1. ecosystems

• Ecosystems

  A community of plants and animals and the environment in which they live. Ecosystems contain both living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) parts.
• Living parts of an ecosystem

  • Plants
  • Insects
  • Birds
• Non-living parts of an ecosystem

  • Climate
  • Soils
  • Rocks
• The global distribution pattern of biomes broadly match the world's climate zones
• Climate is an important factor influencing the natural vegetation and wildlife of a region
• Tropical Rainforest


  • Generally found between the Tropics 23.5 degrees north and south, across the Equator, on the west coast of continents
• Deciduous Woodland


  • Often found north of the Tropic of Cancer, in the Northern Hemisphere, on both the coast and inland areas of continents
• Hot Deserts

  • Often found around the Tropics (20-30 degrees north and south), more extensive in the Northern Hemisphere, on the western side of continents
• Location of deserts on the western edge of continents

  Due to the global distribution pattern of biomes matching climate zones
• Food chain


  Animals eating other organisms to survive, showing a flow of energy in the ecosystem
• Food web


  Several food chains linked together
• Savanna

  • Has a dry season and a wet (rainy) season, temperatures are always hot
• Savanna climate


  Affects plant growth - plants need adaptations to withstand lengthy dry periods
• Nutrient cycle in the Savanna

  1. Dead leaves and branches form litter

  2. Litter breaks down quickly in wet season

  3. Decomposers grow in litter

  4. Nutrients return to soil

  5. Plants take up nutrients
• Components of the Kenyan grassland ecosystem

  • Producers (green plants)
  • Primary consumers (herbivores)
  • Secondary consumers
  • Scavengers
• Tropical rainforests have climate conditions that promote very rapid plant growth
• Equatorial regions have constant temperatures above 25°C, allowing plants to grow all year round
• Tropical rainforests have plenty of sunlight, water, and nutrients, allowing a wide variety of plants to grow
• Convectional rainfall in the rainforest

  1. Sunshine heats the ground

  2. Warm air rises

  3. Water vapour condenses to form clouds

  4. Clouds grow and produce heavy rainfall
• Nutrient cycles in the rainforest depend on the climate
• Medmerry wetlands in Sussex, UK are a site of managed retreat, creating a wildlife sanctuary
• The Medmerry wetlands project involved constructing new flood defences, creating new habitats, and minimising human disturbance
• The Medmerry wetlands project reduced flood risk to nearby communities and created a large nature reserve
• The Medmerry wetlands project was successful due to careful planning, community involvement, and effective management.
• Rainforests have high levels of biodiversity with many endemic species found only there
• The Medmerry wetlands project is an example of sustainable development that benefits both people and the environment.
• how are plants in the savanna adapted to live there?

  Drought resistancez
• vegetation

  has long roots to reach deep underground
• plants have thick bark to prevent water loss
• leaves waxy coating to reduce transpiration
• vegatation also have spines/spikes to stop animals eating them
• vegatation has minimal growth of leaves during wet season to conserve water
• rocks weather and break down which allows some nutrients to be resorted to the ground - further aiding plant growth
• what type of rainfall does the rainforest experience?

  convectional