Ecosystems What is an ecosystem - PowerPoint Presentation

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2. EcosystemsWhat is an ecosystem?An ecosystem is a natural system in which the living parts (biotic) e.g. plants (flora) and animals (fauna) and non-living parts (abiotic) e.g. water, air, sunlight, soil and rock interact and are interdependent (rely upon each other). Do it now!1. What is an ecosystem? [2]2. What is meant by the terms biotic and abiotic? [2] 3. What is meant by the terms flora and fauna? [2]4. What is meant by the term interdependence? [2]

3. Ecosystems: The TundraWhat influences the characteristics of global ecosystems?Climate and latitude are important factors that contribute to the location of the world’s major ecosystems. The world contains seven major ecosystems. Each ecosystem has its own climatic characteristics, which create environments for a range of plants and animals to survive. What are the world’s major global ecosystems?The Tundra is a frozen part of our planet. It is located at latitudes greater than 71° north of the Equator. The ground is frozen all year round. This is known as permafrost. Do it now!1. Describe the location of the Tundra. [3]2. Outline patterns in the climate of the Tundra. [2] How have flora and fauna adapted to the Tundra?Fauna: Polar Bear: insulated with 2 layers of fur and a layer of fat, small ears to prevent heat loss, large feet to spread weightFlora: Arctic Moss: has tiny rootlets (rhizoids) instead of roots due to the extreme permafrost.  It also grows in lake bottoms and bogs and this is where it gets most of its nutrients from.  It stores lots of the unused nutrients in the leaves for the next spring so it can grow again quickly.

4. Ecosystems: Hot DesertsWhat are the world’s major global ecosystems?Hot Deserts are large areas which are dry and arid. Examples include the Sahara and Sahel deserts. Hot Deserts still have a range of flora and fauna species. Do it now!1. Describe the location of the Hot Desert. [3]2. Explain adaptations to flora and fauna of the Hot Desert. [4] Hot Deserts are distributed (found) near the Equator and in the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.Hot Deserts have high temperatures (50°C) and have low rainfall July to September. They have less than 250mm of rainfall each year. How have flora and fauna adapted to the Hot Desert?Fauna: Camel: sandy colour to camouflage, large ears to allow heat to escape, hump to store fat in times of food shortage, concentrated urine to avoid moisture loss and bushy eyebrows and long eyelashes to keep sand away from eyes. Flora: Cactus: stems that can hold water, widespread root systems that can collect water from a large area, spines instead of leaves that reduce transpiration, waxy layer to reduce water loss. They are xerophytic (plants that needs little water).

5. Ecosystems: Temperate ForestDo it now!1. Describe the location of the Temperate Forest. [3]2. Explain adaptations to flora and fauna of Temperate Forests. [4] Temperate Forests are distributed between 40° and 60° north and south of the Equator. They are found on all continents apart from Africa. They are also mostly found in the northern hemisphere.The climate of temperate forest include high rainfall which is between 500mm and 1500mm per year. The average temperature is 10°C but summer temperatures range from 20-25°C. There are cold, mild winters in temperate forests. How have flora and fauna adapted to the temperate forest?Flora: Oak tree: bark protects tree from harsh weather in the winter. Oak trees usually have broad leaves which help capture sunlight needed to make food through photosynthesis. Leaves are shed as winter approaches (deciduous) due to unsuitable conditions for photosynthesis and possible water problems (lack of water as it is frozen in the earth). Losing their leaves helps trees to conserve water loss through transpiration. Fauna: Black Bear: varied diet (omnivore) and hibernates during winter to avoid having to find food which is difficult in the winter.

6. Ecosystems: Tropical RainforestsDo it now!Describe the location of the Tropical Rainforest. [3]2. Describe the climate of the Tropical Rainforest. [3]3. Which species of animals (fauna) would you expect to find in the Tropical Rainforest?Tropical Rainforests are distributed mainly in the southern hemisphere and between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. They are found on all continents apart from Europe. This includes the Amazon Rainforest in South America.The climate of the tropical rainforest is that the average temperature is 26°C and there is a high average rainfall of 2500mm. The highest rainfall occurs between December and May and there are hot and wet conditions all year round.

7. Ecosystems: Tropical RainforestsHow have species of flora adapted to the Tropical Rainforest? Lianas: these are woody vines that have roots in the ground but climb up the trees to reach the sunlight. Drip-tip leaves: plants have leaves with pointy tips. This allows water to run off the leaves quickly without damaging or breaking them.The emergent layer is supported by buttress roots. They are roots with a large surface area that help to support large trees.

