The Living World

Define: Ecosystem

A natural system of biotic and abiotic components interacting in and with their living, physical environment.

Define: Biotic + Give examples

Living things like plants, bacteria, fungi.

Define: Abiotic + Give examples

Non - living things like air, water, soils.

What is the role of the producers?

• To provide all of the energy for the entire food chain.

• Absorb energy from the sun to produce their own food via photosynthesis.

• Form the base/beginning of the food chain or web.

How do the producers provide their own energy?

Photosynthesis

Define: Consumer

An organism that eats other plants/animals to gain energy.

What is the role of the consumers?

Eat other organisms to gain energy.

Define: Decomposer

An organism that breaks down dead plants/animals to return nutrients to the soil.

Define: Food Chain

Single flow of energy between organisms that rely on each others for food. Straight, direct lines from producer to each consumer.

Define: Food Web

Complex structure of multiple interconnected food chains.

What is the difference between a food chain and food web?

Food chain is the single flow of energy between organisms that rely on each others for food with straight, direct lines from producer to each consumer whereas a food web is made up of multiple, interconnected food chains.

What do the arrows show in a food chain/web?

Flow of energy

Define: Interdependent

All biotic and abiotic components in an ecosystem relying on one another for survival.

Define: Biodiversity

A variety of living organisms in an area.

Define: Leaching

Process where water dissolves and removes nutrients from the soil by rainfall.

Define: Deciduous

Trees shed their leaves in autumn/winter to retain moisture and energy.

What is our case study for a small scale ecosystem?

Epping Forest, Essex

Where in England is Epping Forest located?

South East England - to the North East of London in Essex.

Does Epping Forest have high or low biodiversity?

High biodiversity

How many species of birds are found in Epping Forest?

38

How many species of fungi are found in Epping Forest?

700

What biome is Epping Forest a part of?

Deciduous Woodland

Which nutrient store is the largest in Epping Forest?

Biomass

Name a producer in Epping Forest

Deciduous trees + Shrubs

Name a primary consumer in Epping Forest

Insects + Beetles + Worms + Caterpillars

Name a secondary consumer in Epping Forest

Mouse + Badger

Name a tertiary/top predator in Epping Forest

Sparrow hawk + Owl

Name a decomposer in Epping Forest

Fungi

Which physical factors can distrupt ecosystem balance?

• Climate change

• Extreme weather events like flooding or drought

• Introduction of new, invasive species

• Rising sea levels

• Disease

Which human factors can distrupt ecosystem balance?

• Hunting

• Deforestation

• Urbanisation

• Marine resources

How are humans interdependent with the ecosystems like Epping Forest?

When humans walk through the forest, seeds attach to their clothing so as they walk these seeds spread and are dispersed elsewhere, increasing plant growth.

Define: Biomass

Total weight of all organisms in a given area.

Does biomass decrease or increase as we increase trophic levels?

Decreases

How do you calculate percentage decrease?

(Old - New / Old) x 100

Why is biomass lost at each trophic level?

• Parts of plants are not eaten by animals e.g. caterpillars do not eat the roots/bark of tress so plant biomass is left.

• Carnivores do not eat all of their prey e.g. a sparrow hawk doesn’t eat the bones of a small bird.

• Energy is lost at each trophic level e.g. hunters use kinetic energy when chasing their prey + some herbivores search for lots of plants to eat so energy is constantly used up in respiration so don’t gain biomass.

Give the three components of the nutrient cycle

Biomass, Litter, Soil

Which 3 ways are nutrients removed from the nutrient cycle?

• Leaching

• Deforestation

• Loss through wind or rain eroding the soil

Which 2 ways are nutrients added to the nutrient cycle?

• Gain from precipitation

• Gain form weathered rock breaking down

How does biomass gain nutrients?

Uptake of nutrients from the soil.

How does litter gain nutrients?

• Leaves fall and animals die from the biomass

• Input from precipitation

How does soil gain nutrients?

• Litter decomposes

• Gained from weathered rock breaking down

Define: Biome

A large scale global ecosystem.

Which biome is found 15° N+S of the Equator?

Tropical Rainforest

Where are Tropical Rainforests typically located?

South America, Asia and Africa.

Which biome is found 15°-30° N+S of the Equator?

