The biosphere

The value of the biosphere

How humans have affected it

How it might be conserved

?
Biosphere
The zone where life is found
1 of 34
Ecosystem
A community of plants and animals that interact with each other and their physical environment
2 of 34
Biome
A very large/ global scale ecosystem e.g tropical rain-forests
3 of 34
The worlds major biomes
Tropical rain-forests, savannah, desert, Mediterranean, deciduous forest, coniferous forest, tundra
4 of 34
Tropical rainforests
Mostly found near the equator, high temperature (hot), heavy rainfall
5 of 34
Deserts
Close to tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. Where dry air sinks down to the Earth's surface and the sun rays are very concentrated = hot
6 of 34
Tundra
Within the arctic circle, with little heat from sun and little rainfall
7 of 34
Deciduous forests
High rainfall and seasonal variations in Sun rays. Trees lose leaves in winter
8 of 34
Coniferous forest
Higher latitude so sun rays are weak. Trees are adapted to the cold
9 of 34
Local factors influencing biomes - altitude
The higher the altitude, the lower the temperature
10 of 34
Local factors influencing biomes - rainfall
The higher the altitude, the higher the rainfall trends tend to be
11 of 34
Local factors influencing biomes - drainage
Swamps and bogs occur where drainage is poor
12 of 34
Local factors influencing biomes - rock and soil type
Effects how fertile areas in different biomes are
13 of 34
Ecosystem services
Services that satisfy needs, that cannot be touched e.g providing employment, climatic regulation, nutrient cycling
14 of 34
Ecosystem goods
Value to people, can be touched e.g meat, fish, biomass, drinking water, gene pool
15 of 34
Green lungs
Forests remove co2 from atmosphere which reduces global warming. The forests also give out oxygen which purifies the atmosphere
16 of 34
Water control
Forests protect watersheds from soil erosion and intercept precipitation - prevents flooding . Traps silt which keeps water pure. Reefs and mangroves provide barriers from coastal storms.
17 of 34
Nutrient cycling
Forests proved leaf litter which forms humus. This makes soil more fertile for growing crops
18 of 34
Providing habitats
Rain-forests and reefs are very bio diverse. Provide homes for a large variety of organisms
19 of 34
Recreation
Reefs and rain forests are very attractive which boosts tourism.
20 of 34
Deforestation
Commercial logging destroys forest unless sustainable - flooding, soil erosion increase and humus formation decrease. E.g. Amazon
21 of 34
Conversion to farm land or urbanisation
Commercial intensive farming destroys/ alters ecosystem. Urbanisation destroys ecosystems and increases wildfires e.g. Cattle farming in Amazon
22 of 34
Over-harvesting/ fishing
Causes animals to be hunted to extinction and destroys food chains e,g, orangutan
23 of 34
Mining
Cuts away whole hillsides. Only partly successful. Oil drilling in rain forests e.g. Amazon
24 of 34
Over-tourism
High density Mass tourism = disturbance of wildlife
25 of 34
Indirect effects of pollution on biosphere
Plants are flowering earlier, bird migration patterns changing rapidly, Arctic tundra warming rapidly,
26 of 34
Indirect effects of climate on biosphere
More frequent droughts, in future could be sources of co2 in Amazon, which could then increase global warming even more
27 of 34
RAMSAR
Protection of wetlands in 163 countries in which there important habitats for migration birds
28 of 34
CITES
aims to stop the trade of products from endangered species e.g elephant ivory and crocodile skin handbags - adopted by 166 countries
29 of 34
National parks - local
Own planning authorities that protect the environment of a specific area alongside pressures of tourism
30 of 34
Sustainable environmental management - Kilum Ijim
Mountainous forest area in Cameroon home to 35 communities. 250,000 people live a days walk away and forest was under pressure from farming and logging. Solutions: marked out forest reserve area, developed rules, educated communities and monitored.
31 of 34
Economic outcomes
Reduce poverty, help local people make a living e.g. Eco tourism
32 of 34
Social outcomes
Improving local facilities which benefit the whole community e.g. Health clinics, education
33 of 34
Environmental outcomes
Protect natural environment from degradation e.g. Replacing trees
34 of 34

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

A community of plants and animals that interact with each other and their physical environment

Back

Ecosystem

Card 3

Front

A very large/ global scale ecosystem e.g tropical rain-forests

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

Tropical rain-forests, savannah, desert, Mediterranean, deciduous forest, coniferous forest, tundra

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

Mostly found near the equator, high temperature (hot), heavy rainfall

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
View more cards

Comments

No comments have yet been made

Similar Geography resources:

See all Geography resources »See all The biosphere resources »