The Living World Flashcards
(18 cards)
What is an ecosystem
A community of living organisms interacting with the non living environment
Name two examples of a small scale ecosystem in the UK
woodland, pond
where are tropical rainforests found
Near the equator between the tropic of cancer and the tropic of capricorn
What are the adaptations of rainforest plants
Shallow roots (easier for water absorption, absorbs nutrients before leached), Drip tips (Water can run off easier), wide leaves (maximum sunlight absorbtion) and buttress roots ( stability for trees, poor soil and strong winds)
Name three causes of deforestation in the Amazon
Palm oil plantation, mining, road building
What is ecotourism
a form of sustainable tourism that focuses on protecting the environment and supporting new communities for money
What is selective logging
a sustainable way of logging where only old trees are being cut down. This reduces damage to the surrounding forest and it allows younger trees to grow
What is permafrost
permanently frozen ground that remains below 0ºC for 2 years
Name some strategies that allow buildings to adapt to permafrost
built on stilts so permafrost does not melt
Name 3 economic gains in Malaysia deforestation
- development for farming and mining
- space for palm oil and rubber
- access to find minerals eg gold
Name 3 economic losses in Malaysia deforestation
- Plants which can provide huge medical benefits and high profits could go extinct
- number of tourists who are attracted to rainforests decrease
- climate change could have economic costs as people have to adapt to living in a warmer world
Number of jobs in Svalbard Svea mine
300 jobs
Number of people who visited Svalbard a year.
70,000 people
Number of species of fish in Svalbard
150 species of fish
What is the main economic activity in svalbard
coal mining
Why is geothermal energy important in Svalbard
It is a sustainable resource used in Longyearbyen to reduce fossil fuel use
Name a challenge in working in Svalbard’s cold environment
Extreme temperatures and long periods of darkness
What is the trans-Alaskan pipeline
It enables oil to be transported 1300km from Prudhoe bay to Valdez