Hot Desert

Which biome is found above 60° N+ S of the Equator?

Tundra/Polar

Where are Polar/Tundra biomes typically located?

Arctic, Antarctic and Northern Canada.

Describe the Polar/Tundra biome

• Cold all year round

• Temperatures below 0°

• Low biodiversity

• Very fragile and easily damaged by humans

Describe the Coniferous Forest biome

Cold and dark winters but quite warms summers; not as extreme as the tundra.

Which biome is found above 40-45° North of the Equator?

Mediterranean

Where are Mediterranean biomes typically located?

Southern Europe + Northern Africa

Describe the Mediterranean biome

• Hot and dry summers with wet and mild winters

• 20-25° temperature

• 800mm average rain

Which biome is found above 50° North of the Equator?

Deciduous Forest

Describe the Deciduous Forest biome

• Hot and dry summers with wet and mild winters

• 4 distinct seasons

• Shed their leves in winter to retain moisture/energy

What percentage of the world do tropical rainforests cover?

2%

What is the average temperature for the Tropical Rainforests?

26°

What is the average annual rainfall for the Tropical Rainforests?

2000mm

How many layers does the Tropical Rainforest have?

5 layers

Name the 5 layers of the Tropical Rainforest from highest to lowest

• Emergent layer

• Canopy layer

• Under canopy layer

• Shrub layer

• Forest/ground layer

Explain the location of Tropical Rainforests

Located along the Equator as sun rays are concentrated at the Equator because they have a shorter distance to travel, making suns insolation strong. This creates a low pressure system.

Leads to high temperatures of around 27°C, annual rainfall of 2000m and humid conditions as warm air rises, cools and condenses for clouds to form and rain to fall.

Do tropical rainforest form in a low or high pressure environment?

Low pressure

Describe the soil in the Tropical Rainforest

Poor, thin and infertile.

Where are most nutrients stored in the Tropical Rainforests and Why?

Biomass

1. Nutrients are concentrated in the topsoil and therefore the roots quickly uptake nutrients from the soil.

2. Heavy rainfall means many nutrients are washed away/leached before they reach the soil.

Does the Tropical Rainforest have high or low biodiversity?

Very high

Which biome has the highest level of biodiversity in the world?

Tropical rainforest

Why is the Tropical Rainforest able to have such a high biodiversity?

1. Humans have little interaction so organisms + vegetation can thrive in peace.

2. Humid climate with high temperatures + heavy rainfall allows for ideal conditions for wildlife to thrive in.

3. Since nutrients are rapidly recycled and therefore uptake is very quick, more vegetation can grow faster and survive. If more producers thrive, then consumers thrive too, leading to higher biodiversity.

4. Large range of habitats - birds can live in canopy, mammals can live in trees (sloth/monkey), other mammals live on the forest floor (rabbits/frogs).

How do humans disturb the ecosystem balance in the Tropical Rainforests?

Deforestation for materials like paper or medicines and wood or minerals for commercial gain as well hunting + poaching. This can lead to endangered or extinct animals, reducing biodiversity.

How much sunlight can reach the forest/ground floor of the Tropical Rainforest and Why?

2% of sunlight as the canopy layer blocks out most sunlight

Define: Adaptation

Plants and animals developing new behaviours or characteristics to survive and reproduce.

What must plants and animals adapt to in the Tropical Rainforest?

• 2% of sunlight reaches the forest floor - competition for sunlight

• Infertile, poor, dry soil - competition for nutrients

• Annual rainfall of 2000mm

Which plants adapt to the Tropical Rainforest?

• Liana’s

• Drip Tip’s

• Epiphytes

• Tree Trunks

• Buttress Roots

Which plants have to adapt to the Hot Desert?

• Spider Monkey

• Toucan

• Fox

What do Liana’s have to adapt to in the Tropical Rainforest?

2% of sunlight reaches the forest floor

How do Liana’s adapt to the Tropical Rainforest?

• 2% of sunlight reaches the forest floor.

• Liana’s have long, winding vines that wrap around trees.

• Very efficient as they can support themselves to reach sunlight higher up.

What do Drip Tip’s have to adapt to in the Tropical Rainforest?

