Fidelma

arctic ice cover

30%

antarctica ice cover

97%

tundra ecosystems

associated with areas of extreme near polar climate (freeze

cryoplanation

movement of soil down slopes due to freeze

cryoturbation

movement of soil caused by freeze

frost polygons

unvegetated areas where mud is pushed up as frozen soil expands

where are wetlands found

they occur where the water table is at or near the surface or where land is covered by shallow water

abiotic factors influencing hydrology

climate, geology, soils, land use, geomorphology

biotic factors influencing hydrology

plants, microbes

spatial heterogeneity

increases species richness

heterophylly

survive under dry or submerged conditions

aerenchyma

special tissue that allows o2 to travel to roots by diffusion

2 categories of wetlands

marginal, wetlands independent of water body

high tide saltmarsh

a coastal ecosystem characterized by salt-tolerant vegetation that thrives in areas regularly flooded by seawater.

low tide saltmarsh

A coastal ecosystem characterized by salt-tolerant vegetation that is submerged at high tide and exposed at low tide.

minerotrophic mires

wetlands below or at the water table receiving water from groundwater and surrounding catchment. commonly called fens and are nutrient rich

ombotrophic mires

wetlands above any water table, fed by aerial deposition. called bogs and nutrient poor

particulate matter

retained by the physical trapping of sediment by plants and animal detritus

turloughs

karst regions flooded by groundwater

factors for development of sand dunes

supply of sand, strong winds, plants

embryo dune

youngest dune, the sand is inhospitable for plants

embryo dune conditions

highly alkaline, dry, high salinity, no nutrients, high wind speed

fore dunes

drought resistant dunes

marram grass

long roots stabilise the sand

yellow dunes

more shelter, less salt, greater diversity of plants, marram dominates

grey dune

stable, lot of vegetation, less wind, humus darkens soil, alkaline, drought adapted

dune slack

water table reaches the surface causing seasonal permanent waterlogging and surface water

mature dune

furthest away, less wind, less salt, high humus, climax vegetation, more water

machair

coastal grassland, calcareous sand blown inland by prevailing winds

soil ecosystem functions

provides food, cleans water antibiotics, stores carbon

mycorrhizae

nutrient absorption link root cells to soil particles

AM fungi function

help plant roots to take up nutrients

whats a nematode

fungal feeder

function of harvester ants in soil

facilitate movement of soil

function of dung beetles in soil

incorporate organic matter directly into soil

role of soil biota

decomposition, nutrient recycling, plant production, hydrological pathways

risks of loss of structure in soil

reduced risk of erosion, improved root penetration, improved emergence of seedlings, greater water infiltration and availability

what is a desert

an area with less than 25cm of annual precipitation

aridity index

precipitation/potential evapotranspiration

characteristics of deserts

low rain, high evaporation, temperature fluctuations, low humidity, ground erosion

desert types

subtropical desert, rain shadow desert, coastal, interior, polar desert

rain shadow desert

deserts on leeward side of major mountain ranges

coastal desert

prevailing onshore wind cooled by ocean current

drought tolerant plants in deserts

evergreen shrubs (creosote bush), jojoba, succulents (cacti)

areoles

give rise to spines and flowers in cacti

CAM

crassulacean acid metabolism

ephemerals

only grow when water is available, rapid photosynthetic rates, cools via transpiration

halophytes

salt tolerant plants

morphological animal adaptations in the desert

dissipate heat, broad feet, long legs, store fat/water, long eyelashes, camoflauge

behavioural animal adaptations in desert

nocturnal, avoid predators, foraging, water acquisition

desertification

invasion of desert conditions into formerly non

what are grasslands

where vegetation is dominated by perennial grasses usually in combination with evergreen non

how much do grassland represent worldwide

20% of all vegetation cover, 70% of worlds agri land

how much grassland in ireland

80%

poaceae

Grasses family

grass crown

location of the apical meristem

grassland characteristics

climate tolerant, rainfall tolerant, flat terrain

grassland ecosystem functions

store carbon, nutrient recycling, habitat, sustain agriculture

savanna

tropical grassland with scattered trees

temperate grasslands

hot summers/cold winters, dark soil, moderate rainfall, high biodiversity

reasons for sub

climax vegetation

setaceous leaf

air trapped inside of leaf becomes saturated with water vapour

non setaceous leaf

A leaf type that is not bristle-like or hairlike; typically broader or flatter in shape.

types of semi natural grassland

These grasslands are formed through a combination of natural processes and human activities, such as grazing and mowing, which help maintain their biodiversity and structure.

calcareous grassland

high pH short grass on chalk or limestone

cosmopolitan bird species

rock pigeon, house sparrow, starling, swallow

cosmopolitan plant species

meadow grass, shepherds purse, stitch worth plantain