Geography - Ecosystems and Biodiversity

A set of flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to ecosystems and biodiversity as presented in the lecture notes.

Ecosystem

A natural system in which a community of plants and animals interacts with each other and their physical environment.

Biome

A large scale ecosystem that has a distinctive climate, e.g., desert, tropical rainforest.

Temperature Gradient

Temperature decreases from the equator, caused by lower levels of insulation due to the curvature of the earth.

Precipitation Patterns

Driven by alternating pressure bands, with different levels of precipitation at various latitudes.

Biosphere

Part of the earth and its atmosphere capable of supporting living organisms.

Resources

A stock or supply of an item that is useful for human consumption, such as food, medicine, building materials, and fuel.

Deciduous Woodland

A type of forest characterized by trees that lose their leaves in winter, often found in temperate climates.

Vegetation Stratification

The layering of vegetation in ecosystems, which helps maximize light exposure and nutrient availability.

Threats to Ecosystems

Factors such as deforestation and climate change that negatively impact ecosystems and their biodiversity.

Competition for Light

The interaction among plants in an ecosystem where species vie for sunlight, leading to adaptations in structure and growth.

Adaptations in Animals

Special characteristics that enable animals to survive in their habitats, such as camouflage or specialized feeding mechanisms.