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Geography > Unit 1 - Section B - The living world > Flashcards

Unit 1 - Section B - The living world Flashcards

1
Q

What is a biotic factor to an Ecosystem?

A

A living factor like plants and animals

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2
Q

What is an abiotic factor to an ecosystem?

A

A non living factor like soil and climate of an area

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3
Q

What is a producer?

A

A producer uses sunlight to produce its own food like grass

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4
Q

What is a consumer?

A

A consumer gets its energy by eating other organisms by either eating a producer (Like rabbits eat grass) or another consumer (like foxes eat rabbits)

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5
Q

What is a decomposer?

A

An organism that gets its energy by breaking down dead material such as dead leaves or animal remains. Bacteria and fungi are examples of decomposers

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6
Q

What is nutrient cycling?

A

.When dead material decomposes, nutrients are released into the soil
.The nutrients are taken up from the soil by plants
.The plants are then eaten by consumers
.When the consumers die, the nutrients are then returned to the soil
.The process repeats

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7
Q

Define the term food chain

A

A food chain is a list of organisms in a habitat that show their feeding relationship

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8
Q

Define the term food web

A

A network of interconnected food chains

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9
Q

Define the term interdependence

A

When organisms depend on each other for survival

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10
Q

Where are Tundra’s found?

A

.High latitudes (Above 60 degrees north)
.In areas of northern Europe, Canada and Alaska

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11
Q

Define the term biodiveristy

A

The variety of species within an ecosystem

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12
Q

What is a predator?

A

Species at the top of the food chain

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13
Q

What is an ecosystem?

A

A community of plants and animals that interact with each other and their physical environment

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14
Q

What are the characteristics of a tundra?

A

.Very cold winters
.Brief summers
.Little to no rainfall
.Lack of trees

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15
Q

Where are boreal forests (Taiga) located?

A

.Found between 50-60 degrees north

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16
Q

What are the characteristics of a boreal forest (Taiga)?

A

.Winters are cold and dry
.Summers are mild and moist
.Trees are coniferous

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17
Q

Where are tropical rainforests located?

A

Found around the equator and between the tropics

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18
Q

What are the characteristics of a tropical rainforest?

A

.Hot and wet all year round
.Dense canopies of vegetation forming distinct layers

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19
Q

What are the characteristics of a hot desert?

A

.Little to no rainfall
.Very hot during the day and very cold at night
.Shrubs and cacti are sparsely dispersed in the sandy soil

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20
Q

Where are hot deserts normally found?

A

15-30 degrees north of the equator

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21
Q

Where are polar ecosystems normally found?

A

.North and South poles

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22
Q

What are the main characteristics of a polar ecosystem?

A

.Cold and icy dry
.They remain dark for several months of the year
.Growing season is only around 2 months

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23
Q

Where are temperate deciduous forests located?

A

Found mainly mid latitudes

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24
Q

What are the characteristics of temperate deciduous forests?

A

.Four distinct seasons
.Summers are warm, winters are relatively mild
.Rainfall all year round
.Deciduous trees lose their leaves in winter to cope with colder weather

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25
Q

Where is Savannah grassland located?

A

Between the tropics

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26
Q

What are the 2 types of grassland?

A

.Savannah
.Temperate

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27
Q

Where is temperate grassland located?

A

Higher latitudes

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28
Q

What are the characteristics of savannah grassland?

A

.Distinct dry and wet seasons
.Rainfall is still relatively low however
.Most vegetation is mostly grass with a few scattered trees

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29
Q

What are the characteristics of temperate grassland?

A

.More variation in temperature
.Less rainfall and no trees

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30
Q

What is the climate like in tropical rainforests?

A

Same all year round with no definite seasons

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31
Q

What is the temperature like in tropical rainforests?

A

.Hot
.Around 20-28 degrees Celsius

32
Q

How are the factors of a rainforest dependent of each other?

A

.Warm and wet climate helps fungi and bacteria on the forest floor decompose dead matter quicker which makes the surface soil high in nutrients

.Plants then pass on their nutrients when eaten by other animals. the dense vegetation therefore provides a lot of food for animals meaning animal population is high

33
Q

What is rainfall like in tropical rainforests?

A

.High
.Around 2000mm per year
.It rains every day

34
Q

How are trees in a tropical rainforest adatped?

A

.Trees grow tall to compete for sunlight
.Many trees have smooth and thin bark which helps water runoff easily
.They have large buttress roots to support the tall trees

35
Q

How are plants in a tropical rainforest adapted?

A

.Thick waxy leaves with pointed drip tips to repel the rain and ensure water runs off the plant so the weight of the water doesn’t damage the plant

.Climbing plants like lianas use trees to climb and reach the sunlight

.Plants drop their leaves gradually throughout the year meaning they can go on growing throughout the year

36
Q

How are animals in a tropical rainforest adapted to the environment?

A

.Some animals are camouflaged to hide from predators

.Some animals have a strong sense of smell to detect predators as they live in the low light conditions

.Many animals can swim to help them cross river channels (Jaguars)

.Tree frogs have suction cups to help them climb trees

.Flying squirrels have flaps of skin to help them glide from tree to tree

37
Q

Why does deforestation occur in tropical rainforests?

