ecosystems, biodiversity & management

• | world’s ecosystem

  climate

  • depends on energy from sun; affecting growth of crops & characteristics of ecosystems

  1. TEMPERATURE: LOWER at HIGHER LATITUDES
  2. PRECIPITATION: global circulation started influences precipitation
  3. SUNSHINE HOURS: less in tundra; means less sunlight for plants to photosynthesise
• | world’s ecosystems

  • BOREAL: at higher latitudes where sun rays are weak
  • trees are adapted to cold with NEEDLE-LIKE LEAVES
• | world’s ecosystems

  • TEMPERATE: high rainfall & seasonal variations in rays
  • trees LOSE LEAVES in winter
• | world’s ecosystems

  • TUNDRA: within arctic circle with little heat & rainfall
  • tough, short grasses survive
• | world’s ecosystems

  • DESERT: close to tropics & is where HOT, DRY air SINKS onto surface & sun’s rays are concentrated = very hot in day
• | world’s ecosystems:

  • TROPICAL: found either side of equator
  • hot & heavy rainfall
• | world’s ecosystems

  local factors

  1. ROCK & SOIL TYPE: different vegetations in same ecosystem
  2. ALTITUDE DIFFERENCES: different plants grow in same ecosystem_ HIGHER altitude = LOW temperature