Sustaining Ecosystems✅

this topic lowkey has way too much content anyways i hope charles leclerc wins the japanese grand prix

What is an ecosystem

the living organisms in a particular area, together with the non-living components of the environment.

Definition of an ecosystem in terms of interdependence

the interdependence of climate, soil, water, plants and animals

Where are Tropical Rainforests typically found?

• Tropical rainforests are found close to the Equator

• within the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn

Where are Hot Deserts found?

• Most hot deserts are found near the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn,

• between 15-30° north and south of the Equator.

Where are temperate forests found

• They are located further north.

• eastern North America,

• central and western Europe

Where are Polar Regions found?

• Polar regions are found towards the north and south pole

• above the Arctic and Antarctic circles

Where are Coral Reefs found?

• Coral reefs are found within 30° north and south of the Equator

• in tropical and subtropical oceans close to the coast.

What is the climate of polar regions?

• 250mm of rainfall a year

• average temperature less than 0°C

• cold and dry.

What flora and fauna are found in polar regions?

• Mosses, lichens, grasses, shrubs

• polar bears, seals, owls, foxes.

What is the climate of coral reefs?

• High temperatures

• water between 23°C and 29°C

What flora and fauna are found in coral reefs?

• Zooxanthellae, algae, seagrass

• Starfish, seahorse, clownfish.

What is the climate of grasslands?

20°C to 30°C Up to 90cm of rain a year.

What flora and fauna are found in grasslands?

• Long grass, some trees

• Zebra, elephant, lion, cheetah.

What is the climate of temperate forests?

• Warm summers

• 75 to 150cm of rain per year

• Winter may freeze but not for long.

What flora and fauna are found in temperate forests?

• Trees, lichen, moss

• Squirrels, owls, mice, birds.

What is the climate of tropical forests?

• Hot and wet

• 25°C to 30°C

• 200 to 400cm of rain a year

What flora and fauna are found in tropical rainforests?

Tall trees, shrubs, ferns Snakes, birds, sloths, monkeys.

What is the climate of hot deserts?

• Less than 25cm of rain a year

• up to 38°C in the day

• below 0°C at night.

What flora and fauna are found in hot deserts?

• Succulents, trees

• rattlesnakes, scorpions, camels.

What is the climate of tropical rainforests?

• Temperatures between 22°C and 32°C

• heavy convectional rain.

How does the nutrient cycle work in tropical rainforests?

Decaying vegetation decomposes rapidly due to hot, damp conditions → Nutrients enter soil → Shallow roots absorb nutrients → Trees grow and shed leaves, repeating the cycle.

What is the soil profile of tropical rainforests?

• Thin litter decomposes rapidly

• Shallow topsoil of decomposed organic matter and minerals

• Deep sub-soil - due to weathering, underlying rock weathers quickly

• Soil is low in nutrients as trees absorb them fast.

How does the water cycle work in tropical rainforests?

Heavy daily convectional rain → Trees intercept rain → Roots absorb rainwater → Water evaporates as rainforest heats up → Water condenses into clouds, repeating the cycle.

What goods do rainforests supply on a local scale?

• Wood for cooking and heating

• Indigenous people depend on rainforest materials for food and survival.

What goods do rainforests supply on a global scale?

• Timber, rubber, oils, fibers

• 25% of modern medicines come from rainforest ingredients

• global food supply includes bananas, pineapples

What services do rainforests provide locally?

• 2/3 of Brazil's energy comes from hydroelectric power

• Purifies water for cities

• Controls water flow to prevent droughts and floods.

What services do rainforests provide globally?

• Remove and store 15% of global CO₂ emissions

• evaporated water helps cool the Earth

What human activities impact rainforests?

Tourism, logging, mining.

How does tourism impact rainforests?

• Over 343,000 people visited the Amazon in 2020

• Over-exploitation harms wildlife and plants

• Tourism causes pollution.

What are the benefits of tourism in rainforests?

Creates jobs (hotel staff, tour guides) Ecotourism generates revenue while protecting rainforests.

How does logging impact rainforests?

• 200,000 acres burned per day

• Destroys wildlife habitats, causes flooding and desertification.

What are the benefits of logging?

Large-scale farms bring money and jobs.

Describe and explain the impact of logging on tropical rainforests.

