The Living World Components & Interrelationships Management
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What is an Ecosystem? Biome’s climate and plants An ecosystem is a system in which organisms interact with each other and Biome Location Temperature Rainfall Flora Fauna with their environment. Tropical Centred along the Hot all year (25-30°C) Very high (over Tall trees forming a canopy; wide Greatest range of different animal Ecosystem’s Components rainforest Equator. 200mm/year) variety of species. species. Most live in canopy layer Abiotic These are non-living, such as air, water, heat and rock. Tropical Between latitudes 5°- 30° Warm all year (20-30°C) Wet + dry season Grasslands with widely spaced Large hoofed herbivores and Biotic These are living, such as plants, insects, and animals. grasslands north & south of Equator. (500-1500mm/year) trees. carnivores dominate. Flora Plant life occurring in a particular region or time. Hot desert Found along the tropics Hot by day (over 30°C) Very low (below Lack of plants and few species; Many animals are small and of Cancer and Capricorn. Cold by night 300mm/year) adapted to drought. nocturnal: except for the camel. Fauna Animal life of any particular region or time. Temperate Between latitudes 40°- Warm summers + mild Variable rainfall (500- Mainly deciduous trees; a variety Animals adapt to colder and Food Web and Chains forest 60° north of Equator. winters (5-20°C) 1500m /year) of species. warmer climates. Some migrate. Simple food chains are useful in explaining the basic principles Tundra Far Latitudes of 65° north Cold winter + cool Low rainfall (below Small plants grow close to the Low number of species. Most behind ecosystems. They show and south of Equator summers (below 10°C) 500mm/ year) ground and only in summer. animals found along coast. only one species at a particular trophic level. Food webs however Found within 30° north – Warm water all year Wet + dry seasons. Small range of plant life which Dominated by polyps and a consists of a network of many food Coral Reefs south of Equator in round with temperatures Rainfall varies greatly includes algae and sea grasses diverse range of fish species. chains interconnected together. tropical waters. of 18°C due to location. that shelters reef animals. Nutrient cycle Unit 1b CASE STUDY: UK Ecosystem: Epping Forest, Essex Plants take in nutrients to build into new This is a typical English lowland deciduous woodland. 70% of the area is designated organic matter. Nutrients are taken up when as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSI) for its biological interest, with 66 % animals eat plants and then returned to the designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). soil when animals die and the body is broken down by decomposers. The Living World Components & Interrelationships Management Spring Flowering plants (producers) such as - Epping has been Litter This is the surface layer of Tropical Rainforest Biome vegetation, which over time bluebells store nutrients to be eaten by managed for centuries. consumers later. - Currently now used breaks down to become humus. Tropical rainforest cover about 2 per cent of the Earth’s surface yet they are for recreation and Summer Broad tree leaves grow quickly to Biomass The total mass of living home to over half of the world’s plant and animals. conservation. maximise photosynthesis. organisms per unit area. - Visitors pick fruit and Interdependence in the rainforest berries, helping to Autumn Trees shed leaves to conserve energy disperse seeds. Biomes due to sunlight hours decreasing. A rainforest works through interdependence. This is where the plants and - Trees cut down to A biome is a large geographical area of distinctive plant and animal groups, animals depend on each other for survival. If one component changes, there Winter Bacteria decompose the leaf litter, encourage new growth which are adapted to that particular environment. The climate and geography can be serious knock-up effects for the entire ecosystem. releasing the nutrients into the soil. for timber. of a region determines what type of biome can exist in that region. Distribution of Tropical Rainforests Layers of the Rainforest Coniferous forest Tropical rainforests are centred along the Emergent Highest layer with trees reaching 50 metres. Equator between the Tropic of Cancer and Deciduous Canopy Most life is found here as It receives 70% of Capricorn. Rainforests can be found in South forest the sunlight and 80% of the life. America, central Africa and South-East Asia. The Amazon is the world’s largest rainforest Tropical U-Canopy Consists of trees that reach 20 metres high. rainforests and takes up the majority of northern South America, encompassing countries such as Shrub Layer Lowest layer with small trees that have Tundra Brazil and Peru. adapted to living in the shade. Rainforest nutrient cycle Climate of Tropical Rainforests Temperate grasslands The hot, damp conditions on the forest floor allow for the rapid • Evening temperatures rarely fall below 22°C. decomposition of dead plant material. This