GCSE Geography AQA 1-9 - The Living World
Ecosystem - (correct Answer) - A natural system that comprises of living and non-living components such
as Flora and Fauna
What are the two main sources of nutrients? - (correct Answer) - - rainwater washes chemicals out of the
atmosphere
- weathered rock releases nutrients into the soil
Small scale ecosystems - (correct Answer) - Ponds, hedgerows or woodlands
Large scale ecosystems - (correct Answer) - Tropical rainforests, woodland. Biomes
What causes change in ecosystems? - (correct Answer) - Naturally it by humans
- global scale changes (climate change)
- local scale changes (changing a habitat - like removing a hedge)
Natural changes to an ecosystem - (correct Answer) - - can adapt to slow natural changes
- extreme weather events (droughts) which can destroy ponds
• dry up places which changes the edge of pond environment, plants dry out, fish (starved of oxygen)
might not survive
Human changes to an ecosystem - (correct Answer) - - agricultural fertilisers can deplete oxygen and fish
may die
- ponds may be drained to use for farming. Aquatic plants die as well as fish and other pond life
- woods cut down, destroying habitats for birds and affecting nutrient cycle
- hedgerows removed to increase size of fields. Habitats destroyed altering the plant/ animal balance
How are biomes usually defined? - (correct Answer) - the dominant type of vegetation
How are biomes formed? - (correct Answer) - they are in broad belts parallel to the lines of latitude. This
is because the climate and characteristics of biomes are determined by global atmospheric circulation
What are the different types of biome? - (correct Answer) - Tundra
Coniferous forest
Temperate deciduous forest
Temperate grassland
, Mediterranean
Dessert
Tropical rainforest
Tropical grassland (savanna)
Polar
Characteristics and location of tropical rainforests - (correct Answer) - - close to the equator
- equatorial low
- high temperatures and heavy rainfall
- ideal place for plants
- more than half of the worlds plant species live here
- quarter of all medicines come from rainforest plants
Characteristics and location of deserts - (correct Answer) - - 30 degrees north and south of the equator
- sub-tropical high
- sinking air stops clouds forming causing hot daytimes and cold nights
- low rainfall
- well adapted plants and animals
Characteristics and location of polar - (correct Answer) - - Arctic/Antarctica
- cold air sinks at the poles making very cold and dry environments
- can fall below -50 degree she
Characteristics and location of deciduous and coniferous forests - (correct Answer) - - 50-60 degrees
north from equator
- deciduous trees shed leaves in winter to retain moisture
- coniferous trees are evergreen
- coniferous trees are better suited to colder climates
Characteristics and location of temperate grassland - (correct Answer) - - 30-40 degrees north and south
of equator, away from coasts
- hot summers and cold winters
- grasses
Ecosystem - (correct Answer) - A natural system that comprises of living and non-living components such
as Flora and Fauna
What are the two main sources of nutrients? - (correct Answer) - - rainwater washes chemicals out of the
atmosphere
- weathered rock releases nutrients into the soil
Small scale ecosystems - (correct Answer) - Ponds, hedgerows or woodlands
Large scale ecosystems - (correct Answer) - Tropical rainforests, woodland. Biomes
What causes change in ecosystems? - (correct Answer) - Naturally it by humans
- global scale changes (climate change)
- local scale changes (changing a habitat - like removing a hedge)
Natural changes to an ecosystem - (correct Answer) - - can adapt to slow natural changes
- extreme weather events (droughts) which can destroy ponds
• dry up places which changes the edge of pond environment, plants dry out, fish (starved of oxygen)
might not survive
Human changes to an ecosystem - (correct Answer) - - agricultural fertilisers can deplete oxygen and fish
may die
- ponds may be drained to use for farming. Aquatic plants die as well as fish and other pond life
- woods cut down, destroying habitats for birds and affecting nutrient cycle
- hedgerows removed to increase size of fields. Habitats destroyed altering the plant/ animal balance
How are biomes usually defined? - (correct Answer) - the dominant type of vegetation
How are biomes formed? - (correct Answer) - they are in broad belts parallel to the lines of latitude. This
is because the climate and characteristics of biomes are determined by global atmospheric circulation
What are the different types of biome? - (correct Answer) - Tundra
Coniferous forest
Temperate deciduous forest
Temperate grassland
, Mediterranean
Dessert
Tropical rainforest
Tropical grassland (savanna)
Polar
Characteristics and location of tropical rainforests - (correct Answer) - - close to the equator
- equatorial low
- high temperatures and heavy rainfall
- ideal place for plants
- more than half of the worlds plant species live here
- quarter of all medicines come from rainforest plants
Characteristics and location of deserts - (correct Answer) - - 30 degrees north and south of the equator
- sub-tropical high
- sinking air stops clouds forming causing hot daytimes and cold nights
- low rainfall
- well adapted plants and animals
Characteristics and location of polar - (correct Answer) - - Arctic/Antarctica
- cold air sinks at the poles making very cold and dry environments
- can fall below -50 degree she
Characteristics and location of deciduous and coniferous forests - (correct Answer) - - 50-60 degrees
north from equator
- deciduous trees shed leaves in winter to retain moisture
- coniferous trees are evergreen
- coniferous trees are better suited to colder climates
Characteristics and location of temperate grassland - (correct Answer) - - 30-40 degrees north and south
of equator, away from coasts
- hot summers and cold winters
- grasses