• Logging removes trees used for timber

• 78 million acres burned per year

• disrupts nutrient cycle as leaves don’t decompose into soil

• disrupts water cycle as leaves don’t intercept rain, increasing risk of flooding.

Why are soils nutrient rich in the upper part of the soil profile

• The surface of the soil is warm and wet

• Allowing for nutrients to decompose quickly

• Meaning upper part of soil is nutrient rich

What is Samasati Nature Retreat?

An ecotourism resort in Costa Rica.

What defines ecotourism?

• Minimal environmental damage

• small-scale

• local community consulted before any construction happens

• infrastructure benefits locals.

What is the background of Costa Rica’s rainforests?

• Home to 100 species of mammals and 3,000 plant species

• It has lost two-thirds of its rainforest due to deforestation.

How is accommodation at Samasati made sustainable?

• Timber from afforestation projects

• Natural light and ventilation reduce energy use

• rainwater collected for toilets and showers

• buildings fit between trees

• no heavy machinery used

• only biodegradable shampoos and soaps allowed.

What ecotourism activities are available at Samasati?

Bird watching, canopy exploration, river kayaking, walking, hiking.

How is ecotourism enforced at Samasati?

• Posters remind tourists to respect wildlife

• Follow rules like turning off phones and staying on paths

• Effectiveness depends on tourists’ willingness to follow rules.

How does the Samasati Nature Reserve benefit local people?

Provides jobs Improves quality of life Makes rainforest more valuable standing than cut down.

Plant adaptations in tropical rainforests (general)

• Leaves have gaps

○ To intercept rain water but still allow some to reach the soil

○ Ensuring the water cycle takes place

Plant adaptation in tropical rainforests (canopy, shrub layer)

Shrub layer

• Climbers - have whip like tendons to coil around branches, allowing them to climb up the peak sunlight at the canopy

Canopy

• Lianas - woody vines that spread from tree to tree to get as much sunlight as possible

Describe how 1 animal is adapted to survive in the trf

• Sloths move slowly enough for green algae to grow on their fur

• This algae helps them camouflage and makes it difficult for predators to spot them

How are Epiphytes dependent on other parts of the rainforest

• Epiphytes are plants that grow on other plants.

• They get access to light but growing high up on other plants, but they don't have access to the nutrients in the soil

• they are dependent on rainfall to provide water and nutrients.

How are brazil nuts dependent on other parts of the rainforest

• Agouti (a rodent) are one of the only animals who can crack open the hard seed pod of the Brazil nut to eat the nut inside.

• Sometimes, the agouti buries the nuts - these can sprout into new seedlings.

• If the agouti become extinct, the Brazil nut trees would decline and so could all the other animals who live in or feed on the Brazil nut trees.

• People who sell Brazil nuts for a living would also be affected.

Climate of Antarctica

• Receives less than 3cm of precipitation

• Very cold - lowest temps of around -60

• Summer temps rarely exceed 0 degrees

• Very windy

Features of the land and sea of Antarctica

• There are very tall mountains - average height of 1800m

• It is made of large ice shelves, glaciers, and land-based ice sheets

• The ice sheet grows nearly 7 times bigger from summer to winter

• East Antarctica is made of old igneous rocks; West Antarctica is made of younger rocks

Flora of Antarctica

• There is very little vegetation because Antarctica is mainly made of ice

• Some mosses and lichens

Fauna of Antarctica

• Seals

• Birds

• Penguins

• No mammals due to cold temperatures

Climate of the Arctic

• Milder temp compared to Antarctic

• Winter temps around -40

• In the summer it goes above 0

Features of the land and sea of the Arctic

• Large areas made of permafrost

• During the summer, this thaws, making lakes

• Large areas are marshland or boggy ground

• There are dramatic mountains

• Sea ice develops through winter months, leading to pack ice and icebergs

Flora of the Arctic

• Large expanses of coniferous forests in the southern fringes (taiga), but disappear as you move north

• There are 1700 types of plants e.g. Lichens

Fauna of the Arctic

• You can find animals like polar bears, foxes and reindeers in the Arctic

• Small insects live in the boggy areas during summer months

Adaptations of plants in the Arctic

Lichens cling to the surface of the ground to avoid being damaged by strong winds

Adaptations of animals in the Arctic

Seals have blubber for extra warmth in cold water

How does tourism impact the Arctic

• The tourism industry is booming in Svalbard, Alaska and Greenland

• 8.3 million tourists annually

• Marine mammals that are sensitive to sound are surrounded by noise, which may damage their health

