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Geography - Ecosystems, Biodiversity and Management (Tropical Rainforests,…
Geography - Ecosystems, Biodiversity and Management
Definitions
An ecosystem is a system of plants and animals that interact with each other and with their non-living environment.
Abiotic and Biotic
Sometimes the word biotic is used for living environment
Sometimes the word abiotic is used for non-living environment e.g. soil.
Locations of Different Ecosystems and Characteristics
Key ecosystems: tropical rainforest, tropical grasslands, desert, mountain, Mediterranean, temperate forest, temperate grasslands, boreal forest and tundra.
Their location is mainly as a function of climate.
Explaining Ecosystem Distribution
No real seasons on the equator – consistent conditions year round.
ITCZ moves north and south and this creates seasonal rains in some places.
Permanent high pressure around 30 degrees North and South of the equator – creates deserts.
Coastal locations are moderated from temperature extremes.
Large amounts of rainfall at the equator – enough to create rainforests. Remember the Hadley Cells.
Mountains create relief rainfall and areas close to mountains may be in the rain shadow which may reduce precipitation.
Temperature and latitude relationship – temperature is highest at the equator as sun is most directly overhead.
The Biosphere
The biosphere can be thought of as any living thing.
Humans exploit the biosphere
Biofuels – Land cleared to grow biofuels – some habitats lost
Medicines
Demand for water causes other parts of the biosphere to go without
Nutrient Cycle – Variations for Tropical Rainforest and Deciduous Woodland
UK Ecosystems
Heathland
Marine
Wetland
Provides: jobs, fishing, tourism and energy from offshore wind farms and oil.
Moorland
Damaged by human activity e.g. eutrophication
Woodland
Look at other mind map (Ecosystem)
Tropical Rainforests
Soil is low in nutrients because nutrients are washed away by heavy rainfall.
Plants and animals have adapted – trees have buttress roots to hold the tree upright as normal roots do not go deep because of soil nutrients. Plants have drip tips to shed heavy rainfall.
Rainforest is broken down into layers – stratification – these provide a wealth of habitats and contribute to high biodiversity.
Animals adapted – toucan is a heavy bird with a long beak to get food from weak branches.
Trees are very tall (compete for light) grow straight and do not grow branches at lower levels.
Goods and services – Goods are tangible items e.g. timber. Services such as photosynthesis on a vast scale.
Climate – Hot all year, wet all year, but some seasonal variation.
Rainforest is being cleared for timber but also to grow palm oil and for cattle ranching.
Changes to structure, function and biodiversity in the future. Likely to be less biodiversity because of climate change.
Tropical Rainforest Management Case Study
Ecotourism provides people with jobs in an industry that protects the forest and does not chop it down.
Certain areas of forest are set aside for protection.
Management in Madagascar – focus on ecotourism and changing agricultural practices to prevent deforestation.
Deciduous Woodland
Animals have adapted through migration.
Goods – timber for furniture, paper.
Oak has adapted to the conditions e.g. branches spread horizontally to ensure that they capture as much of the available light as possible.
Services – places for recreation e.g. cycling and walking.
Moderate levels of biodiversity
Climate change – milder winters which may influence woodland species, more droughts/wildfires. Human pressure on woodlands may result in further deforestation.
Deep root systems
Case Study of Deciduous Woodland – New Forest
Use of chemicals is limited
Visitors are prevented from parking in areas other than car parks to prevent damage to the ecosystem
When trees are cut down, they are replaced with native species.
Recreation is encouraged so that people can learn more about the forest and thus take steps to protect it.
