ecosystems

• producer: converts energy from the sun into food. For example, plants make food through photosynthesis.
• consumer: get energy from the food made by the producers.
• decomposers: break down plant and animal material and return nutrients to the soil.
• food chain: links between producers and consumers in the form of a simple line.
• food web: links between producers and consumers in a complex way.
• ecosystem: a natural system made up of plants, animals and their environment.
• biotic: something that is living
• abiotic: something that is non-living
• natural changes to ecosystems: extreme weather events, disease and climate change.
• human changes on ecosystems: deforestation, hunting, the introduction of alien species, and agricultural changes.
• biome: an area of land identifiable by its climatic conditions.
• factors influencing climate: latitude, precipitation, altitude, distance inland, global atmospheric circulation.
• global ecosystems: the desert, the tundra and the tropical rainforest.
• nutrient cycling: processes whereby organisms extract minerals for growth from soil and water, before passing them on through the food chain.
• rainforests: they are found south of the equator in a belt through the tropics. The conditions are warm and wet which high temperatures averaging 27 degrees Celsius. They receive over 2000mm of rain annually.
• rainforests:

  goods: building materials, water, medicines.

  services: nutrient cycling, habitats, biodiversity.
• rainforests layers: forest floor, understory, canopy, emergent.
• rainforest plant adaptions:

  • leaves are large to absorb sunlight.
  • stems are flexible to move towards sunlight.
  • butress roots support the tree.
  • drip tips allows water to run off.
• rainforest animal adaptions:

  • poison dart frog - spits out poison to warn off predators. It also has suction pads to cling to trees.
  • harpy eagle - excellent vision (can see up to 220 yards) and is very fast (up to 50mph).
  • three toed sloth - slow as to not attract attention and has green algae on its fur to help it camouflage.
• ecotourism: tourism in small groups which has a minimal impact on local ecosystems.
• selective logging: cutting down trees which are mature or inferior, to encourage regrowth.
• biodiversity: the variety of life/organisms in a particular habitat.
• sustainability: meeting the needs of today without compromising the needs of the future.
• rainforest management:

  • CITES - an organisation which blocks the trade of animals and plants that are endangered.
  • debt reduction - introducing debt for nature swaps.
  • WWF -helps to protect wildlife.
  • ecotourism - more sustainable tourism.
• reasons to protect the rainforest:

  • plants are able to absorb lots of carbon dioxide.
  • rainforests provide clean water
  • around 25% of all medicines come from rainforest plants.
• malaysia case study: Malaysia is found in Asia and is just north of the equator. The surrounding countries are the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia.
• malaysia case study:

  causes: logging, population pressure, energy development, mineral extraction and farming.
• malaysia case study:

  environmental impacts: loss of biodiversity, contribution to climate change, and soil erosion.
• malaysia case study:

  economic gains:

  • farming products can be sold.
  • raw materials like wood can be sold.
  • other products such as rubber and palm oil can be sold.

  economic losses:

  • the number of tourists could decrease.
  • climate change could affect farming.