Ecosystems

?
  • Created by: HarryG42
  • Created on: 18-10-17 20:04
Define what is meant by the term 'ecosystem'
An ecosystem is a community of living organisms interacting with the non-living components such as air water and soil.
1 of 30
What is the difference between abiotic and biotic components?
Abiotic = non - living parts of an ecosystem / Biotic = living parts of an ecosystem
2 of 30
Outline what is meant by the nutrient cycle
The nutrient cycle is the ongoing recycling of nutrients between living organisms in an ecosystem
3 of 30
Describe the distribution of hot deserts
Hot deserts are located along the tropics in continents such as South America, Africa, Asia and Australia
4 of 30
Describe and explain the features of the vegetation found in tropical rainforests
4 layers of vegetation - shrub layer, lower canopy, middle canopy and top canopy / Many plants have adapted to their environment / Soils have a thick litter layer / Many plants have shallow roots
5 of 30
Plant adaptations in a Tropical Rainforest
Epiphytes, Lianas, Buttress roots, 'Drip-tip' leaves
6 of 30
'The rainforest is more valuable when left intact than when destroyed.' Agree/Disagree
TRF's contain half of the world's plants and animals, Rainforests absorb and store CO2, Produce 28% of the words oxygen - 'lungs of the world', Indigenous tribes, Contains 20% of Water, 1/4 of medicine and anti-caner properties, Resources
7 of 30
Describe the climate of a hot desert environment
Hot and dry / less than 250mm of rain per year / During the day temp can rise up to 50oc and can fall to 0oc at night / maximum of 6mm of rain per day - minimum of no rain at all
8 of 30
Describe the main animal adaptations in hot desert environment
Camels - layers of eyelashes, wide feet to distribute weight, long time without water / Meerkats = dark rings around eyes to absorb sunlight / Fennec Foxes = large ears to hear underground
9 of 30
What is desertification?
When the land turns into desert, usually on the borders of existing deserts
10 of 30
Outline one possible environmental impact of desertification
Can cause water shortages for people living in areas affected
11 of 30
Challenges in the Thar Desert
Abilities for transport and accesibility are limited as tarmac can melt in the extreme temp, loss of biodiversity can affect business, Farming is limited due to water shortages and heat
12 of 30
Opportunities in the Thar Desert
Irrigation - Indira Ghandi Canal provides clean drinking water - can help commercial farming, Tourism, Mineral extraction
13 of 30
Suggest one reason why the coastline is uneven
Made of bands of soft and hard rock
14 of 30
Describe how the sea erodes the cliffs
Waves exploit faults in the cliff - wave cut notch, Over time the notch gets deeper and deeper undercutting the cliff and the cliff will collapse as it can no longer support the weight
15 of 30
Contrast the processes of chemical and freeze-thaw weathering
Chemical weathering - when chemical changes in the rock cause it to decompose / Freeze-thaw weathering - When cycles of freezing and thawing make cracks in the rock bigger and then breaking them completely
16 of 30
How is a spit formed?
Formed on the coastline where there is significant long-shore drift. If the coastline changes orientation and bends sharply, sediment is then deposited out to sea. As it builds up, it starts to form an extension to the land.
17 of 30
How is a bar formed?
Formed as a spit grows across a bay, joining two headlands due to long-shore drift.
18 of 30
Examples of soft engineering
Beach nourishment, Dune fencing, Dune stabilising
19 of 30
Examples of hard engineering
Groynes , Sea wall, Rock armour, Gabions
20 of 30
Name of Fieldwork study
To what extent is Lyme Regis appropriately managed?
21 of 30
River Profiles
A river changes shape as it flows from it's source to it's mouth. The shape of both the long profile and the cross profile changes.
22 of 30
River Processes
Hydraulic action, Abrasion, Attrition, Solution
23 of 30
River Transportation
Solution - minerals are dissolved in the water and carried on in solution, Suspension - fine material is carried along in the water, Saltation - samll pebbles are bounced along the riverbed, Traction - large sediment is rolled along the riverbed
24 of 30
River Deposition
When a river loses energy, it will drop or deposit some of the material it is carrying.
25 of 30
Upper course river features
Upper-course river features include steep-sided V-shaped valleys, interlocking spurs, rapids, waterfalls and gorges.
26 of 30
Middle course river features
Middle-course river features include wider, shallower valleys, meanders, and oxbow lakes.
27 of 30
Lower course river features
Lower-course river features include wide flat-bottomed valleys, floodplains and deltas.
28 of 30
Causes of flooding
A steep sided channel, A lack of vegetation/ woodland, A drainage basin in an urban area
29 of 30
Impact of flooding
Floods can cause damage to homes and possessions as well as disruption to communications.
30 of 30

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What is the difference between abiotic and biotic components?

Back

Abiotic = non - living parts of an ecosystem / Biotic = living parts of an ecosystem

Card 3

Front

Outline what is meant by the nutrient cycle

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Describe the distribution of hot deserts

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Describe and explain the features of the vegetation found in tropical rainforests

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
View more cards

Comments

No comments have yet been made

Similar Geography resources:

See all Geography resources »See all Ecosystems resources »