mock only - Sustaining Ecosystems

Climate of polar regions

• 250mm of rainfall a year

• Average temp - less than 0 degrees

• Cold and dry

Flora and fauna of polar regions

• Mosses, lichens, grasses and shrubs

• Polar bears, seals, owls, foxes

Climate of coral reefs

• High temperatures

• Water between 23 and 29 degrees

Flora and fauna of coral reefs

• Zooxanthellae, algae, seagrass

• Starfish, seahorse, clownfish

Climate of grasslands

• 20 to 30 degrees

• Up to 90cm of rain a year

 

Flora and fauna of grasslands

• Long grass and some trees

• zebra, elephant, lion, cheetah

Climate of temperate forests

• Warm summers

• 75 to 150cm of rain per uear

• In the winter it may freeze but not for long

Flora and fauna of temperate forests

• Trees, lichen and moss

• Squirrels, owls, mice and birds

Climate of tropical forests

• Hot and wet

• 25 to 30 degrees

• 200 to 400cm of rain a year

Flora and fauna of tropical rainforests

• Tall trees, shrubs and ferns

• Snakes, birds, sloths, monkeys

 

Climate of hot deserts

• Less than 25cm of rain a year

• Up to 38 degrees in the day

• But minus degrees in night

Flora and fauna of hot deserts

• Succulents and trees

• Rattlesnakes, scorpions and camels

Nutrient cycle in tropical rainforests

 

• Decaying vegetation decomposes rapidly due to hot, damp conditions

• Nutrients enter the soil

• Shallow roots take up the nutrients

• Trees grow, then shed again, repeating the cycle

 

Soil profile of tropical rainforests

• The very thin litter rapidly decomposes in heat

• Shallow topsoil is a mix of decomposed organic matter and minerals

• Sub-soil is deeper, due to weathering of rocks below

• Underlying rocks weathers quickly at high temperatures

• Soil is low in nutrients as they are quickly taken up by trees

Water cycle in tropical rainforests

• Heavy daily convectional rain

• Trees intercept rain

• Roots take up rainwater when it reaches the ground

• As rainforest heats up, water evaporates

• Then water condenses and forms clouds, repeating the cycle

 

 

What goods do rainforests supply on a local scale

• Wood is used for cooking and heating

• Indigenous people get food from rainforests

  • They depend on rainforest materials to survive

What goods do rainforests supply on a global scale

• Timber, rubbers, oils and fibres come from rainforests

• 25% of modern medicines are made from rainforest ingredient

• Food from indigenous people has made its way into the diets around the world

  • E.g. Bananas, pineapples

What services do rainforests supply locally

• 2/3 of Brazil's energy comes from hydro-electric power from rainforest dams

• Rainforests purify water for big cities in tropical regions

• Rainforests control water flow, preventing drought and flooding in nearby cities

What services do rainforests supply globally

• Remove and store 15% of the world's CO2 emissions

• Lots of water evaporates from rainforests, helping to cool the earth

What human activities impact rainforests

• Tourism

• Logging

 

Tourism in rainforests (how much, negative impacts)

• In 2020, over 343,000 people visited the Amazon

• The tourism industry can harm wildlife and plants due to over-exploitation of natural resources

• Tourism results in pollution

 

Benefits of tourism

• Offers employment e.g. Hotel staff, tour guides

• Ecotourism is especially good as it gives LIDCs revenue by protecting rainforests not exploiting them

Logging (how much, negative impacts)

• 200,000 acres of rainforest are burned per day

• Destroys natural habitats of wildlife, including breeding sites

• Causes flooding and desertification

Benefits of logging

• Large scale farms can bring money and jobs

4 marker - Describe and explain the impact of one human activity on tropical rainforests

• Logging is the process of cutting down trees to be used for furniture and timber

• This affects the environment since 78 million acres of rainforest are burned a year

• This disrupts the nutrient cycle because leaves cannot drop onto the soil

  • This means soil does not get necessary nutrients from leaves

• Additionally it disrupts the water cycle because leaves cannot intercept rainwater

  • This may lead to flooding

What is Samasati Nature Retreat

• An ecotourism resort in Costa Rica

 

What defines ecotourism

• Does not damage natural environment

• Is on a small scale

• Consults with local community about planned developments

• Ensures that infrastructure improvements benefit the local people

 

Background info on Costa Rica

• Home to 100 species of mammals and 3000 types of plant

• It has lost two thirds of its rainforest from deforestation

 

How is accommodation in Samasati made to minimise the impact of tourism

• Timber comes from an afforestation project in Costa Rica

• Natural light and ventilation minimise energy used

• Rainwater is collected on rooves and used for toilets and showers

• Buildings fit between trees so that none have to be cut down

• No heavy machinery is used

• Only biodegradable soap and shampoo is used

Ecotourism activites in Samasati

 

• Bird watching

• Canopy exploration

• River kayaking

• Walking and hiking

How is ecotourism ensured

• Posters are put up around the resort

• These are effective because they ensure that ecotourists respect wildlife by putting their phones off, sticking to pathways etc

• They may not work if people choose to ignore them or they are covered by foliage

• However if people are going on an eco holiday I think they will follow the rules

How does the Samasati nature reserve affect local people

• Local people are employed

• The community benefits from wages earned and can enjoy a high quality of life

• This makes the rainforest more valuable standing up than cut down