geography paper 3

• Abiotic components

  Non-living environmental factors that have influence over the ecosystem (e.g. climate, light exposure, soil type)
• Altitude

  A measurement of the height of the land (usually as height above sea level)
• Biome

  Also known as a global-scale ecosystem; a large, distinct region of the Earth with similar climate, soil, plants and animals
• Biosphere

  The living layer of Earth between the atmosphere (air) and the lithosphere (crust) where all plants and animals are found
• Biotic components

  Living organisms that interact with the environment and other organisms within an ecosystem
• Boserupian theory

  The theory that the demands of the growing population will always be met, as humans will continue to invent new ways to increase resource supply
• Carbon sequestration

  The long-term capture and storage of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
• Coniferous forest biome (taiga/boreal)

  A biome located at high latitudes, characterised by conifer trees and a cold climate
• Consumers

  Organisms that receive energy from consuming (i.e. eating) living organisms
• Decomposers

  Organisms that break down organic material and release the nutrients back into the ecosystem
• Desert biome

  • A biome located around 30° north and south of the equator, characterised by extremely low precipitation levels and extreme daily temperature fluctuations
• Ecosystem

  A natural system in which a community of plants and animals interact with each other and their physical environment
• Eutrophication

  The growth of algae in a body of water due to excess nutrients, leading to the depletion of oxygen in an aquatic ecosystem
• Food chain

  A linear relationship showing the biotic interactions within an ecosystem, from a producer to a final consumer
• Hydrological cycle

  The continuous transfer of water throughout Earth
• Indigenous peoples

  The earliest known settlers in an area
• Industrialisation

  The development of the industrial sector in a country or region
• Malthusian theory

  The theory that population growth increases exponentially but resource supply only increases linearly
• Mediterranean biome

  • A biome located 40-45° north of the equator (and in isolated spots south of the equator), characterised by mild, moist winters and hot, dry summers
• Nutrient cycling

  The transfer of nutrients through an ecosystem, from the decay of organic material into the production and energy of living organisms
• Producers

  Organisms that convert energy from the environment (mainly sunlight) into sugars (glucose)
• Savanna biome

  • A biome located around 15-30° north and south of the equator, characterised by high temperatures, very dry summers and very wet winters
• Temperate deciduous forest biome

  • A biome located around 40-50° north and south of the equator, characterised by deciduous trees (trees that shed their leaves) and moderate precipitation
• Temperate grassland biome

  • A biome located in non-coastal areas around 30-40° north and south of the equator, characterised by low precipitation and grasses as the major vegetation
• Transpiration

  The evaporation of water from plants
• Tropical rainforest biome


  • A biome located near the equator, characterised by very high precipitation and sustained warm temperatures
• Tundra biome

  • A biome located in the far northern hemisphere, characterised by very cold conditions and permanently frozen soils
• Urbanisation

  The increase in the proportion of the population living in urban areas
• Acid rain

  Rain with a pH of around 4, formed when chemicals from industrial processes react with water in clouds to form acids
• Adaptation

  An evolved trait of an animal or plant that helps them to cope with environmental stresses
• Biodiversity

  A large variety of animal and plant life living in the same ecosystem
• Biofuels

  Fuels produced from biomass (i.e. organic matter)
• Biomass

  Total mass of organisms in a set area
• Buttress roots

  Large, thick tree roots that grow above the ground in tropical rainforests
• Camouflage

  An animal adaptation where animals purposefully look like their surroundings to hide from predators
• Canopy

  The layer of a tropical rainforest where the tops of trees touch, forming a dense area of vegetation
• Carbon sink

  Something that absorbs more carbon dioxide than it emits, causing a net loss of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
• Cattle ranching

  The rearing of cows on large areas of land, usually to produce meat to sell for a profit
• CITES

  (The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna & Flora) an international agreement that works to protect threatened wildlife from exploitation
• Clear felling

  A form of logging where all trees in an area are cut down