unit two content Flashcards
(34 cards)
biotic
a living organsim, such as plants, animals, fungi, bacteria.
abiotic
a non living feature of the environment such as water, sunlight, soil, air.
lithosphere
the soil and rock crust of the earth and its core of molten rock (earth)
atmosphere
the gases that surround the earth
hydrosphere
all water on earth makes up the hydrosphere (it is found in the atmosphere as rain, oceans, rivers and lakes)
biosphere
a shell that surrounds the earth which is approximately 20km from the deepest oceans to the highest mountains
this shell includes all life on earth and humans can only exist (without assistance) within 4km from this shell
humans have the most impact on the atmosphere (fossil fuels)
producers *
plants
consumers *
animals
food chain
follows a simple path as animals eat each other
food web
shows how plants and animals are interconnected by different paths (many connections)
list a simple food chain
sun producers (plants) primary consumers (rabbit) secondary consumers (owl) decomposers (fungi)
role of a decomposer
breakdown organic material and use the decomposition products to supply themselves with energy e.g; fungi
why are decomposers important
without decomposers, important elements would remain permanently in dead organisms and therefore remain unavailable for use by new generations of organisms
what would be the consequence of removing a component of the ecosystem
disrupts flow of energy limits food sources for predators reduces biodiversity habitat disruption can lead to an imbalance in the ecosystem by increasing the population of an organisms prey
direct impact
are those caused by the action and occur at the same time and place, usually observable
indirect impact
are those that are caused by the action but not immediately. the happen before an event or later in time but are still reasonably foreseeable
snow making machine indirect
- snowmaking machines are large and costly, manufacturing can alter ecosystems / landscapes
- snow making occurs when water levels re low meaning water needs to be transported up the mountain. transportation uses energy burning fuel which pollutes the environment
snow making machine direct
- depletion of water sources in order to make fake snow. negative impacts flora and fauna which rely heavily on the water source
- snow season is extended which places extra strain on the environment leaving it little time to regenerate
what are three effects of natural changes
fire
flood
succession -primary and secondary
primary succession
the change to an area where no soil has existed before (first time)
secondary succession
when a developed ecosystem (soil already exists) gets interrupted by natural distasters (fire, fuels, human destruction e.g. logging farming)
secondary succession occurs faster than primary as the environment has already been developed.
fire
indigenous Australians used to use fire stick farming
controlled burn which rejuvenated the land controlled where the animas moved (for hunting purposes), reduced fuel load
europeans came and stopped fire stick farming. this increased fires and fuel load
flood
leads to finical loss, loss of lives, significant loss around farming (livestock crops)
indigenous interactions
nomadic lifestyle - indigenous australians moved around depending on the seasoning weather
hunter gatherer - the practise of collecting food sources through hunting and collecting
firestick farming