EOTP

what is an ecosystem?

a community where different organisms live and interact

define abiotic

non-living

define biotic

living

define adaptions

the way plants evolve to cope with specific environmental conditions

define biomass

the total mads of plants and animals in an ecosystem

define biomes

global scale ecosystems

define consumer

organisms that gain energy by eating other organisms

define coniferous forest

forests of conifer trees which are evergreen

describe the process of convectional rainfall

the sun heats water on the land's surface causing it to evaporate and rise, as it rises it cooles and condenses to form precipitation

define coral reefs

marine cities which host many species, found in sub- tropical and tropical oceans within 30 degrees north and south of the equator

define decomposers

organisms eg bacteria which break down plant and animal material

define deciduous forest

forests of trees which lose their leaves in winter

define deforestation

the removal of trees

define emergents

the tallest trees in a rainforest

how tall can emergents reach

as high as 50m

define canopy

a continuous blanket of leaves below the emergent layer

how much sunlight does the canopy layer receive

70%

how much rainfall does the canopy layer receive

80%

define evapotranspiration

the process in which water is transferred from the land to the atmosphere by evaporation from soil other surfaces and transpiration from plants

define fauna

animals

define flora

plants

define food chain

a line of linkages between producers and consumers

define food web

a diagram which shows all the links between producers and consumers in an ecosystem

define frontal rainfall

rainfall caused by warm and cold air mass meeting causing the warm air mass to rise, cool and condense

describe hadley cell

areas near the equator receive highest concentration of heat
warm air rises then cools and condenses
the air forms rainclouds
the stratosphere forces cool air to dissipate
the cool air sinks
forms deserts either side of equator

define interdependence

the mutual reliance between 2 or more groups

define leaching

the dissolving/removing of nutrients from the soil

define mitigate

to make something which could be bad less serious

define natural capital

the value of an ecosystem in terms of its value to humankind

define nutrient cycling

the recycling of nutrients between living organisms and the environment

define orographic rainfall

rainfall which is caused by the uplifting of land which hits warm moist air causing it to rise then cool and condense forming precipitation

define polyp

a small organism consisting of a stomach topped with a mouth and tentacles

define producers

organisms which obtain their energy from primary energy sources

example of a producer

the sun

define shrub layer

lowest layer to a rainforest where only small trees and shrubs adapted to living in shade can survive

define symbiotic relationship

a mutually beneficial relationship between 2 biotic factors

define transpiration

the exhalation of water vapour through the stomata of a plant

define tundra

area where ground is permafrost

describe growth in a tundra

treeless however small shrubs up to 2m can grow

define under canopy

the rainforest layer consisting of trees growing up to 20m

define weathering

the breakdown of rock through the contact of the atmosphere, water and organisms

define xerophytic

plants which are adapted to an environment with very little water

define zooxanthellae

plants/algae living in the tissue of coral polyps

tropical rainforests are found…

in a discontinuous band along the equator, often near savannas

temperate forests are found…

in a discontinuous band near the south, often below temperate grasslands

prevailing winds bring weather…

that reflects the surface they have just blown over

latitude affects…

the amount of solar radiation received at the earth's surface

a warm ocean current will…

bring heat with it and raise coastal temperatures

a cold ocean current will…

cause temperatures to fall below levels expected at that latitude

where do UK prevailing winds come from

the south west

6 things which affect climates in different ecosystems

latitude ocean currents prevailing winds altitude and rainfall

define latitude

distance north or south of the equator

define altitude

height above sea level

temperatures fall about 1 degree for every…

150m height gained

why does altitude affect climate

the atmosphere is less dense so less solar heat is trapped and more energy is lost

why does altitude and rainfall affect climate

due to relief rainfall higher altitude means more precipitation

what is the biggest grassland on earth and how much does it stretch

eurasian stretches 1/3 of the way around the planet

why do grasslands occur

rain is too erratic for forests to exist

describe climate temperate forests

warm summers mild winters average 10

describe rainfall temperate forests

750mm - 1500mm throughout the year

describe flora temperate forests

few tree species growing season of 6-8 months shrub layers which vary in height

describe fauna temperate forests

some animals migrate in winter some hibernate

describe climate temperate grasslands

hot summer up to 25 very cold winters reaching -40

describe rainfall temperate grasslands

high amount of rain in summer low amount in winter

describe climate tropical grasslands

high temperatures throughout the year

describe rainfall tropical grasslands

lots of rain in summer wet seasons low amount in other months

describe fauna temperate and tropical grasslands

variety of species small and predators

describe flora temperate and tropical grasslands

adapted to periods of drought xerophytic and resistant to fire pyrophytic

describe climate hot deserts

very hot up to 35 in summer at night temperature drop to freezing

describe rainfall hot deserts

annually very low

describe flora hot deserts

xerophytic grow low and far apart to avoid competition for water

describe fauna hot deserts

many animals are omnivores and nocturnal

describe climate polar regions

very cold in winter only 4 months in summer where temperature is above freezing

describe rainfall polar regions

very low all year round only reaching 60mm in summer

describe flora polar regions

very few trees majority are moss-like and grow close to the ground

describe fauna polar regions

adapted to cold often with thick skin and thick white fur to camouflage

describe climate tropical rainforest

consistently hot all year daily 28

describe rainfall tropical rainforest

rains all year rainfall is convectional

describe flora tropical rainforest

emergent canopy under canopy shrub level for trees many plants grow on trunks

describe fauna tropical rainforest

variety of species many colourful and long limbs to climb trees

describe flora coral reefs

coral polys have tentacles and mouths many plants act as habitats or food for organisms

describe fauna coral reefs

more than 1500 species of fish 30 species of whales/dolphins 133 species of sharks/rays

location of congo basin

found in 6 countries in africa however 2/3 is in the DRC

congo basin value to humans

home 75 million 150 ethnic groups medicine provider and brings tourism

congo basin value to planet

400 species of mammal 10000 plant species regulates and stores 20 gtons carbon

threats to congo basin

deforestation mining for diamonds poaching for meat

management strategies for congo basin

VNP forest certification world bank funding

location of GBR

australia 2500km

GBR value to humans

tourism 70000 jobs for locals fishing

GBR value to planet

houses 10% of world's fish species acts as a natural barrier to coastal erosion

threats to GBR

climate change crown of thorns starfish over-tourism causing damage storm runoff

management strategies GBR

sediment traps starfish terminator restrict tourism

UKs top 5 importers

germany china USA netherlands france

UKs top 5 exporters

USA germany switzerland china france

trade deficit means…

imports>exports

trade surplus means…

exports>imports

north is…

worse

south is…

better

life expectancy in north

77.6

life expectancy in south

80.6