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Theme 1 - Ecosystems - Coggle Diagram

- - - - Abiotic
        
        Physical, non-living parts of the ecosystem. E.g. temperature, water and light.
      - Biotic
        
        Living parts of ecosystem including plants, animals and bacteria. Plants known as flora and animals known as fauna.
  - - - Polar/tundra
        
        What is the climate like?
        
        Long, cold winters and short, cool summers. Covered by snow and ice throughout the year, but extent of ice varies. Temperatures rarely rise above freezing - mainly due to low angle of sun in the sky. Owing to tilt of earth, polar regions spend half the year in darkness and the other half in daylight. Polar regions tend to be dry, receiving as little as 250mm of rainfall per year - because descending air is unable to pick up moisture to form clouds and snowfall.
        
        Arctic much warmer than Antarctica. North Pole winter temperatures vary from -46 degrees C to -26 degrees C, whereas South Pole temperatures range from -62 degrees C to -55 degrees C. Why is there such a difference in temperature?
        
        Flora and fauna
        
        Flora
        
        Treeless area. Low shrubs) with mosses, grasses and alpine-like flowering plants.. Approximately 1700 species of plants
        
        Plant life in Antarctica much less plentiful. Around 100 species of moth and 300-400 species of lichen.
        
        Very productive seas due to huge numbers of phytoplankton.
        
        Fauna
        
        Polar bears, wolves, foxes and reindeer. Sea mammals include walruses and whales. Some animals migrate southward during winter months.
      - Temperate forest
        
        Location
        
        Between 40 degrees & 60 degrees north and south of the Equator.
        
        What is the climate like?
        
        Summers warm and winters mild. Rainfall ranges from 750mm to 1500mm. Average temp 10 degrees C.
        
        Flora & fauna
        
        Flora
        
        Relatively few tree species when compared with rainforest. Trees have a growing season of 6-8 months and may grow only 50cm a year. Unlike the rainforest, branches of the higher trees are more open and allow enough sunlight through to enable smaller trees to grow. Forest floor often covered with brambles, grass, bracken and thorns.
        
        Fauna
        
        Type of fauna depend on the region of the world. Australia's temperate forests contain koalas and possums, whereas black bears are found in the temperate forests of North America - they have a heavy coat and build up fat before hibernating, also long claws to climb trees. In Britain, rabbits, deer, mice and foxes are common.
      - Tropical rainforests
        
        Location
        
        Found within the Tropics or Cancer and Capricorn, north and south of the Equator
        
        What is the climate like?
        
        Temperatures remain high and constant throughout year because sun is always high in the sky. Hot and wet climate. No seasons like those that would be found in a temperate forest. High average rainfall of over 2000mm. Atmosphere very humid and sticky.
        
        Flora & fauna
        
        Flora
        
        Vegetation consists mainly of trees. 15 million plant and animals species been successfully identified and there are many more yet to be discovered.
        
        Fauna
        
        Toucans, jaguars, monkeys, chameleons, frogs and snakes
        
        Processes
        
        Nutrient cycling. Relationship between biomass, soil and litter.
        
        Litter
        
        Forest floor hot and damp so dead plant leaves decompose quickly. Small circle for litter
        
        Soil
        
        Few nutrients ever reach the soil due to organic material being recycled so quickly by the nutrient-hungry plants.
        
        Biomass
        
        Greatest store of nutrients - living plants and animals
      - Temperate grasslands
        
        Location
        
        Between latitudes of around 40-60 degrees north and south of the Equator.
        
        What is the climate like?
        
        Cooler than savannah. Summers very hot and winters very cold. Summer months can bring drought and occasional fire.
        
        Flora & fauna
        
        Flora
        
        Vegetation doesn't grow as rapidly or as tall as that of tropical grasslands. Trees and shrubs struggle to grow, but some (e.g. willow and oak) grow along river valleys where water is more available.
        
        Fauna
        
        Kangaroos, bison, antelope, coyotes, wolves, eagles and hawks.
      - Tropical grasslands
        
        Location
        
        North and south of the Equator. within central parts of continents
        
        What is the climate like?
        
        Climate can range from tropical wet to tropical dry. Temps high throughout year. There are 2 seasons: a longer dry season and a shorter wet season.
        
        Flora & fauna
        
        Flora
        
        Tall & spikey pampas grass. Baobab tree - large swollen stems and huge trunk; root-like branches and thick bark; long roots
        
        Fauna
        
        Antelopes, elephants, giraffes, wildebeest, zebras and rhinos. Cheetahs, lions & leopards, dogs & hyenas
      - Hot deserts
        
        Location
        
        Cover one-fifth of the Earth's land surface. Located between 5 degrees and 30 degrees north and south of the Equator, around the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic or Capricorn. Usually found on west coasts of continents.
        
        What is the climate like?
        
        Fairly high number of daylight hours. During the day, temperatures are high, but during the night, temperatures drop to below freezing. Annual precipitation around 40mm but very unreliable.
        
        Flora & fauna
        
        Flora
        
        Most plants have adapted to an environment with very little water, e.g. cacti. Where the rainfall is slightly more, thin grasses grow. Cacti have thick, spiky, waxy leaves to reduce loss of water through transpiration and to prevent animals trying to eat them. Root either very long to tap into groundwater supplies, or very near ground's surface to take advantage of any rain that falls.
        
        Fauna
        
        Many animals are small and nocturnal (with the exception of camels). For example, meerkats have adapted to limited food sources by eating scorpions, whose venom they are immune to. Camels have humps on their back to store fat & water, long eyelashes for keeping out sand, wide feet that act like snowshoes, and thick hair on their ears to also keep out sand.
- - - - Nutrient cycling. Relationship between biomass, soil and litter.
        
        Litter
        
        Forest floor hot and damp so dead plant leaves decompose quickly. Small circle for litter
        
        Soil
        
        Few nutrients ever reach the soil due to organic material being recycled so quickly by the nutrient-hungry plants.
        
        Biomass
        
        Greatest store of nutrients - living plants and animals
    - - Purus Manu
      - Peruvian Amazon
- - - - Temerature
        
        only live in seawater having an average temperature of 18 degrees C and over. Ideal temperature is between 23-25 degrees C - reason they are often found in the Tropics
      - Light
        
        Corals feed on tiny algae and this algae needs light to photosynthesise and grow. If there is not enough light, there will be no algae and therefore no coral. This is why coral reefs are found in relatively shallow water where there is maximum light available.
      - Clear water
        
        corals survive best in clear, unpolluted water. Sediment in the water affects the corals ability to feed as well as reducing the amount of light.
    - - Corals live in nutrient-poor waters. Zooxanthellae live in the tissues of the coral polyp, harnessing the light of the sun and converting it into energy to provide nutrients to the corals. In exchange, zooxanthellae have exclusive access to the waste nutrients produced by the coral (nitrogen and phosphorus) which fertilise the algae.
      - Corals also consume zooplankton. Zooplankton obtains nutrients by eating phytoplankton, a primary producer living in the ocean that converts sunlight directly into energy. Corals are also able to digest bacteria and edible detritus that often enter the system by upwelling from the ocean floor.
      - Fish excrete ammonia into the water and this can be absorbed by corals and algae also.
    - - Andros Barrier Reef