Average annual rainfall of 2000mm

How do Drip Tip’s adapt to the Tropical Rainforest?

• Average annual rainfall of 2000mm.

• Drip Tip’s have pointed tips to ensure the leaves don’t break off due to heavy rainfall.

• Therefore, water can quickly and smoothly run off the leaf, not breaking it.

What do Tree Trunks have to adapt to in the Tropical Rainforest?

• 2% of sunlight reaches the forest floor

• Annual rainfall of 2000mm

How do Tree Trunks adapt to the Tropical Rainforest?

• 2% of sunlight reaches the forest floor.

• Tall + Thin tree trunks that can reach up through the canopy layer for a sufficient amount of sunlight.

• Annual rainfall of 2000mm.

• Water can run down the branchless trees to the soil layer, intercepting the rain and reducing the risk of flooding.

What do Epiphytes have to adapt to in the Tropical Rainforest?

Dry, thin, poor, infertile soil

How do Epiphytes adapt to the Tropical Rainforest?

• Dry, thin, poor, infertile soil.

• Epiphytes live up high in the canopy layer, gaining nutrients from the air and water, rather than the soil.

• Therefore, plants can still get enough nutrients to thrive and grow, despite the infertile soil.

What do Buttress Roots have to adapt to in the Tropical Rainforest?

Dry, thin, poor, infertile soil

How do Buttress Roots adapt to the Tropical Rainforest?

• Dry, thin, poor, infertile soil.

• Buttress roots spread out and can be seen across the first floor/surface so the tree can absorb as many nutrients as possible from the fertile topsoil/humus layer.

• Therefore, the tree gets lots of nutrients, allowing it to grow and reach sunlight for photosynthesis to then support an entire food web if it’s a producer.

What do Spider Monkey’s have to adapt to in the Tropical Rainforest?

The Tropical Rainforest has 5 layers, reaching up to 45m in height

How do Spider Monkey’s adapt to the Tropical Rainforest?

• The Tropical Rainforest has 5 layers, reaching up to 45m in height.

• Spider Monkey’s have long, strong limbs.

• Therefore, the monkeys are able to reach food that grows up in the canopy layer that other animals can’t reach + can easily swing between trees, increasing survival rate.

What do Touncan’s have to adapt to in the Tropical Rainforest?

High biodiversity meaning lots of competition for food

How do Toucan’s adapt to the Tropical Rainforest?

• High biodiversity meaning lots of competition for food.

• Toucans have a long, hard beak.

• Therefore, they can reach across trees for their food + reach food that other animals can’t access, increasing chance of survival.

What do Sloth’s have to adapt to in the Tropical Rainforest?

High biodiversity means lots of predators hunt their prey

How do Sloth’s adapt to the Tropical Rainforest?

• High biodiversity means lots of predators hunt their prey.

• Sloths struggle to escape predators as they’re very slow but they adapt by having brown fur to camouflage.

• Therefore, they can hide from predators.

What is our Tropical Rainforest case study?

The Amazon Rainforest, Brazil

Where is the Amazon Rainforest located?

Brazil, South America

Name 5 reasons why the Tropical Rainforest valuable to people

• Medicine

• Resources like food, wood or minerals

• Employment

• Indigenous tribes

• Energy

Name 5 reasons why the Tropical Rainforest valuable to the environment

• Freshwater source

• Biodiversity

• Carbon sink

• Habitats

• Protection against soil erosion

What percentage of drugs used today are found in the Tropical Rainforest?

25% or 1/4

What percentage of ingredients found in cancer fighting drugs derive from the Tropical Rainforest?

25% or 1/4

How many plants in the Tropical Rainforest have cancer properties?

2000

Which native foods are found in the Tropical Rainforest?

Nuts, cocoa, sugar, bananas + Cinnamon, vanilla + Meat, fish.

What materials are often found in the Tropical Rainforest?

Wood + Rubber + Minerals like gold, nickel, tin, iron.

What jobs can the Tropical Rainforest provide?

Miner, logger, farmer, conservationist, construction worker, tour guide.

Why is energy a good resource in the Tropical Rainforest?

High rainfall creates ideal conditions for dams to generate hydroelectric power which can provide energy and light for locals.

What type of energy is produced in the Tropical Rainforest?

Hydroelectric power