sustaining ecosystem

• interdependence: animals need

  climate - animals adapt to certain climates

  water - animals need it to live

  soil - provides shelter and a source of food to the animals

  plants - provides energy for all animals in the food chain
• interdependence: water needs:

  climate - rain determines the availability of water

  soil - different types of rock store more or less water so availability is affected

  plants - water availability is determined by the amount absorbed and stored by plants

  animals - they can dam rivers, exhale water and affect how much water is absorbed in the ground
• interdependence: plants:

  climate - plants are adapted to live in certain climates

  water - plants need water to grow

  soil - plants need it to absorb nutrients and anchor their roots to grow

  animals - they disperse plant seeds and pollinate them
• interdependence - soil :

  climate - high levels of precipitation can wash the nutrients out of soil

  water - helps organic matter to biodegrade and form soil

  plants - high levels of precipitation can wash the nutrients out of soil

  animal - animal faeces and dead animals break down to create soil
• interdependence - climate needs :

  water - The availability of water on the ground to evaporate will influence the amount of precipitation

  soil - it contains organic matter which traps co2, regulates climate change

  plants - they release water into the air to create precipitation and absorb co2

  animals - directly affect the amount of vegetation as well as exhaling co2
• global distribution - polar regions - furthest north and south of the equator
• global distribution - coral reefs - majority in between the tropics of cancer and Capricorn
• global distribution - grasslands - north and south America, Africa, Asia, Australia, and majority of Africa
• global distribution - temperate forests - most of Europe and east of America
• global distribution - tropical forests - between tropics, south America, Africa, and asia
• global distribution - hot deserts - around the tropics
• polar regions

  • climate - very cold, never above 0 degrees, winters below -40 to -90. rainfall is low, no more than 100mm, cold summers and colder winters
  • flora - some lichens and mosses on rocks and very few hrasses on the coast where it is warmer. plants grow slowly and not tall. some small short trees grow
  • fauna - polar bears, penguins, whales, seals, and walrus in polar regions
• coral reefs:

  • climate - most common in warm areas that receive lots of sunlight, grow best in shallow, clear, salty waters
  • flora - coral reefs are underwater so few plants grow. tiny algae live inside the tissue of corals. the algae and coral depend on each other for nutrients
  • fauna - coral is an animal. 25% of all marine species live in coral reefs; fish, mollusks, sea snakes, turtles, and shrimps. fish have flat bodies so easily swim through small gaps
• grassland:

  • climate - low rainfall ( 800 to 900mm) and clear wet and dry seasons. highest temperature 35 degrees, lowest 15 degrees. found at the equator so lots of sunshine
  • flora - mostly grass, scrubs, small plants, and a few scattered trees
  • fauna - lots of insects (grasshoppers and beetles) and larger animals (lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, and antelope)
• temperate rainforests:

  • climate - 4 seasons, warm summer, cool winter. rainfall is high (1500mm) all year round. days are shorter in winter and longer in summer, hours of sun vary
  • flora - broad-leaved trees and shrubs and undergrowth
  • fauna - mammals (foxes and squirrels), birds (woodpeckers), and insects (beetles)
• tropical rainforests:

  • climate - same all year round (No seasons), always hot 20 - 28 degrees ( as it is near the equator so the sun is overhead all year round). rainfall is 2000mm, rain everyday
  • flora - evergreen, tall trees, dense cover so little light reaches floor lots of epiphytes (plants that live on other plants), orchids, and ferns
  • fauna - most species in all ecosystems, gorillas, jaguars, sloths, and lots of insects and birds. all brightly coloured and make lots of noise
• hot desert

  • climate - less than 250mm per year. temperature range from very hot days (45 degrees) to cold nights ( 5 degrees)
  • flora - sparse growth. cacti and thornbushes. short life cycle due to a lack of rain
  • fauna - lizards, snakes, insects and scorpions. nocturnal animals, kangaroo rats. most birds leave in the harshest conditions but some live all year round (roadrunner)
• tropical rainforest;

  • climate - no seasons, 20 - 28 degrees, 2000mm of rain
  • nutrients cycle - biomass = litter which turns to soil which turns to biomass. tress are evergreeen and drop leaves all year round, warm moist climate means fungi and bacteria decompose the dead organic matter quickly. the nutrients released are soluble and are soaked up by soil. nutrients are rapidly taken up by plant roots
  • soil profile - leaf layer = humus, deep soil layer, bedrock
  • water cycle - water evaporates, clouds form, it rains, water runs into rivers and seas, water evaporates
• interdependence of tropical rainforests:

  wet climate - plants grow quickly = dense leaf cover and protected from wind and rainfall. root system holds soil together which stops erosion

  lack of wind on floor = plants rely on animals (bees) for pollination so animals and plants rely on each other

  epiphytes grow high on other plants to get light but have no access to nutrients in soil. dependant on rainfall which provides water and nutrients

  deforestation reduces co2 abosbed which adds to greenhouse gases and changes the climate
• tropical rainforest goods:

  rubber, coffee, chocolate, and medicines. undiscovered species might give up new medicines and other products. hardwoods used for buildings, logging of hardwood contributes a lot to a country's economy. farming and mining opportunities provide jobs and income
• tropical rainforest services

  plants absorb 0.7 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide (carbon sink) rainfall is interrupted by a high density of vegetation which reduces rick of local flooding. regulates the global water cycle ( lots of water stored and slowly released)
• human impacts in the tropical rainforest:

