Sustaining Ecosystems

Question 1

give an example of a link between components in an ecosystem

Answer 1

pollenators and plants

Question 2

describe the distribution, climate, and plants/animals of tropical rainforests

Answer 2

• centered along the equator, between tropics of cancer and capricorn e.g. south america, central africa and south-east asia, -0-5° latitude
• hot (rarely falling below 22°C) and wet (over 2,000 mm/ yr)
• tall trees form canopy, wide variety of species
• greatest range of animal species, many living in the canopy layer

Question 3

describe the distribution, climate, and plants/animals of deserts

Answer 3

• along the tropics of cancer and capricorn
• hot by day (over 30°C), cold by night. low rainfall (below 300mm/yr)
• lack of plants and few species; adapted to drought
• many animals are small and nocturnal e.g. camel

Question 4

describe the distribution, climate, and plants/animals of tundra

Answer 4

• latitudes 65° north and south of equator
• cold winter and cool summers (below 10°C). low rainfall (below 500mm/yr)
• small plants grow close to the ground only in summer
• low number of species, most found along the coast

Question 5

4 human impacts on rainforests

Answer 5

• logging- interrupts the water cycle leading to flooding and wildfires
• agriculture- removing trees to create room for agriculture makes the soil infertile
• mineral extraction- chemicals from mineral extraction kill wildlife and can get into and pollute drinking water
• tourism- scares wildlife

Question 6

describe the similarities and differences of the polar regions

Answer 6

1. arctic is 60° north and antarctic is 60° south
2. arctic is warmer than the antarctic
3. the arctic consists of drifting pack ice/ frozen sea water whereas the antarctic is land mass covered in an ice sheet
4. the arctic has shrubs and moss whereas the antarctic has a lot less vegetation
5. the arctic has animals like whales, seals, fish, polar bears, reindeer and birds and the antarctic has animals such as whales, seals, penguins and sea birds

Question 7

what is interdependance?

Answer 7

if one biotic/ abiotic element in an ecosystem changes, the others are effected

Question 8

describe 3 ways in which components of the arctic ecosystem are interdependent

Answer 8

• when temperature increase, ice melts
• the cold temperature means that plants grow and decompose slower
• phytoplankton depend on nutrient-rich water and they are the most important producers, so if the water lost it’s nutrients, many primary consumers depend on them, and many secondary consumers depend on primary ones.

Question 9

explain 6 impacts of human activity on the arctic

Answer 9

• over-fishing threatens species
• whaling has caused some species to become near extinction
• scientific research results in littering pollution and sewage/chemical pollution
• oil spills from mineral extraction harm wildlife and extraction of metal causes pollution and damages ecosystems
• tourism increases air travel, creating pollution and tourists trample and litter, harming habitats. introducing un native species changes the ecosystem/web
• indigenous people rely on hunting but many now live in modern cities changing this sustainable hunting into waste, noise and air pollution

Question 10

what is an ice sheet?

Answer 10

a layer of ice built up on top of land

Question 11

what is an ice shelf?

Answer 11

ice that extends out from the land over the sea

Question 12

what is permafrost?

Answer 12

ground that is froxen throughout the year

Question 13

what is tundra?

Answer 13

a cold, treeless region around the poles that has permafrost as one of its defining features

Question 14

what is an understorey?

Answer 14

layer of low shrubs and trees