8. Ecosystems: Tropical RainforestsHow have species of fauna adapted to the Tropical Rainforest? 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.The Jaguar is spotted which provides excellent camouflage in the rainforest environment. They are excellent climbers which allows them to hunt for prey that live in abundance in the canopy.The Sloth uses camouflage and moves very slowly to make it difficult for predators to spot.The Spider monkey has long, strong limbs to help it to climb through the rainforest trees.

9. Tropical Rainforest: StructureWhat is the structure of the Tropical Rainforest?The tallest trees are known as the emergents and can reach as high as 50m.The canopy is the next layer and receives 80% of rainfall and 70% of sunlight. These trees are approximately 30m. The next layer is the under canopy, consisting of trees growing up to 20m.The shrub layer is the lowest layer, where only small trees and shrubs that have adapted can survive. Only 5% of sunlight reaches the forest floor.

10. Tropical Rainforest: Nutrient CycleExplain the impact of deforestation on the tropical rainforest nutrient cycle. [4]

11. Tropical Rainforest: Water CycleRainforests produce their own rainfall. As the rainforest heats up during the morning, the water evaporates into the atmosphere and forms clouds to make rainfall for the next day. This is called convectional rainfall.Water is lost through pores in leaves and then evaporated by heat through a process called evapotranspiration. The roots of plants take up some moisture through transpiration (movement of water through a plant). The canopy intercepts a large volume of rainfall.

12. Case Study: The Peruvian AmazonMost people assume that the Amazon Rainforest is located solely in Brazil. In fact, the Amazon is spread across many different countries in South America.Peru has the second largest portion of the Amazon after Brazil. Tropical rainforest makes up 60% of Peru, but only 5% of people live there.The Peruvian Amazon is the third largest rainforest in the world.Flora and faunaIt has huge biodiversity. About 44% of all bird species and 63% of all mammals live in the Peruvian Rainforest. In the Peruvian Rainforest the flora include the teak, mahogany and screw tree and plants include bromeliads, orchids and cats claw. Peruvian fauna includes the howler, spider monkey, jaguars and the golden macaw. The main indigenous tribes are the Machiguenga. Do it now!Describe the location of the Peruvian Amazon.

13. Tropical Rainforest: ValueDo it now!Create a spider diagram to identify the ways that the Peruvian Amazon is important. How is the Peruvian Amazon of value to humans and the planet?Biodiversity - Peru has some 2937 known species of amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles. 16% exist in no other country.Timber - There are many highly valued hardwood trees in Peru such as the big leafed Mahogany. Minerals - There are valuable resources such as oil, natural gas and gold under the rainforest. Hydro-electricity - There are plans to construct 15 large dams in the Peruvian Rainforest to use the water to create electricity and then export the electricity.Indigenous tribes - Many traditional tribes live in the Peruvian Amazon (Machiguenga) some of which have never been contacted. Medicinal plants - The Peruvian Amazon has been described as a “pharmacy” because of all of the medical plants that exist. Scientists believe that some rainforest plants can help to cure diseases such as cancer. Health of the planet - Rainforests give off water through transpiration which in turn increases rainfall and so without them the climate becomes drier. Also trees absorb carbon dioxide reducing the effects of climate change and global warming.

14. Tropical Rainforest: ThreatsDo it now!Create a spider diagram to identify the ways that the Peruvian Amazon is under threat. How is the Peruvian Amazon’s biodiversity under threat?Timber – the many valuable hardwood trees in the rainforest, in particular the mahogany tree has resulted in extensive logging. Up to 95% is thought to be unregulated and illegal. Energy – there are valuable reserves of oil and natural gas in the Peruvian Rainforest. China has invested in oil exploitation in Madre de Dios region, an area that is home to more than 10% of the world’s bird species and a popular destination for eco-tourists. The extraction of oil can lead to oil spills and serious pollution of water courses. The Camisea natural gas project is designed to exploit a huge gas field in the rainforest that could save Peru $4 billion in energy costs and earn it several billion more in exports. Gold mining –This is exploited by huge machines and often involves the blasting of river banks and the removal of rainforest to provide access to remote areas. Mercury is used in the operation and is highly toxic, causing considerable harm to aquatic ecosystems and poisoning local tribes who depend upon rivers for food and water. Highways – one of the most significant threats is the Trans-oceanic Highway, a road project in South-eastern Peru which will connect Pacific ports to a major highway in Brazil. Agriculture –areas are being deforested to create land for farming, particularly for growing soybeans and for rearing cattle. Fires used to clear the lands can sometimes burn out of control wiping out habitats and killing animals.

