome on the globe?

A

very hot all year with cool nights and very low rainfall

close to the tropics of cancer and Capricorn

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5
Q

what are the qualities of vegetation in the tropical biome?

A

dense forests with several layers of trees competing for light

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6
Q

what is the climate like in the tropical biome?

A

hot all year with lots of rainfall

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7
Q

where is the tropical biome on the globe?

A

either side of the equator

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8
Q

what are the qualities of vegetation in the tundra biome?

A

very few plants, mostly lichens and mosses

trees are rare and small

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9
Q

what is the climate like in the tundra biome?

A

temperatures below freezing most of the year
only gets to 10 degrees in summer
short days
little rainfall

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10
Q

where is the tundra biome on the globe?

A

within the arctic circle

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11
Q

what are the qualities of vegetation in the taiga biome?

A

coniferous trees

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12
Q

what is the climate like in the taiga biome?

A

mild summers
very cold winters
average rainfall

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13
Q

where is the taiga biome located on the globe?

A

high latitudes where the suns rays are weak

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14
Q

what is the vegetation like in the temperate biome?

A

deciduous trees

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15
Q

what is the climate like in the temperate biome?

A

warm summers
cool winters
precipitation all year

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16
Q

where is the temperate biome on the globe?

A

below tundra

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17
Q

what is biodiversity?

A

the variety of biotic components in an ecosystem

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18
Q

what do nutrient cycles show?

A

how biotic and abiotic components interact

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19
Q

what do the arrow sizes show on a nutrient cycle?

A

the size of the nutrient transfer between each store

20
Q

how does altitude affect the distribution of biomes?

A

different plants grow at different temperatures, the higher the altitude the lower the temperature

21
Q

how does rock and soil type affect the distribution of biomes?

A

soils can be acidic, alkaline or neutral depending on the rock type

22
Q

how does drainage affect the distribution of biomes?

A

some plants can grow with their roots in waterlogged soil or boggy areas whilst others prefer drier soils

23
Q

in what ways does the biosphere provide medicine?

how many drugs have rain forest origins?

A

poppies are the source of the painkiller morphine
the aloe plant has soothing properties
the periwinkle plant is used to treat leukaemia and Hodgkin’s disease
7000

24
Q

in what ways does the biosphere provide food?

A

natural vegetation can be replaced by crops like wheat and rice
sustainable harvesting of fruits and berries
fish and meat

25
Q

in what ways does the biosphere provide fuel?

A

woof from trees and shrubs
animal dung
bio-fuels

26
Q

in what ways does the biosphere provide building materials?

A

timber is essential for construction
animal dung mixed with clay and straw to make bricks
straw is used for roofing and insulation

27
Q

how does the biosphere regulate the water cycle?

A

plants intercept rain water reducing surface run off

plants increase infiltration

28
Q

how does the biosphere keep soil healthy?

A

leaves decompose which returns nutrients to the soil, making it fertile, allowing more plants to grow

29
Q

how does the biosphere regulate the gases that make up the atmosphere?

A

plants absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen for us the breathe in
animals respire producing oxygen

30
Q

what is Malthus’ theory?

A

it is impossible to increase food production as rapidly as population growth therefore if a population was allowed to grow too much the food supply will run out and people will die, reducing the population size

31
Q

what is Boserup’s theory?

A

human innovation will be sparked by demands on resources so if there is high demand for food resources, new techniques will be developed to increase production

32
Q

what are biotic factors?

A

the living part of a biome made up of plant and animal life

33
Q

what are abiotic factors?

A

non living part of a biome including the soil, atmosphere, rock and water

34
Q

what are flora?

A

the plants of a particular region or habitat

35
Q

what are fauna?

A

the animals of a particular region or habitat

36
Q

what is drainage?

A

the ability of soil to allow water to flow away

37
Q

how does water exploit the biosphere?

A

increasing water demands has led to more agriculture and industry which needs water

38
Q

how does energy exploit the biosphere?

A

increased energy demands had led to the growth of biofuels, mining and dams meaning large areas of vegetation must be cleared
oil underground can cause pollution

39
Q

how do mineral resources exploit the biosphere?

A

when mined, large areas of land must be cleared which reduces biodiversity in that area
access to coal made easier by removing mountain tops

40
Q

how does fallout affect the nutrient cycle?

A

dead plants and animals become litter on the soil surface

41
Q

how does runoff affect the nutrient cycle?

A

water washes litter away, removing nutrients

42
Q

how does growth/uptake affect the nutrient cycle?

A

as plants grow, they take nutrients from the soil

43
Q

how does leaching affect the nutrient cycle?

A

nutrients are washed out of the soil as water moves through

44
Q

how does decay affect the nutrient cycle?

A

litter decomposes, returning nutrients to the soil

45
Q

how much % more do we extract from the biosphere today than 30 years ago?

A

50%

46
Q

how many times more do people in developed countries consume resources than those in developing countries?

A

10 times

47
Q

why have emerging countries experienced the greatest increase in resource consumption globally?

A

they have industrialised causing rapid urbanisation

Geography (8 decks)

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