A

.Commercial farming
.Subsistence farming,
.Commercial logging
.Mineral extraction
.Energy development
.Population growth
.Road building

38
Q

What is the main cause of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest?

A

Commercial farming
65-70% of deforestation is for commercial farming in the Amazon rainforest

.In the Amazon rainforest. 200 million cattle is on 450 000 km2 of pasture

.And up to 250 000 km2 of former forest have been used for soy production

39
Q

What is commercial farming in the Amazon rainforest

A

.The forest is cleared to make space for cattle grazing and for planting soy
.In Brazil there are around 200 million cattle on 450 000 km2 of pasture
.Rice, corn and sugar cane are also being grown
.This is the main cause of deforestation in the Amazon

40
Q

How is subsistence farming impacting the Amazon rainforest?

A

Forest is cleared by small scale farmers who need land to grow for themselves and their families which means more deforestation

41
Q

How is commercial logging impacting the Amazon rainforest?

A

The amazon is full of valuable logs like mahogany which makes logging tempting to both illegal and legal businesses which means more deforestation

42
Q

Why is energy development impacting the Amazon rainforest?

A

.Building hydroelectric dams flood large areas of the forest
.The construction of the Balbina dam flooded 2400Km2 of rainforest

43
Q

Why is population growth impacting the Amazon rainforest?

A

Population growth and migration are putting pressure on the Amazon rainforest especially as the Brazilian government offers people land in the rainforest

44
Q

Why is mineral extraction impacting the Amazon rainforest?

A

Gold, iron ore and copper are mined and exported to help boost countries’ development

45
Q

Why is road building impacting the Amazon rainforest?

A

.The 4000km Trans-Amazonian highway connects the Brazilian coast to Peru which goes through the rainforest
.As more roads are built for logging more of the rainforest is being cut down

46
Q

How is soil erosion impacting the Amazon rainforest?

A

.Brazil is losing up to 100 tonnes of topsoil each year
This may cause landslides and flooding in the future

.With less tree canopy to intercept rainfall and fewer roots to absorb it
More water reaches soil which reduces soil fertility as nutrients are washed away

.Commercial and subsistence farmers are then forced to find new areas of the rainforest and therefore more deforestation occurs

47
Q

How is climate change impacting the Amazon rainforest?

A

Trees remove CO2 from the atmosphere
The Amazon stores 140 billion tonnes of CO2

Deforestation releases some of this which causes climate change
Up to 75% of Brazil’s CO2 emissions come from deforestation

48
Q

How is economic development impacting the Amazon rainforest?

A

.Economic development has brought wealth to many Amazonian countries
Brazil exported $600 million of beef
Brazil is the second largest exporter of soy

.The mining industry creates jobs for many people
The Buenaventura mining company in Peru employs over 8000 people

.Logging contributes a large amount to Brazil’s economy
But it can destroy resources that countries depend on and reduce the countries attractiveness to tourists

49
Q

Why are tropical rainforests so valuable?

A

.Many products like coffee, rubber and chocolate are sourced from the rainforest
.Ecotourism offers long term economic benefits
.Protecting rainforests reduces the greenhouse effect by reducing CO2 emissions and allowing trees to continue absorbing CO2
.Some impacts of rainforest destruction (Climate change) impact several countries not just one
.Rainforests help regulate the climate and water cycle without them the risk of droughts and flooding can increase

50
Q

What are the ways to make a rainforest more sustainable?

A

.Replanting
.Selective logging
.Ecotourism
.Education
.Conservation
.Reducing debt
.International hardwood agreements

51
Q

What is replanting?

A

This is when new trees are planted to replace the ones that were cut down

It’s important that the trees replanted matches the trees cut down

52
Q

What is selective logging?

A

Only some trees are felled. Most trees therefore remain

This is less damaging to the forest then clearing a whole area as the structure remains

53
Q

What is ecotourism?

A

Ecotourism minimizes damage done to the environment and benefits local people

Only a certain amount of people can visit at a certain time

Ecotourism provides a source of income for local people and raises awareness of the conservation issues

54
Q

What is education in terms of a tropical rainforest?

A

Educating the international community about the impacts of deforestation can encourage people to buy products from sustainable resources

This reduces damage to rainforests

55
Q

What is debt reduction in terms of tropical rainforests?

A

Many tropical rainforests are found in lower income countries which borrow money from other wealthier countries

The money must be paid back

Therefore, reducing debt means countries don’t have to do this and the rainforests can be conserved

56
Q

What is conservation in terms of rainforests?

A

Many countries have set up national parks and nature reserves within rainforests

However, areas of damaging activities are restricted

However, a lack of funds can make it hard to police the restrictions

So, some countries have set up funds with overseas governments and businesses can invest in

The money is to enforce the restrictions

57
Q

What are the international hardwood agreements?

A

High demand for hardwood from consumers in rich countries means that hardwood trees are rare as more are cut down

There are agreements to ensure less are cut down and to prevent illegal logging

58
Q

Which animals are found in polar areas?

