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Ecosystems – An Introduction. Theme 2 – Processes and human interaction. Year 10. What is an Ecosystem?. Definition: A community of plants and animals which interact with each other and with the non-living environment. An Ecosystem may be very small such as:. A back garden A pond
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Ecosystems – An Introduction Theme 2 – Processes and human interaction Year 10
What is an Ecosystem? Definition: A community of plants and animals which interact with each other and with the non-living environment.
An Ecosystem may be very small such as: • A back garden • A pond • A playground
Some may be very large like: • The deserts of Africa • The rain forest of Brazil • The saltwater oceans • The Tundra
So why are the biomes different? • Climate is the main driving force to explain different ecosystems around the world • Climate affects the soil and as such what can grow in a region – remember….ecosystems always start with plants! • Plants adapt to the climate around them and as such the animals that feed off them do to and so on….
What is an Ecosystem? Watch these clips – they will Help you today and in the future.. You will need to make notes http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/clips/zx26j6f http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/clips/zkdnvcw What have you learnt?
Layers of the rainforest Canopy Emergents 50m Under Canopy liana saprophytes buttress roots 0m Shrub Layer
Tropic of Cancer – Tropic of Capricorn Imaginary lines on the Earth – just like the Equator! Located at 23.5 degrees north and south of the Equator – experiences sun high in the sky all of the time – and as such does not really have seasons!
Temperature Graph of UK Consider the range of the temperature – which month is the hottest, coldest and most Wet??
Ecosystems – where does it start? • Sun’s energy is used by plants to make chlorophyll (green stuff in leaves) • Carbon Dioxide and Water are taken in through leaves and roots • The sun’s energy makes glucose – this is called photosynthesis
So.. • Why do plants grow so fast in a Tropical Rainforest? Ideas please….
Ecosystems are made up of two parts: • Living things – such as bacteria, plants and animals - Biotic And • Non living things – such as the environment, climate and water - Abiotic • Living and non living things are inter-connected and work as a system
Food Chains • A food chain always starts with the Sun and a plant! • A food chain shows what eats what! • Energy flows from the sun and then from one organism to another through the food chain SUN GRASS WORMS BLACKBIRD HAWK OWL
Food Webs - Activity • Often several consumers feed on the same thing • Food chains link to form a Food Web • These can often be large and complex Which are the tertiary consumers? Answer the questions on the sheet..
Nutrient Cycles • Life in the rainforest ecosystem is linked through inputs and outputs
What is Biodiversity? The number and variety of organisms found within a specified geographic region.
What is a Tropical Rainforest? • Massive forests normally found in lowland regions within 10 degrees of the Equator
Food Webs When consumers eat each other – energy is transferred Plants are called producers – they use sunlight to get energy Top predators
Characteristics of the tropical rainforest • Provides the most luxuriant vegetation on the earth! • Over 1/3 of the world’s trees grow here! • The unique climate of high humidity, high temperatures and heavy rain means that the tropical rainforest has an all year growing season • Plants and trees have adapted to this and have a unique appearance
Climate of the UK Vs The TRF • Have a look at the climate charts of Manaus (Brazil) and the UK • Describe and explain the charts –on the sheets • What is the range of temperature (I.e. difference between max and min) for each graph? • What is the approx annual amount of rainfall in the UK?
Plant Adaptations • Trees can grow to over 40 meters in an effort to get sunlight • Tree trunks are straight and have buttress roots above the ground to give the tree support • Trees look evergreen and the canopy is unbroken • Leaves do fall, at any time and rot in the climate quickly • The forest floor is dark and damp – as little light gets to the ground level due to the trees
“Lungs” of the world • Trees take in water (rain) and release via evaporation and transpiration • Trees take in Carbon Dioxide and release Oxygen • The rainforest is a net absorber of Carbon Dioxide – in other words it takes in enough Carbon Dioxide to protect the Earth from the “Greenhouse Effect” • If trees are cut down, balance is removed – trees/wood when burned release Carbon Dioxide into the atmosphere
Key Terms • Sustainability - Meeting the needs of the present without harming the needs of the future • Biodiversity – the range of plants and animal species within a given geographical range
Tropical Rainforest - Objectives • To learn how a Tropical Rainforest operates • To begin to understand nutrient cycles and distribution of TRFs • Begin to develop an understanding of human activity in TRFs