15. Tropical Rainforest: ManagementHow has the Peruvian Government attempted to manage the threats to the rainforest? Despite its economic benefits, the Peruvian government is aware of the needs to conserve the rainforest for the future. The Purus-Manu Conservation Corridor in Peru attempts to manage threats to biodiversity over an area of 10 million hectares. Since 2000, National Parks and National Reserves have been established to protect areas of high biodiversity. It is separated into three zones:The Intangible Zone- Nobody is allowed in this part of the rainforest without a permit. Only scientists studying the ecology of this area are ever granted one. However, Peru is an EDC , this area is millions of hectares and Peru does not have resources to police this area. So there is still lots of illegal mining and logging carried out here.The Manu Reserve Zone- Luxury tourist lodges for tourists but they are costly. Profits are used to help local tribes and support the protection of the forest. Also, tourists can be educated on the value of the rainforest and why it is important to protect itManu Cultural Zone- Local tribes live here. They carry out their way of life that like they have done for thousands of years. They are left undisturbed from the outside world. The Purus Manu Corridor

16. Tropical Rainforest: ChallengesWhat are the challenges to the Purus Manu Corridor? Size of the areaThe area is 10 million hectares and so is impossible to monitor and control illegal logging activity.Land ownershipOne of the major problems of protecting the Tropical Rainforest is the question of land ownership. The tribes who have lived on the land have no legal ownership of it. Land has been passed down through the generations. This allows wealthy aggressive logging companies to use legal processes to displace the tribes who live there.Tropical Rainforests are mainly located in LIDCsPeru is a very poor LIDC. Corrupt officials take bribes to allow logging companies to harvest large areas of rainforest illegally.Illegal loggingCurrently most logging in Peru is illegal. One scientist at the Research Institute of the Peruvian Amazon estimates that 95% of the mahogany logged in the country is harvested illegally. Because the wood is so valuable, traffickers are known to deforest inside national parks and reserves. They also have little to no fear: as of early 2006, not a single commercial logger had been imprisoned in Peru for illegal logging.

17. Tropical Rainforest: ManagementCase Study – Tropical RainforestName of tropical rainforest:............................................................................Examine the success of a management attempt in a tropical rainforest that you have studied. [8]

18. Coral ReefsDescribe the distribution of coral reefs. [3] 3 environmental conditions needed for growth:Temperature: they only live in seawater with an average temperature of 18°C and over. The ideal temperature is between 23°C and 25°C.Light: Coral feed on tiny algae which need light to photosynthesize and grow. Without light there will be no algae and so no coral! This explain why coral reefs are found in shallow water where there is maximum light available.Clear water: corals survive best in clear unpolluted water. Sediments in the water reduce the amount of light.Do it now!Describe the environmental conditions needed for coral reef growth. [3]

19. Coral Reefs: AdaptationsFauna: Dugong – They have bad eyesight and the waters they live in can be cloudy so they have adapted by feeling around for food and navigation using their snouts. They are covered in bristles and so can detect sea grass beds which is a source of food. Dugongs migrate to warmer waters in colder seasons. Flora: Algae – able to survive due to the symbiotic relationship with coral – algae provide coral with glucose (food) to grow and the coral provide nitrogen to the algae needed to fertilise it as well as a home. Flora: Sea grass – play a vital role in preserving the biodiversity of sea life by providing shelter. Stems (called rhizomes) grow down to anchor the plant to the sea bed and the blades can bend with current. Also adapted to survive in saline environments.Fauna: Star fish has tube feet which help to anchor the fish in place, such as on a rock, protecting against ocean currents. If the population is dwindling starfish can separate its own body in half creating two star fish.Do it now!Explain how species of fauna have adapted to the coral reef. [4]Explain how species of flora have adapted to the coral reef. [4]

20. Coral Reef: Nutrient CycleCoral Polyps (Zooxanthellae)Algae ENERGY FROM THE SUNThe coral and the algae are in a symbiotic relationshipThe algae produce energy from photosynthesis. The coral use the glucose made by the algae during photosynthesis for food.The algae uses the coral’s waste products which are nitrogen and phosphorus as a fertiliser. It also, gains protection from living in the coral polyp tissueNitrogen and phosphorus also come from fish through their waste products.The nutrients are introduced into water through fish gills and their urine. Large predatory fish like barracudas produce more and in coral reefs where those fish are caught in higher numbers, the reefs suffer.