A

.Polar bears
.Penguins
.Whales
.Seals

59
Q

Which animals are found in tundra areas?

A

.Lemmings
.Wolves
.Reindeer

60
Q

What is the temperature like in polar regions?

A

.Normally below freeing
.In winter around -40 degrees c to - 90 degrees c

61
Q

What is precipitation like in polar regions?

A

.Low
.Less than 100mm a year

62
Q

What is the temperature like in tundra regions?

A

.Cold
.Warm months around 10 degrees
.winters can plunge to around -50 degrees

63
Q

What is precipitation like in in tundra regions?

A

.Less than 380mm

64
Q

What is the soil like in polar regions?

A

The soil is covered in ice sheets meaning no soil is exposed

65
Q

What is the soil like in tundra regions?

A

.Thin, acidic and not very fertile
.Beneath the soil is a layer of permafrost holding trapped greenhouse gases

66
Q

Which plants are found in polar regions?

A

.Lichens
.Mosses
.Grasses

67
Q

Which plants are found in tundras?

A

.Bearberry shrubs
.Lichens
.Mosses
.Grasses
.Some short trees in warmer areas

68
Q

How is interdependence shown in cold environments?

A

.The cold climate causes plants to row slowly and decompose slowly
.This means that there is relatively low nutrients in the soil
.This limits plant growth

.Therefore herbivores like reindeers must migrate to where plants grow and carnivores must follow

.In summer when a tundra has greater plant cover
.They absorb the heat from the sun which prevents the permafrost from thawing
.The permafrost also provides water for the plants

69
Q

How have plants adapted to survive in a cold environment?

A

.Most plants are dormant (inactive) to survive the cold and dark winters
.Plants are low growing and round shaped to avoid the wind
.Plants have shallow roots because of the permafrost beneath the soil layer
.Many plants have a growing season of only 50-60 days as summers are short

70
Q

How have animals adapted to survive cold environments?

A

.Animals like polar bears have thick fur to reduce the amount of energy needed to keep warm
.Animals are also well insulated and/or have layers of blubber (seals) for the same reason
.Animals like artic squirrels hibernate to conserve energy and survive the winter
.Birds like arctic terns migrate to warmer areas in winter
.Many animals like arctic foxes and hares have white camouflage to hide from the predators or to sneak up on prey

71
Q

Do cold environments have a high or low biodiversity?

A

Low

72
Q

What is the impact of a low biodiversity?

A

.If the population of one species changes in can impact the population of other dependent species

73
Q

What are the opportunities for development in Alaska?

A

-Energy development - Over half of Alaska’s income comes from oil and gas industry. Most oils are found in Prudhoe bay which are transported via the Trans Alaskan pipeline

-Mineral resources - Minerals like gold, silver, copper and iron are mined in Alaska especially in the Tintina gold belt where in 2015 $154 million worth of gold was exported from Alaska

-Tourism - Each year there are around 2 million tourists visiting Alaska each providing 39,000 job opportunities for people

-Fishing - In 1026 Alaska’s fishing industry had a value of $1.7 billion and employed over 30,000 fishermen

74
Q

What are the challenges to development in cold environments?

A

.Extreme temperature - Prudhoe’ Bay’s mean annual temperature is -9 degrees C and extreme weather conditions like strong wind and snow makes working outside really dangerous and therefore opportunities are limited

.Daylight hours - Barrow in north Alaska is in darkness for up to 7 days in winter but in summer may see 80 days of uninterrupted sunlight

.Inaccessibility - Alaska is a long way from the rest of the U.S. In winter sometimes the only way to travel is through the expensive air travel or dangerous icy roads. In addition people in small towns may not get the full employment opportunities due to their remote location

.Buildings and infrastructure - Providing buildings and infrastructure that copes with the frozen and or soft ground and the extreme weather is expensive. in addition most construction can only take place in summer when days are longer and temperatures are warmer

75
Q

Why are cold environments valuable?

A

.They provide habitats for organisms that couldn’t survive anywhere else
.Scientists can study natural environments including landforms, plants and animals that are unaffected by people
.Studying cold environments can help scientists replicate the same conditions. This can help preserve rare species

76
Q

Why are cold environments fragile?

A

.Plant growth is slow therefore if a plant gets damaged it’ll take a while for it to regrow
.Species are highly specialized so find it difficult to adapt to change. Their numbers are decreasing as sea ice melts each year

77
Q

What are the strategies to balance economic development with conservation?

A

.International agreements - Some cold environments are protected by international agreements (Antarctica). The 1959 Antarctic treaty signed by 12 nations limits cruise ships with over 500 passengers stopping, nuclear activities and non military activities on Antarctica. this allows tourism but in a controlled way so it won’t harm the environment

.Technology - Modern construction methods minimize the environmental impacts of building as heated buildings can melt permafrost which causes subsidence which could cause pipes to crack

.Conservation groups - Groups like greenspace and the WWF pressure governments to protect cold environments which leads to more sustainable development

.The role of governments - The 1964 wilderness act protects designated wilderness areas like the majority of Alaska from development which reduces conflict over land use in wilderness areas

Geography (5 decks)

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