• Tourism can cause harm to indigenous people, diminishing their food resources and infringing on their property

How does fishing impact the Arctic

• Commercial fishing happens seasonally in ice-free areas like the Barents sea

• 58 of 633 species are fished commercially

• Climate change is forcing fish into warmer seas

• Commercial fishing doesn't leave enough fish for indigenous people

• Albatross and other species may get stuck in fishing lines

How does mineral extraction impact the Arctic

• Mineral extraction occurs in Alaska and Canada mainly

• Oil spills can harm environments

• Pipelines melt permafrost, altering migration routes for many mammals

How do indigenous people impact the Arctic

• Inuit people have been living in the Arctic for centuries

• The traditional indigenous way of life is sustainable, because they live in harmony with the natural environment and don't exploit it

How does whaling impact the Arctic

Americans have whaling stations in Alaska Scandinavian countries have whaling ships in Svalbard When whales (predators) are removed, the amount of prey in the ecosystem increases Over-exploitation of whaling led to the near extinction of the Bowhead species

What is the soil like in the Arctic

• Continuous permafrost - always frozen

• Discontinuous permafrost - surrounded by talik and not always frozen

• There is an 'active layer' of soil that thaws in the summer

• Whereas permafrost stays frozen throughout the whole year

Svalbard - population and land use

• It has a population of 2700

• No trees can grow there

• 60% is covered by glaciers, the rest is barren rock or tundra

Tourism statistics in Svalbard

• 300 people have jobs in Svalbard

• In 2011 70k people visited Svalbard

• 30k of these visited by cruise ship

Negative impacts of tourism in Svalbard

Oil spills Oil can spill out of ships, killing wildlife Long term, lots of oil leads to an increase of toxins in the ocean, which contaminates ecosystems   Rubbish May contain hazardous substances, killing marine life Or they may get tangled in it   Wildlife Wildlife may be disturbed Over 120 bears have been shot in self-defence

Positive impacts of tourism in Svalbard

• Employs people (300)

• Cruises provide lectures to educate toursits

• Litter is cleaned up thanks to initiatives like Clean Up Svalbard

Attempts to make tourism more sustainable in Svalbard

• Some tourism companies are environmentally certified

• Most of Svalbard is protected by law

• Initiatives like 'Clean Up Svalbard' encourage tourists to pick up litter or dispose of it later while on ships

• An environmental free of £15 a person was introduced in 2014

Have attempts of sustainable tourism been successful in Svalbard

• Protecting certain sites is a great way for tourism to stay sustainable because it means there are some places that cannot get damaged by tourists.

• It may not bring in as much profit for companies or tour guides, but it protects the environment and the wildlife there

• The 'Clean Up Svalbard' initiative is important because it directly addresses the tourists who are at the root of the littering problem.

• It is a simple way to reduce litter and means that ships can dispose of anything found on land with ease, so it doesn't affect wildlife.

What is the Antarctic Treaty

• An international agreement signed in 1959 by 12 countries

• Now over 50 countries are part of it

• Its aim is to protect Antarctica from resource exploitation and other harmful activities

What are the rules of the Antarctic Treaty

• No mining is allowed

• Fishing is regulated

• Oil spills are banned

• Food waste must be stored then disposed of

• Dogs are banned

• No military activity is allowed

Why is the Treaty sustainable

• It prevents over exploitation of resources, protecting the natural environment

• Minimises pollution

• Protects natural wildlife (e.g. Dogs being banned stops seals getting diseases)

Drawbacks of Treaty

• No enforcement mechanism

• Climate change is not addressed

• Tourism is still increasing

How are water and plants interdependent in polar regions

• Ocean currents create gaps in sea ice

• Increasing light levels in water

• This means algae and other producers make more food

• This causes populations of fish to increase, meaning populations of seals penguins etc will also increase

How are climate and animals interdependent in polar regions

• When temps increase, sea ice melts

• Animals such as polar bears rely on sea ice for breeding and hunting

• So if it disappears, these animals are threatened

How is soil interdependent in polar regions

• In the Arctic tundra, cold temperatures cause plants to grow and decompose slowly.

• This means the soil is low in nutrients, reducing growth rates.

• In the summer, the surface layer of the soil thaws and plant cover increases.

• Plants absorb heat from the sun and prevent the permafrost below from thawing.