Geography

Shows the connections between producers and consumers in a rather more complex way

foods that are used by plants or animals to grow

Two main sources:

-rainwater washes chemicals out of the atmosphere 

-weathered rock releases nutrients into the soil

When plants or animals die, the decompisers help them to recycle the nutrients making them available one again for the growth of plants or animals.

Very large ecological areas on the earth‘s surface, with Fauna and flora adapting to their environment. (E.g. rainforest)

The variety of live in the world ora particular habitat.

Begins at canal hill in Tiverton and continuous from there to Greenway Bridge and Buckland.

They both influence each other. The abiotic factors will determine what kinds of biotic factors will be present. Paticular organisms and plant forms are suited for particular types of environment. E.g. frigid climates will not support lizards and other cold-blooded animals. Instead large, blubery mammals like whales and polar bears are much better suited to this type of environment. At the same time the biotic factors will influence the abiotic factors. Microbes and plant life in a lake will determine what the different factors of water will be (acidity, murkiness)

Water shortage / Over fertilisation leading to eutrophication / Exposure to water by chemical agents

Plankton and Crustaceous animals would increase unhindered. Algae education would become bigger. The birds at the top of the food chain wouldn’t have enough food and would die.

The abiotic components of an ecosystem provide a crucial habitat and environment for the biotic components to live in. I.e. the water and rainfall that fills up the canal creates the environment in which the fish can live.

Water, heat (from the sun), oxygen, minerals in the soil

1. Exzessive nutrients from fertilisers are flushed from the land, into rivers or lakes by rainwater. 2. Plants flourish these pollutants cause aquatic plant growth of algae, duckweed and other plants. 3. Algae blooms, prevebring sunlight reaching other plants. The plants die and oxygen in the water is depleted. 4. Dead plants are broken down by bacteria, decomposers are using up even more oxygen in the water. 5. Death of the ecosystem: oxygen level reaches a point where no life is possible, Fish and other organisms die.

Oil / tourism / fishing / hunting / mining (gold)

Very cold / 0 C* / in the north 24 h darkness in winter / souls are poor / permafrost in the north (becomes sporadic as you move south) / mountains (e.g. Brooks Range) with steep slopes / rivers (e.g. Yukon) / earthquakes in the south / Tundra Vegetation is very fragile I.e. it takes a very long time for vegetation to grow / ownership of Alaska and conflicts with native tributes / conflict with nature e. g. Caribon and their migration pull

Prudhoe Bay to Fairbanks to Valdez (Port of Valdez)

the Taiga would grow, Tundra would be less, tree line goes north, permafrost will melt, the polar bear would be under pressure

Problem: PERMAFROST Solution: Utilidor System (picture) / Build on stilts / insulate / triple glazing / build on a gravel pad

In the northern region of Europe, Asia, North America and Alaska. Only very small areas of Tundra in the Southern Hemisphere.

Flat / treeless - low growing plants / subtoil permanently frozen / short Tee als growing season - complete their life circle in a few weeks / snow cover / cold - windy - low temperatures / 250 - 500 mm rainfall

Tundra is very cold in the winter but there can still grow plants different to the polar ecosystem, because the temperature can fall below -50 C* this makes existence for plants and animals, apart from a few exceptions, almost impossible.

• plants must be resistant to cold as well as to much moisture (e.g. peal moss is optimal adapted to these conditions)
• plants have adapted to these extreme conditions and are vulnerable to disturbances and changes of the ecosystem
• plants complete their life circles in a few weeks or some are evergreen so they don't need to waste time in the growing season
• plants are often growing low on the ground so they have the extra warmth just above the surface

• animals are migrating into warmer regions, in order to find enough food
• some are doing winter sleep and have winter fur or a feather dress as heat protection
• some also have a heat-efficent body shape (e.g. arctic fox) 

the earth is round that has the consequence that the sun shines stronger on the middle part of the earth than the outer and spread more out at higher latitudes.

