Unit 1

Question 1

What is an ecosystem?

Answer 1

A set of interacting, interdependent biotic and abiotic components

Question 2

What is the definition of a biotic component?

Answer 2

living organisms in an ecosystem e.g. different species of animals

Question 3

What is the definition of abiotic components?

Answer 3

these are non - living components e.g. climate and weather

Question 4

What is the definition of a habitat?

Answer 4

where an organism lives, meets all the environmental conditions that an organism needs to survive

Question 5

What is the definition of a biome?

Answer 5

is a large scale ecosystem, and is controlled by climatic zones

Question 6

What are the four types of terrestrial ecosystems?

Answer 6

• mountains/tundra
• grassland
• desert
• forest

Question 7

What are the two types of aquatic ecosystems?

Answer 7

• freshwater
• marine

Question 8

What is an example of a tundra biome?

Answer 8

Doll - sheep national refuge, Alaska

Question 9

What is the distribution of Tundra biome?

Answer 9

two types:
- Arctic, Northern
- Alpine (mountains)

Question 10

What is the climate and key features of a tundra biome?

Answer 10

climate = cold, frosty climate
key features = low biotic diversity
= simple vegetation

Question 11

What is an example of Desert biome?

Answer 11

Sahara desert

Question 12

What is the distribution of the desert biome?

Answer 12

Cover 1/5 of the Earth’s land surface

Question 13

What is the climate and the key features of the desert biome?

Answer 13

climate = hot and dry temperature
= 20 - 40 degrees
key features = lack of vegetation and precipitation, only specialised species

Question 14

What is an example of the Grassland biome?

Answer 14

Colorado, Prairee North America

Question 15

What is the distribution of the grasslands biome?

Answer 15

Various regions either north or south of the equator i.e. Australia

Question 16

What is the climate and key features of the grassland biome?

Answer 16

climate = temperature range is very large, dry and wet seasons
key features = dominant vegetation
= 38 degree summer, very cold winter

Question 17

What is an example of the forest biome?

Answer 17

Tropical rainforest e.g. Amazon Rainforest

Question 18

What is the distribution of the forest biome?

Answer 18

Within the tropics

Question 19

What is the climate and key features of the forest biome?

Answer 19

climate = limited seasonal variability, avg. temp is 20 degrees
= 250cm annual precipitation
key features = dominated by large tropical trees and high biodiversity

Question 20

What is an example of the temperate biome?

Answer 20

Wisconsin woods, California

Question 21

What is the distribution of the temperate biome?

Answer 21

North America, Asia and Western and Central Europe

Question 22

What is the climate and the key features of the temperate biome?

Answer 22

climate = temp varies between -30 to 30 degrees
= 150cm precipitation
key features = soil is fertile
= biodiversity

Question 23

What is an ‘ecosystem service’?

Answer 23

when biodiversity of ecosystems provides numerous benefits to people

Question 24

What are Direct or Provisional Services?

Answer 24

• food and supplies
• energy
• medicine and clothing
• e.g. Amazon tribe
• TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM ECOSYSTEMS

Question 25

What are Indirect or Regulatory Services?

Answer 25

- regulate climate - purification of water - wetlands - recycling and removal of chemicals - mangroves, they offer protection and good for fish and biodiversity - ECONOMIC VALUE OF ECOSYSTEMS

Question 26

What are Cultural or Ethical Services?

Answer 26

- VALUE, WHAT WE LEAVE FOR THE FUTURE - the way the ecosystems look - loss of biodiversity, depleted world - what we have left for future generations - not measured by economics

Question 27

What are the five constituents of wellbeing?

Answer 27

- security - basic materials for good life - health - good social relations - freedom of choice and action

Question 28

Globally, air pollution leads to how many premature deaths yearly?

Answer 28

3.3 million

Question 29

What % of fish stocks are depleted?

Answer 29

75%

Question 30

How many hectares of tropical rainforest are cleared annually?

Answer 30

13 million hectares

Question 31

Why is viewing ecosystems in pure economic terms a flawed approach?

Answer 31

Don't consider the environmental benefits: - air purification, CO2 storage, food, wildlife habitat plants used for medication biodiversity important economically

Question 32

What is the price difference between the economic costs of using ecosystems compared to the benefits?

Answer 32

cost = £231,000,000 benefits = £546,000,000

Question 33

What is the Anthropocene?

Answer 33

Age of humans we determine natures survival

Question 34

What damage have we caused to global ecosystems? How many trees have we killed?

Answer 34

3 trillion trees

Question 35

In the last 50 years, by how much was the population of wildlife animals reduced by?

Answer 35

60%

Question 36

How can we reduce the damage to ecosystems, establish sustainable ecosystem services in the future?

Answer 36

- reduce impact - phasing out fossil fuels - upgrading to efficient food production - properly manage oceans

Question 37

How do you phase out fossil fuels?

Answer 37

by switching to renewable energy will slow global warming and ocean acidification

Question 38

What is the Knepp Wildlands and when was it started?

Answer 38

A rewilding project in West Sussex, started in 2001, they have restored an intensive farm to a naturally functioning ecosystem.