The Living World

Give two reasons why the biomass changes between each level in the food chain

-Energy used in respiration and lost as heat

-Not all of the organism is eaten or digested

State one role of decomposers in an ecosystem

break down dead organisms and waste materials, recycling nutrients back into the soil, which plants can then use to grow.

State one role of predators in an ecosystem

control the population of prey species

State one role of consumers in an ecosystem

transfer energy through the food chain by feeding on producers or other consumers

Effect of deforestation on soils

protective cover of the forest is removed , topsoil is exposed and the rain directly hits the ground.

there are roots to hold the soil in place.

the removal of trees takes away the source of nutrients

nutrients are washed away leaving the soil infertile

One reason for the distrubtion of rainforests

high rainfall. high temperature all year round, found near the equator where there’s a lot of convectional rain

Features of the rainforest layers

leaves have drip tip so the water is channelled to the end and fall so the leaf doesn’t break.

the waxy upper surface of the leaves protects against the heat

buttress roots supports tall trees because there is competition for sunlight