21. The Andros Barrier Reef: Case StudyThe Andros Barrier Reef is part of an extensive coral reef system in the Bahamas, off the southeast coast of Florida, USA. Do it now!1. Describe the location of the Andros Barrier Reef. 2. Create a spider diagram to show how the Andros is valuable. How is the Andros Reef valuable and important?Coastal protection – Coral reefs act as buffer zones, providing shoreline protection from storms and tsunamis. The Bahamas occasionally gets struck by tropical storms and the shallow water above a reef forces waves to break early before reaching the islands. This reduces coastal erosion and a risk of flooding.Fish breeding grounds – Corals provide sheltered conditions for the growth of mangrove forests, which themselves are important breeding grounds for fish. Fish are important commercially and for tourism, as well as being vital elements in the reef ecosystem. In the Bahamas, local and export markets for snapper, grouper, lobster and conch generate millions of dollars.Tourism – The reefs in the Bahamas are the base for activities like fishing, sport fishing, cruising, snorkelling and scuba diving. These industries bring in over US$150 million per year. Healthy coral reef – The Andros Barrier Reef is recognised as being one of the healthiest reefs in the world. As such it is a superb outdoor laboratory for scientific research in the face of serious problems faced by coral reefs elsewhere.

22. Coral Reef: Andros Barrier ReefCase Study – coral reefName of coral reef ecosystem:............................................................................Explain the value to humans and the planet of a coral reef ecosystem you have studied. [8]

23. Over fishing – Fishing can damage coral from boat anchors and feet. Also removing fish removes nitrogen from the water. Which the coral depend on.Pollution - This can involve chemicals (pesticides), sewage and silt eroded from hilltops to enter the ocean. Silt causes the water to become cloudy restricting the penetration of sunlight used by zooxanthellae to photosynthesise. Climate change and global warming - Higher water temperatures trigger a stress reaction in corals causing them to expel the zooxanthellae. This has a huge effects on nutrient flows and causes the coral to become bleached, turning white and eventually causing the coral to die. Marine-based pollution - This results from oil and chemical discharges from boats and ships which can be harmful to both corals and fish. The Andros Barrier Reef: ThreatsCreate a spider diagram identifying all of the ways that the coral reef is under threat.

24. The Andros Barrier Reef: ManagementManagement of coral reefs in the Bahamas is shared by the Department of Marine Resources (DMR) and the Bahamas National Trust (BNT). Aim: The government is committed to protect 20% of its near-shore habitat by 2020. There are several National Parks and Reserves established to help preserve parts of the valuable reef ecosystem.The Andros West Side National ParkCreated by the government in 2002 to balance long-standing traditions of the island such as sponging and fishing.It aims to promote ecotourism, conservation and recreational fishing. Developments in the National Park are strictly controlled.The North and South Marine ParkEstablished in 2002. These are areas of conservation where some activities are regulated or prohibited. These activities include: fishing, mining, scuba diving, anchoring of ships and discharging of materials. Crab Replenishment ReserveThis reserve has been identified as the best land crab habitat in central Andros. This area was set aside to ensure a sustainable crap population for the future generations. Exuma Cays Land and Sea ParkA coral nursery has been established. Threatened species are conserved and monitored before being planted back in the coral reef.Future Management PlansThere are plans to establish a new National Park to the north of Andros Island at Joulter Cays. This part of the reef is well known for its fishing but is under pressure from excessive fishing, damage from boats and marine discards (oil etc).

25. The Andros Barrier Reef: ManagementManagement of coral reefs in the Bahamas is shared by the Department of Marine Resources (DMR) and the Bahamas National Trust (BNT). Aim: The government is committed to protect 20% of its near-shore habitat by 2020. There are several National Parks and Reserves established to help preserve parts of the valuable reef ecosystem.The Andros West Side National ParkCreated by the government in 2002 to balance long-standing traditions of the island such as sponging and fishing.It aims to promote ecotourism, conservation and recreational fishing. Developments in the National Park are strictly controlled.The North and South Marine ParkEstablished in 2002. These are areas of conservation where some activities are regulated or prohibited. These activities include: fishing, mining, scuba diving, anchoring of ships and discharging of materials. Crab Replenishment ReserveThis reserve has been identified as the best land crab habitat in central Andros. This area was set aside to ensure a sustainable crap population for the future generations. Exuma Cays Land and Sea ParkA coral nursery has been established. Threatened species are conserved and monitored before being planted back in the coral reef.Future Management PlansThere are plans to establish a new National Park to the north of Andros Island at Joulter Cays. This part of the reef is well known for its fishing but is under pressure from excessive fishing, damage from boats and marine discards (oil etc).

26. The Andros Barrier Reef: ManagementThere are also significant challenges facing the management of the Andros Barrier Reef:

27. Coral Reef: Andros Barrier ReefCase Study – coral reefName of coral reef ecosystem:............................................................................Assess to what extent a coral reef management scheme has been successful. [8]

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