geo chud

Biome

A large ecological area defined by its distinct climate, vegetation, animal life, and soil characteristics.

Five major global biomes

Tundra, desert, grassland, forest, and aquatic (freshwater and marine).

Spatial distribution of the tundra biome

Found at high northern latitudes, primarily within the Arctic Circle across northern Canada, Russia, and Greenland.

Difference between a food chain and a food web

A food chain follows a single energy pathway, whereas a food web consists of multiple interconnected chains where removing one species can impact the whole ecosystem.

Four main processes of the carbon cycle

Photosynthesis, respiration, combustion, and decomposition.

Three main stages of the water cycle

Evaporation, condensation, and precipitation (followed by runoff).

Environmental equilibrium

A state of dynamic balance between living organisms and available resources within an ecosystem.

Trigger and outcome of an Australian mice plague

Heavy rainfall produces bumper grain crops, providing abundant food that leads to rapid breeding; when food sources deplete, the population undergoes an abrupt collapse.

Environmental impacts of open-cut mining

Complete vegetation clearance, habitat destruction, soil erosion, air pollution from dust, and potential water source contamination.

Key steps in mine site rehabilitation

Reshaping the altered landscape, replacing original topsoil, and replanting native vegetation to restore ecological stability.

Urbanisation

The demographic and geographic shift of populations moving from rural areas into towns and cities.

Common urban pull factors

Greater employment opportunities, reliable public transport, advanced education, accessible healthcare, diverse entertainment, and higher-density housing.

Mega city

An urban agglomeration or metropolitan area with a total population exceeding 10 million people.

Reasons Australia has no mega cities

A low overall national population, low population density, and settlement patterns dispersed across several separate coastal capital cities.

Urban renewal

The planned redevelopment of decayed or disused urban industrial sites (such as Barangaroo or Darling Harbour) to improve liveability, commercial activity, and green space.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

The total monetary value of all finished goods and services produced within a country over a specific time frame.

Distinction between GDP and standard of living

GDP measures strictly economic output, whereas standard of living measures general human wellbeing, including health, education, security, and equality.

Key indicators of human wellbeing

Life expectancy, adult literacy rate, access to clean water, average income, healthcare quality, and the Human Development Index (HDI).

Wildlife corridor

A continuous strip of natural vegetation linking fragmented habitats, allowing animals to travel, breed, and forage safely across human-modified landscapes.