What are ecosytems? Flashcards
(10 cards)
What is an ecosystem?
An ecosystem is a community of plants and animals which interact with each other and with their non-living environment.
What does the flora and fauna of an ecosystem depend on?
The types of plants and animals that grow or live in an environment depend on factors such as climate, soil, rock type and relief.
What is the relation between the different parts of an ecosystem?
The parts of an ecosystem are closely related and each affects the others. This is important because if one component changes, then so will the others.
What is the variation of size between different ecosystems?
Ecosystems can vary enormously in scale. They range from small ponds and hedgerows to whole rainforests stretching thousands of kilometres across continents.
What is a biome?
A very large ecosystem such as a rainforest is called a biome.
What is the vegetation of a biome determined by?
The vegetation in a biome is largely determined by climatic factors such as temperature, rainfall, sunshine and wind.
What has the impact of human activity been on ecosystems in recent times?
In recent times, ecosystems have been increasingly altered and even destroyed by human activity.
How has Brazil been impacted by human activity?
In Brazil, for example, 40 per cent of the original 7 rainforest has been cleared for development.
How has Scandinavia been impacted by human activity?
Across Scandinavia huge areas of coniferous forest-are slowly dying from air pollution called acid rain.
What can you say about the links between all the components of a simple ecosystem, and what are these components?
In every ecosystem every single factor has an impact on one another in some way. The6 main components of a simple ecosystem are living creatures, climate, rocks and soil, vegetation, and energy from the sun.