provides plentiful • Due to the presence of clouds, temperatures rarely Tropical nutrients that are easily absorbed by plant roots. However, as these rise above 32°C. grasslands nutrients are in high demand from the many fast-growing plants, The most productive biomes – which have the greatest they do not remain in the soil for long and stay close to the surface. • Most afternoons have heavy showers. Hot deserts. biomass- grow in climates that are hot and wet. If vegetation is removed, the soils quickly become infertile. • At night with no clouds insulating, temperature drops. Tropical Rainforests: Case Study Malaysia Hot Desert: Case Study Thar Desert – India/Pakistan Malaysia is a LIC country is south-east Asia. 67% of Malaysia is a tropical rainforest with 18% of it not being interfered with. The Thar Desert is located on the border between India and Pakistan in Southern Asia. With India soon becoming the However , Malaysia has the fastest rate of deforestation compared to anywhere in the world most populated country in the world in the next five years. With this, more people will plan to live in the desert. Adaptations to the rainforest Rainforest inhabitants Distribution of the world’s hot deserts Major characteristics of hot deserts Orangutans Large arms to swing & support in the tree canopy. Many tribes have developed sustainable ways of Most of the world’s hot deserts are found • Aridity – hot deserts are extremely dry, survival. The rainforest provides inhabitants with… in the subtropics between 20 degrees and with annual rainfall below 250 mm. Drip Tips Allows heavy rain to run off leaves easily. • Food through hunting and gathering. 30 degrees north & south of the Equator. • Heat – hot deserts rise over 40 degrees. • Natural medicines from forest plants. The Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn run • Landscapes – Some places have dunes, Lianas & Vines Climbs trees to reach sunlight at canopy. • Homes and boats from forest wood. through most of the worlds major deserts. but most are rocky with thorny bushes. Issues related to biodiversity What are the causes of deforestation? Hot Deserts inhabitants Climate of Hot Deserts Why are there high rates of biodiversity? Logging Agriculture - People often live in large • Very little rainfall with less than 250 mm per open tents to keep cool. year. • Warm and wet climate encourages a • Most widely reported cause of • Large scale ‘slash and burn’ of - Food is often cooked slowly • It might only rain once every two to three years. wide range of vegetation to grow. destructions to biodiversity. land for ranches and palm oil. in the warm sandy soil. • Temperate are hot in the day (45 °C) but are • There is rapid recycling of nutrients to • Timber is harvested to create • Increases carbon emission. - Head scarves are worn by cold at night due to little cloud cover (5 °C). speed plant growth. commercial items such as • River saltation and soil erosion men to provide protection • In winter, deserts can sometimes receive • Most of the rainforest is untouched. furniture and paper. increasing due to the large from the Sun. occasional frost and snow. • Violent confrontation between areas of exposed land. Main issues with biodiversity decline indigenous tribes and logging • Increase in palm oil is making Adaptations to the desert Desert Interdependence companies. the soil infertile. • Keystone species (a species that are Cactus • Large roots to absorb water soon after important of other species) are Different parts of the Mineral Extraction Tourism rainfall. extremely important in the rainforest hot desert ecosystem • Needles instead of leaves to reduce ecosystem. Humans are threatening • • are closely linked Precious metals are found in Mass tourism is resulting in the surface area and therefore transpiration. these vital components. the rainforest. building of hotels in extremely together and depend on each other, especially in • Decline in species could cause tribes • Areas mined can experience soil vulnerable areas. Camels • Hump for storing fat (NOT water). a such a harsh being unable to survive. and water contamination. • Lead to negative relationship • Wide feet for walking on sand. environment. • Plants & animals may become extinct. • Indigenous people are between the government and • Long eyelashes to protect from sand. • Key medical plants may become extinct. becoming displaced from their indigenous tribes land due to roads being built to • Tourism has exposed animals Opportunities and challenges in the Hot desert Impacts of deforestation transport products. to human diseases. Opportunities Challenges Economic development Energy Development Road Building • There are valuable minerals for industries and • The extreme heat makes it difficult to work outside for + Mining, farming and logging creates • The high rainfall creates ideal • Roads are needed to bring construction. very long. employment and tax income for conditions for hydro-electric supplies and provide access to • Energy resources such as coal and oil can be found in • High evaporation rates from irrigation canals and government.