• permafrost
• in summer the surface will thaw about half a meter deep
• the soil is shallow, infertile, acidic, waterlogged and peaty

• use of technology
• role of governments
• international agreements
• conservation groups (NGO's)

• when ther is a river - the oil flows beneath
• the oil is really hot - they rased the pipeline and insulated it
• in case of an earthquake - the pipeline wont leak because it is supported and can slide if earthquakes happen
• if there would be a leak - the flow of oil would stop automatically 
• pipeline would prevent the migration of caribou - they raised it up

• has been involved in protection ever since oil was discovered
• ensure that the transportation of oil protect the natural environment and the native people
• ensure that drilling for oil is kept away from sensitive areas

Antarctic Treaty

• protect the national environmental
• despite the discovery of valuable minerals
• successfull in: recognising the importance of the continent for scientific research and controlling tourism and keeping disturbance to a minimum

WWF in Canada

• WWF protects the arctic environments in Canada
• they are working with local communities to:
• manage critical ecosystems
• supporting scientific research to help protect important species
• working with oil companies / local Inuit organisations and government regulators to plan a sustainable future for the arctic

• Very wet with over 2,000 mm of rainfall per year.
• Very warm with an average daily temperature of 28°C. The temperature never drops below 20°C and rarely exceeds 35°C.
• The atmosphere is hot and humid.
• The climate is consistent all year round. There are no seasons.

• Most of the soil is not very fertile
• A thin layer of fertile soil is found at the surface where the dead leaves decompose.
• It is red in colour because it is rich in iron.
• Due to heavy rainfall the nutrients are quickly washed out of the soil

• The warm and very wet climate provides perfect conditions for plant growth.
• The wide range of plant species supports many different animals, birds and insects.
• Species have adapted to the conditions of the rainforest, eg trees and plants have shallow-reaching roots to absorb nutrients from the thin fertile layer in the soil.

A tropical rainforest is made up of the following layers:

• ground level
• shrub layer
• under canopy
• (main) canopy
• emergents

The following adaptations allow plants to survive in the conditions of the rainforest.

• Lianas - these are woody vines that have roots in the ground but climb up the trees to reach the sunlight. Their leaves and flowers grow in the canopy.
• Tree trunks - these are tall and thin to allow trees to reach the sunlight. The bark on these trees is smooth to allow water to flow down to the roots easily.

Drip tips - plants have leaves with pointy tips. This allows water to run off the leaves quickly without damaging or breaking them.

Buttress roots - large roots have ridges which create a large surface area that help to support large trees.

Epiphytes - these are plants which live on the branches of trees high up in the canopy. They get their nutrients from the air and water, not from the soil.

Many animals have adapted to the unique conditions of the tropical rainforests.

The sloth uses camouflage and moves very slowly to make it difficult for predatorsto spot.

The spider monkey has long, strong limbs to help it to climb through the rainforest trees.

The flying frog has fully webbed hands and feet, and a flap of loose skin that stretches between its limbs, which allows it to glide from plant to plant.

The toucan has a long, large bill to allow it to reach and cut fruit from branches that are too weak to support its weight.

• Farming - large areas are cleared for pastoral farming. As the global demand for meat has increased many cattle farms have opened in the Amazon Basin for beef farming. Arable farming is also responsible for the loss of tropical rainforest as many farmers are clearing land to grow cash crops, such as soya beans.

• Logging - tropical rainforests are cut down so that valuable trees like mahogany can be accessed and sold for timber to make furniture. Other trees are cut down for making paper products.

• Mining - the Amazon Basin is rich in natural resources such as iron ore, copper, tin, aluminium, manganese and gold. This has led to the development of mines which results in the clearance of tropical rainforest. The Carajas mine in Brazil is the world's largest iron ore mine.

• Roads - the construction of access roads for farmers, loggers and miners results in large parts of the tropical rainforest being destroyed.

• Hydroelectric power (HEP) - The creation of HEP stations in the Amazon Basin has resulted in large areas of forest being flooded to create the reservoirs and dams. The flooding of the Balbina dam in Brazil resulted in the loss of 920 square miles of tropical rainforest.

• Population - population growth has resulted in the loss of tropical rainforest as land is cleared to build houses and infrastructure.