  • logging - no trees to hold soil together so heavy rain washes away soil (erosion). soil enters rivers, silting up habitats that fish use for breeding. interrupts water cycle so areas become very dry and have risk of wildfires, more co2 in atmosphere
• human impacts to the tropical rainforest

  • agriculture - land is cleared using slash and burn techniques - produces co2, nutrients wash away in soil, so fertility is reduced. artificial fertilisers are washed into streams - killing wildlife
• human impacts on the tropical rainforests

  • mineral extraction = removing trees. toxic chemicals are used (polluting) conflicts over land with locals tourism - scare wildlife, damage vegetation, leave litter, pollute area
• chalalan ecolodge - social and economic

  • more than 70 families receive economic benefits from profits and employment (24 employees full time as cooks, guides, cleaners, and administrators) - this is socially and economically sustainable
  • 50% of its profits are reinvested into the community in areas of healthcare, infrastructure, and education - 600 residents benefit from this - economically sustainable.
• chalalan ecolodge - economic and environmental

  • 70 families volunteered to build the ecolodge, the structure was made from local rainforest materials that were harvested in a sustainable manner - economically and environmentally sustainable
  • electricity is only used for 3 hours a day - environmentally sustainable
  • liquid waste is treated using the sun and biological processes to guarantee minimum impact on the surrounding environment - environmentally sustainable
• arctic and Antarctica:

  • climate - never over 0 degrees, winter normally below -40 degrees and maybe -90. rain is low, no more than 100mm
  • soil - ice sheets, no soil is seen, few plants or animals, permafrost under thin soil, has large amounts of greenhouse gases
  • plants - few plants, some lichens + mosses on rocks, plants grow slowly + small. small, short trees grow in warmer, sheltered area
  • animals - polar bears, penguins, whales, seals, and walrus
  • people - almost uninhabited, a few scientists live in Antarctica for short periods, some indigenous people live in arctic areas
• polar regions - human impacts

  tourism:

  • occurs in the Arctic and Antarctic
  • increases shipping and air travel, leading to water and air pollution and risk of oil spills
  • tourists can disturb breeding colonies of birds and seals, trampling damages vegetation and erodes landscapes
  • litter damages habitat and harms wildlife
• polar regions - human impacts

  fishery:

  • occurs in Arctic and Antarctic
  • over-fishing threatens many species
  • reduced fish populations affect larger animals in the food chain, e.g. birds who eat fish
  • mammals can get caught in the fish nets and drown
• polar regions - human impacts

  indigenous people:

  • no permanent people in Antarctica
  • The Arctic has 4 million including the Inuit of Greenland and Canada
  • traditional ones rely on reindeer herding, fishing, and hunting to support them but only take what they need
  • many now live in modern towns and cities - impact environment through waste and noise pollution and heat which can melt permafrost
• polar regions - human impacts

  scientific research

  • global climate change
  • positive impact on global environmental management and polar ecosystem management
  • some scientists dumped rubbish and left broken equipment - polluting the land and sea, damaging habitats and wildlife
  • research stations and ships produce pollution - this is limited though
• polar regions - human impacts

  mineral extraction:

  • large oil and gas reserves
  • drilling is risky, oil spills occur and harm habitats, and kill wildlife
  • pipelines have been built to transport oil and gas, these can melt permafrost and interrupt migration routes
  • the extraction of metals from mined rocks produces a lot of pollution damaging ecosystems
• small scale management - sustainable ecotourism in antarctica
• IAATO ( international association antarctica tour operators)
• small scale management:

  • IAATO - makes videos to inform people about tourism in Antarctica. this is socially sustainable as it educates people about how it all works and raises awareness. but not everyone watches the video because there are over 40,000 visitors per year.
• small scale management

  • secure all belongings because of strong winds - environmentally sustainable as it makes sure toxins/waste don't contaminate the environment. economically sustainable so people don't lose their belongings and have to buy new things. people might not listen or make mistakes and these toxins will take a very long time to break down
• small scale management:

  • keep at least 5 metres away from wildlife, and do not disturb nature. environmentally sustainable as it allows wildlife to carry on in their natural way. but people might get too close as its in the financial interest of the tour guide to make customers happy. interfering could change animals' overall nature
• small scale management:

  everyone must have an expert guide, 1 guide for every 20 people. this is socially sustainable as the guide can teach them how to interact and live in Antarctica. however the guide might compromise wildlife as it is in the financial interest of the guide to make the customers happy. and the guide may not be qualified because the interest of these tours is increasing and there aren't enough qualified ones
• global scale management:

  Antarctic Treaty: came into force in 1961, by 2016 53 countries accepted the treaty, and it expires in 2048. this treaty creates peace over Antarctica which is socially sustainable

  • to demilitarise Antarctica; no military operation allowed
  • to establish it as a nuclear-free zone; no testing or radioactive waste disposal is allowed
  • to ban any activity relating to mineral extraction
  • to preserve historic sites
  • Antarctica can only be used for research activity