The living world

What is biotic and abiotic?

biotic all living components of an ecosystem and abiotic all non-living

What are producers and consumers?

produces convert energy from environment into glucose
consumers gets energy from glucose made from producers

What are herbivores and carnivores?

herbivores primary consumers and carnivores are secondary consumers

What are decomposers and biomass?

decomposers breaks down material and returns nutrients
biomass total quantity of organisms in given area

What are the five steps of the nutrient cycle?

plants use sunlight , CO2 and nutrients to grow
leaves and plants die and fall to the floor
fungi and bacteria breaks down leaves
nutrients are absorbed by the plant roots
nutrients stored in dead matter and are returned to the soil

How are nutrient lost and added?

Nutrients lost - animals using it to respire - whole organism is not eaten - leaching
Nutrients added - by animals droppings and their death
weathered rock gives soil nutrients - nutrients in raindrops are added to the soil

What factors cause an ecosystem to change?

climate change - diseases - hunting - drought - deforestation

What are the animals in Epping forest?

producer - shrubs - oak , elm and ash - grass
primary consumers - insects - rabbits - worms
secondary consumers - fox - owl - badger - mouse
decomposers - over 700 species of fungi

What is the Epping forest life cycle of trees?

trees are deciduos so they lose their leaves - forest floor is covered in leaves - in winter decomposers break down leafs - soil is then more fertile and ready for spring - leaves return in spring

What are the three characterisitics of a tropical rainforest?

climate - hot all year and lots of precipitation
soil infertile as rain often carries nutrients away and most nutrients are found at the surface
vegetation emergents above other trees get most sunlight - canopy competes for sun but has strong light levels - under canopy little sunlight , hot and damp - shrub less plants 2% sun

What are some plant adaptations?

buttress roots large wide roots so can grow tall to get most sunlight + shallow roots so can take all the nutrients
emergents trees grow tall fast so they can get most sun meaning they can continue to grow and get all the nutrients
drip tips allows excess water to drip off leaf so algae growing blocking the sunlight and stopping photosynthesis

What ares some animal adaptations?

parrots sharp curved beak to crack nuts - bright colours to camoflage with vivid coloured flowers and fruits sloths strong claws means strong grip to hang in canopy wheres there more food - green algae in fur to camoflage

How are tropical rainforests interdependent?

trees need forest floor because roots take up nutrients helps tree grow - forest floor needs trees as roots take nutrients - soil need trees as roots take up water to live and needs forest floor as its nutrients leach into the soil - animals need trees to eat leaves and berries - forest floor needs animals because when they die it gains the nutrients

What is biodiversity and some tropical rainforest facts about it?

biodiversity is range of plants and animals found in an area
have hot + wet conditions which is ideal for dense plant growth - 50% of all land animals are in tropical rainforests + most of these are in the canopy as there is maximum light

What are foue reasons for increase in deforestation?

population increases meaning more food demand
increase in demand for enrgy
land cleared for new roads and mining
land needed for more cattle ranches

What are four reasons for decreas in deforestation?

increase public awareness leads to things like replanting
increase in eco-friendly tourism
more regulations
international agreements and debt reduction agreements

What are 3 specific causes of deforestation in the Amazon?

energy development unlimted supply of water and ideal river conditions means theres lots of dams - 75% of Brazils energy - dams are short life and easily blocked
cattle farming large area are cleared - accounts for 80% of deforestation
logging companies want teak and mahogany to sell in other countries - 80% is illegal

What are some economic gains of deforestation in the Amazon?

companies pay taxes which can improve public services
hydroelectric power provides cheap energy for locals
developments in areas like farming and mining creates jobs

What are some economic losses of deforestation in the Amazon?

pollution of water could lead to shortages
number of tourists could decrease
plants that bring medical benefits could be destroyed

What are some of the values to the people of a tropical rainforest?

local rainfall creats HE power for people - provides employment - tribes live and dependent on the forest
global 25% medicine comes from rainforest - lots of resources come from the forest like vanilla

What are some of the values to the environment of a tropical rainforest?

local evaporation helps cool the air - shelters and binds the soil to prevent erosion
global 50% of worlds plants and animals - lungs of the world - both- important source of freshwater

What is sustainable management?

allowing people today to get the things they need but without stopping people in the future from getting what they need

What six things you can do for rainforest sustainability?

eco tourism locals earn money and help preserve rainforests and educate visitors
debt reduction HICs agree to write off debts to help the rainforest - e.g 2010 USA signed an agreement writing of debt
conservation countries set up national parks
education important so future generations will protect forest
selective logging only cutting the trees you need
replanting should be the sam tree to keep biodiveristy - e.g farmers in the Amazon have to replant 80% of their land