The Living World Revision

Describe the role of producers/ consumers/ decomposers in an ecosystem (2 Marks) Describe what an ecosystem is (2 Marks) A hedgerow ecosystem Trophic levels

Explain the impact on the ecosystem if the primary producers were removed(2 Marks) Describe the impact on the ecosystem if X was removed (2 Marks) A food chain shows what eats what. A hedgerow ecosystem Ladybird Sparrow Sparrow hawk A food web shows lots of food chains and how they overlap. Sparrow hawk Sparrow Thrush Ladybird Greenfly Spider Tertiary consumer Secondary consumer Hedgerows - berries Primary consumer Producer

Explain the impact on the ecosystem if the primary producers were removed(2 Marks) Describe the impact on the ecosystem if X was removed (2 Marks) Sparrow hawk A hedgerow ecosystem Sparrow Thrush Ladybird Greenfly Spider Hedgerows - berries Hedgerow trimmed Fewer habitats for ladybirds, spiders, so numbers fall Sparrow and thrush have less to eat, so numbers fall Fewer birds for sparrow hawks to hunt, so numbers fall Challenge: Who in the food chain would be most affected if the spiders were removed?

Explain the processes involved in the nutrient cycle (4 Marks) Describe the role of decomposers in the nutrient cycle (2 Marks) The nutrient cycle Hint and tips: 1. Litter dead leafs and animals on the ground. 2. Decomposition leafs and animals decompose and nutrients enter the soil 3. Leaching when rain removes the nutrient from the soil

Typical examination questions:

Describe the distribution of the Tundra/ Desert ecosystem (3 Marks) A map showing the distribution of the worlds major ecosystems How do these 2 link?

Describe the distribution of the Tundra/ Desert ecosystem (3 Marks) Tundra Tundra: 1. Found at high latitudes above 60 degrees N 2. In northern Europe, Alaska, northern Canada. 3. Winters are very cold, summers are brief and there is little rainfall. 4. Little trees, vegetation includes mosses, grasses and low shrubs. 5. There s a layers of permanently frozen ground called permafrost.

Describe the distribution of the Tundra/ Desert ecosystem (3 Marks) Temperate deciduous forest

Describe the distribution of the Tundra/ Desert ecosystem (3 Marks) Temperate grassland

Describe the distribution of the Tundra/ Desert ecosystem (3 Marks) Savannah grassland

Describe the distribution of the Tundra/ Desert ecosystem (3 Marks) Hot desert

Describe the distribution of the Tundra/ Desert ecosystem (3 Marks) Polar

Describe the distribution of the Tundra/ Desert ecosystem (3 Marks) Tropical Rainforest

Describe 3 features of a Rainforest biome (3 Marks) Tropical Rainforest - location

Describe the characteristics of the climate in the rainforest (3 Marks) Explain why rainforests experience the climate which they do (4 marks) Tropical Rainforest - climate Convectional rainfall

Explain the importance of the nutrient cycle in the rainforest (4 Marks) Suggest how reducing tree cover could impact the nutrient cycle/ rainfall in the rainforest (4 marks) Tropical Rainforest an interdependent ecosystem INTERDEPENDENT: One thing relies on another! All of the following are dependent on each other: 1. Climate 2. Water 3. Soils 4. Plants 5. Animals 6. People If one of the above changes everything else will be effected e.g. the nutrient cycle

Describe the characteristics of the vegetation in the rainforest (3 Marks) Explain how vegetation has adapted to the rainforest environment (4 marks) Tropical Rainforest vegetation/ adaption

Describe the characteristics of the vegetation in the rainforest (3 Marks) Explain how vegetation has adapted to the rainforest environment (4 marks) Tropical Rainforest vegetation/ adaption Howler monkey: 1. Strong limbs spends entire time in canopy Slough: 1. Nocturnal as cooler at night 2. Claws - climbing Flying squirrels: 1. Flap of skin so it can fly glide between trees in the canopy

Explain why rainforests have high levels of biodiversity (4marks) Why rainforests have a high biodiversity:

Explain the problems associated with deforestation in the rainforests (4 marks) Explain the advantages of deforestateion for countries with tropical rainforests (4 marks) Deforestation in the rainforest: 4 1 2 3 5 6 7 8

Explain the problems associated with deforestation in the rainforests (4 marks) Explain the advantages of deforestation for countries with tropical rainforests (4 marks) Case study Amazon deforestation the good and bad: The Carajas mine can be seen from space The largest rainforest in the world Brazil, Peru, Columbia and many more! Since 1978 and area 3 times the size of the UK has been deforested. The Trans-Amazonian highway

Explain why protecting the rainforest is important (4 marks) The importance of the rainforest: Periwinkle Amazonian Indians

Suggest how rainforests can be managed sustainably (4 marks) Managing rainforests sustainably:

Suggest how rainforests can be managed sustainably (4 marks) Managing rainforests sustainably: Conservation: 1. Many countries have set up nature reserves and national parks 2. This is expensive 3. So funds set up for overseas businesses and people to invest in 4. Norway has paid $1 billion to Brazil s Amazon fund

Describe the features of a desert climate (2 marks) Describe the location of deserts from figure 2 (3 marks) Desert features:

Describe the features of a desert climate (2 marks) Describe the location of deserts from figure 2 (3 marks) Desert features: INTERDEPENDENT: One thing relies on another!

Explain how animals have adapted to the conditions in a desert (4 marks) Desert animals:

Explain how vegetation has adapted to the conditions in a desert (4 marks) Desert vegetation:

To what extent do deserts offer opportunities and challenges for development (9 marks) The Sahara desert: Tunisia solar farm Hassi Messaoud Aswan Dam Opportunities most are economic!: 1. Oil and gas extraction = jobs and increased GNI e.g. Hassi Messaoud in Algeria employs 40,000 people = 60% of Algeria s income! 2. Solar energy = cheap energy for homes = more disposable income Tunisia = 2 million homes powered. Social 3. Mineral extraction Morocco mines phosphate = world s largest exporter = jobs and income 4. Farming where irrigation = farming e.g. Aswan dam in Egypt 5. Tourism = camel trekking in Morocco and sandboarding = jobs. The Sahara is larger than Europe but only has a population of 2 million people Challenges to development: 1. Extreme temps = risk of illness or death when working and hospitals far. 2. The area is huge = expensive to export products out or expensive oil and gas pipelines made = higher costs which people may not want! 3. Lack of water = enough for workers is limited underground water used = less for animals and vegetation = extinction and desertification.

To what extent is desertification caused by human factors (9 marks) Desertification: Desertification - the process by which fertile land becomes desert, typically as a result of drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agriculture.

Assess the importance of management strategies to reduce the risk of environmental damage (9 marks) Desertification management: