ECOSYSTEM YEAR 7

What factors affect the location of biomes?– Ecosystems Desert – Food Web:
An ecosystem is an interconnected community of all of the living things - biotic Fund between the shows who eats who in an ecosystem.
• Rainfall – The amount and seasonal (e.g. plants and animals) and all of the non-living parts - abiotic of the Tropic of Cancer or the Primary Consumer animals which gain energy
patterns environment (e.g. soil, water and air) that they require to survive. Tropic of Capricorn it from eating producers
• Temperature – The average annual Polar Zone– The surface of the earth is characterized by hot Secondary Consumer animals which gain energy
temperature covered in ice and snow and very low and dry sinking air. from eating primary producers
• Relief – The shape of the land surface temperatures. What causes deserts: Producer – plants which produce energy by
• Geology – The rocks within an Temperate Zone – Areas of • High pressure photosynthesis
environment consistently moderate temperatures, • Rain shadow effect
rainfall and wind. Tropical Rainforests –
• Soils – certain plants will only grow with • Away from sea
Arid Zone– Areas of high temperatures
• Latitude – How far the location is from (inland)
and low rainfall resulting in little plant
the equator Tropical rainforests are found around the equator. The tropical rainforest
growth.
Tropical Zone– Areas of high contains far more species of plants and animals than any other biome.
Cold Environment- temperatures but with high rainfall They cover approximately six per cent of the Earth's surface
Located in very high latitudes (at top of earth) resulting in tropical rainforests. Forest floor
where there is high pressure which means •Very little light reaches the forest floor
there is very little rainfall. Opportunities Challenges Temperate Forest (2%) - so plants grow slowly.
We live in a temperate forest. The •The ground is covered in fallen leaves,
Polar bears have adapted to the cold Fishing Climate Change
rainfall is high and temperatures rotting branches
environment by: Mineral extraction Air pollution
change throughout the year. Nomads - no have no Understory
Scientific exploration Migrating Species
• Small ears to reduce heat loss fixed home and will Birds, butterflies, frogs, snakes and lots of
Tourism
• Sharp claws to catch prey move around the insects live here.
• Thick layer of blubber to act as insulation desert using local Canopy
and store energy animals to help •The second highest layer - 30-45m The
• White fur for camouflage Artic Fox Orca Seal canopy blocks out the sun from lower
Plant and animal layers
Coral Reefs – Plant adaptations-
The trees have typically large broad adaptation: •It contains the most plant and animal
Coral reef - a ridge of rock in the sea formed by the growth § Buttress roots
leaves, such as oak, beech and species
and deposit of coral. § Drip tip
elm. The emergent layer
Although they cover less than 0.1% of the world's ocean § Epiphytes
Humans use woodlands in a variety •The tallest layer - over 40 metres.
surface, they provide a home for at least 25% of all marine
of ways: •Contains only a few tall trees which grow
species. Coral reefs are found between 30° north and 30°
• as a resource - wood is used for taller than the trees of the canopy.
south of the equator.
fuel
• for walks/ bikes etc Opportunities Challenges
Opportunities Challenges
• for conservation • Substitution - Use different Deforestation for:
Governments and the public must be Soil erosion materials to make things, • Logging
educated on how to protect Fishing with explosives Cannock Chase –
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty instead of timber from the • Cattle ranching
Conservation allows careful use of the coral Climate change and coral bleaching rainforest • Hydro-Electric Power
reef, while protecting it from activities which Fish with poisons Forest and woodlands
• Ethical Shopping • Mining
cause loss and damage. Coral mining cover around 40%
About 2 million trees. • Protecting the rainforest • Palm oil plantation
Marine protected areas • Ecotourism • Crops
 How to revise: Command Words:
Key Words- Analyse - Take apart an idea, concept or statement and
To revise you should reduce these notes further, use criticise it.
colour and images. You could make a mind map/ poster/ Assess - Come to a conclusion about the overall value or significance of
Abiotic = non – living parts of the ecosystem something; discuss its positive and negative aspects to show balance.
revision cards/notes/ presentation/ song/ answer the
Adapt = to become adjusted to conditions. following questions. Compare - Identify similarities and differences.
Define - State the meaning of an idea or concept.
Biome = a large geographical area of distinctive plant and animal groups, which are adapted Describe - Set out the main characteristics of something; DON’T
1. Define ecosystem
to that particular environment EXPLAIN.
2. Which of the following is true of the desert? Discuss -Set out both sides of an argument (for and against) and come
Biotic = living parts of an ecosystem • They have a high diurnal range to a conclusion; there should be some evidence of balance.
Buttress Roots- A tree root that grows above the forest floor to provide nutrients and • They have a low diurnal range Evaluate - Make a judgement about the effectiveness of something;
• They have no diurnal range discuss its strengths and weaknesses and come to a conclusion about its
support. overall success or importance.
3. State the factors that affect the distribution of
Deforestation = The clearance of forested areas by people causing permanent damage to the Explain - Give reasons why something happens.
biomes Give - Produce an answer from recall.
natural ecosystem, including plant and animal species Justify - Support an idea or argument with evidence; for the outcome
4. Where are hot deserts mainly located? chosen, the positives must outweigh the negatives.
diurnal range = the difference between the lowest temperature at night and the highest
5. Arid is another word for what biome? State = name
temperature in the day.
Ecosystem = an interconnected community of all of the living things - biotic (e.g. plants and
6. What is adaptation?

animals) and all of the non-living parts - abiotic of the environment (e.g. soil, water and air) 7. Where is tundra located in high or low pressure?

That they require to survive. 8. What is a coral reef

Epiphyte - Plants which live on the branches of trees high up in the canopy of the tropical 9. Name your small scale ecosystem
rainforest. 10. What is deciduous woodland?
Mineral Extraction – Taking out the rocks and minerals out of earth • Woodland where the trees lose their leaves
in winter
Polar = Very cold all year round. There is a permanent or semi-permanent layer of ice. • Woodland where the trees lose their leaves
Scientific Exploration - the act of searching for the purpose of discovery of information or in summer
• Woodland where the trees never lose their
resources leaves
Sustainable - An activity which does not consume or destroy resources or the environment. 11. True or false: deserts have a high diurnal range 16. What ecosystem does the climate graph above belong
Tundra = An area where it is below freezing for most of the year and the ground is 12. Explain what causes deserts to form. to?
permanently frozen 13. State three adaptations of plants in rainforest 17. Describe a food web from a producer to a secondary
Describe the Distribution… • Compass points 14. State three adaptations of animals in the tundra consumer
• Longitude/
When asked to describe the Latitude 15. Draw an annotated diagram of a tropical rainforest 18. Evaluate human impact in cold environments
distribution use CLOCC. • Oceans
As a minimum use place and its layers. 19. Justify deforestation
• Continents
names and compass points. • Countries 20. Evaluate humans using the coral reef