Small Scale Ecosystems

• What is an ecosystem?

  A natural system made up of plants, animals and the environment
• What does the term 'biotic' mean?

  Living features of an ecosystem such as plants and fish.
• What does the term 'abiotic' mean?

  Non-living environmental factors such as climate, temperature and light.
• What would be an example of a local/small scale ecosystem?

  Pond, hedgerow or woodland
• What would be an example of a global scale ecosystem?

  Tropical rainforest and deciduous woodland. These are called biomes.
• What is the definition of a producer?

  Something that converts energy from the environment into sugars.
• What is an example of a producer?

  Plants; which convert energy from the Sun by photosynthesis.
• What is the definition of a consumer?

  Something that gets energy from the sugars produced by producers
• What is an example of a consumer?

  Cow, snail pond or any other animals that eats plants.
• What is the definition of a decomposer?

  An organism that breaks down plant and animal material and return the nutrients to the soil.
• What is an example of a decomposer?

  bacteria and fungi
• What is the definition of a food chain?

  Shows the direct links between producers and consumers in the form of a simple line.
• What is a food web?

  Shows all the connections between producers and consumers in a complex way.
• What is the nutrient cycling?

  The recycling of nutrients between living organisms and the environment.
• What are the two main sources of nutrients?

  Rainwater washes chemicals from the atmosphere and weathered rock releases nutrients into the soil.
• How long can ecosystems take to develop?

  hundreds to thousands of years
• What does a ecosystem need to be sustainable?


  Balance
• What causes a change to ecosystems?

  Changes can be through natural or man-made processes.
• What is a reason for a global change in ecosystems?

  Climate change
• What is a reason for a local-scale change in ecosystems?

  Hedge row is removed or when a pond is filled in
• What are some examples of natural changes to ecosystems?

  Extreme weather like droughts
• What are the effects of human changes to ecosystems?

  Humans can interrupt the balance of an ecosystem and cause knock on effects
• What is a biome?

  a region of Earth where the climate determines the types of organisms that live there
• Variations in biomes are caused by?

  Ocean currents, winds and the distribution of land and sea
• Where is the tropical biome located?

  Close to the equator
• How are tropical biomes created?

  High temperature and heavy rainfall leading to increased evaporation.
• Where is the desert biome located?

  Around 30 degrees North or South of the equator
• How are desert biomes created?

  Sinking air stops clouds from forming, resulting in high daytime temperature, low night temperature and low rainfall.
• Where is the polar biome located?

  Arctic and Antarctic
• How are polar biomes created?

  Cold air sinks at the poles, resulting in low and dry conditions
• Where are Deciduous and Coniferous forests located?

  Roughly 50-60 degrees north of the equator
• How are Deciduous and Coniferous forests created?

  Short summer months mean trees have maximum leaves for photosynthesis and during Autumn shred their leaves to retain moisture.
• Where are temperate grasslands located?

  Roughly 30-40 degrees north and south of the Equator. Inland away from coasts with hot summers and cold winters.
• How are temperate grass lands linked to atmospheric circulation?

  These areas experience warm, dry summers and cold winters. This is perfect for grazing animals.
• Where are mediterranean biomes located?

  Roughly 40-45 degrees North of the equator.
• How is the mediterranean biome created?

  Pressure belts migrating slightly north and south during the year. This brings hot, sunny and dry summers.
• Where are tropical grasslands (Savanna) located?

  Between 15-30 degrees North or South of the equator.
• How is the tropical grassland biome created?

  Low latitudes and characterised by wet and dry seasons. Dry seasons very hot and during the wet season has large thunderstorms. Large animals graze here.
• Where are Tundra biomes located?

  From the Arctic circle to 60 degrees North of the equator.
• How is the Tundra biome created?

  Low growing plants adapted to retain heat and moisture in the cold, windy and dry conditions.