Ecosystems: Need to KnowEcosystems: Need to Know Distribution, characteristics and Distribution, characteristics and

adaptation of three ecosystems adaptation of three ecosystems (coniferous and rain forests and (coniferous and rain forests and

savannah grasslands)savannah grasslands) Human activity and impact on each Human activity and impact on each

ecosystem. ecosystem.

Ecosystems: KeywordsEcosystems: Keywords BiodiversityBiodiversity

Coniferous woodlandConiferous woodland EcosystemEcosystem HydrologyHydrology

Savanna GrasslandSavanna Grassland Slash and burnSlash and burn

SoilSoil Tropical Rain ForestTropical Rain Forest

DeforestationDeforestation Desertification Desertification

Sustainable DevelopemntSustainable Developemnt

What is an Ecosystem?What is an Ecosystem?

A community of plants and animals which interact with A community of plants and animals which interact with each other and with the non-living environment.each other and with the non-living environment.

Living Creatures

Ecosystem Links

Vegetation

Energy from the sun

Rocks and Soil

Climate

Nutrient cycle

Nutrient Cycle

Twigs and leaves fall to the ground and become ‘litter’

Decomposition (breaking down) of litter by termites, fungi and bacteria

Nutrients enter the soil

Soil is fertile

Dense vegetation

What are the worlds What are the worlds major ecosystems major ecosystems

(biomes)? (biomes)?

Coniferous forestConiferous forest otherwise known as: otherwise known as:

Taiga or BorealTaiga or Boreal

Reasons for distribution of Reasons for distribution of Coniferous ForestConiferous Forest Very cold winters Very cold winters

Strong windsStrong winds Short warm summersShort warm summers

Low annual precipitationLow annual precipitation

Only a few types of tree (pine, spruce) can survive the cold = no

biodiversity

Coniferous WoodlandsConiferous Woodlands EvergreenEvergreen One layer of treesOne layer of trees Only one or two types of treesOnly one or two types of trees Dark with trees growing close Dark with trees growing close

togethertogether Thick mat of dead needles on forest Thick mat of dead needles on forest

floorfloor Podsol soil (acidic)Podsol soil (acidic)

Podsol SoilPodsol Soil Decaying Pine Decaying Pine

needles on surfaceneedles on surface Dark, narrow Dark, narrow

humus layerhumus layer Grey layer at Grey layer at

horizon A (minerals horizon A (minerals leached out)leached out)

Reddish brow layer Reddish brow layer forming horizon Bforming horizon B

Podsol SoilPodsol Soil Needles decay slowly, adding little humus Needles decay slowly, adding little humus

to trap mineralsto trap minerals Precipitation greater than Precipitation greater than

evapotranspirationevapotranspiration Water drains down through soilWater drains down through soil Water carries organic materials and Water carries organic materials and

mineralsminerals Iron and clay are leached out of AIron and clay are leached out of A Re-deposited at BRe-deposited at B

Plant adaptationsPlant adaptations Conical shape (flexible, bend in strong Conical shape (flexible, bend in strong

winds)winds) Downward sloping branches (snow slides off)Downward sloping branches (snow slides off) Needle leaves (Water loss by transpiration Needle leaves (Water loss by transpiration

reduced)reduced) Thick Bark (Protects from cold, sap contains Thick Bark (Protects from cold, sap contains

anti freeze)anti freeze) Evergreen (Must be ready for short growing Evergreen (Must be ready for short growing

seasonsseasons

Animal AdaptationsAnimal Adaptations Colour changeColour change FurFur HibernationHibernation Dig for foodDig for food

Human ImpactsHuman Impacts Deforestation Deforestation TourismTourism Acid RainAcid Rain

Tropical Rainforest LocationTropical Rainforest Location

Tropical Rainforest ClimateTropical Rainforest Climate Hot all year roundHot all year round Wet all yearWet all year High annual rainfallHigh annual rainfall No SeasonsNo Seasons Vegetation needs both of theseVegetation needs both of these Extensive species eg mahogany and teak Extensive species eg mahogany and teak

(massive bio diversity)(massive bio diversity) Only restriction to growth is access to Only restriction to growth is access to

sunlightsunlight

Leads to five layersLeads to five layers Great density of Great density of

vegetationvegetation Great heightGreat height Massive biodiversityMassive biodiversity Evergreen trees Evergreen trees

(constant growth)(constant growth) Thin BarksThin Barks Adaptations to Adaptations to

reach sunlightreach sunlight

Soils - LatosolsSoils - Latosols Deep soilDeep soil Red in colourRed in colour However high rainfall However high rainfall

creates similar creates similar conditions to podsols, conditions to podsols, thin humus, rapid thin humus, rapid leaching then leaching then depositiondeposition

Minerals held in large Minerals held in large quantity of leaf litter quantity of leaf litter which is rapidly which is rapidly recycledrecycled

Traditional Human ImpactTraditional Human Impact Traditionally impact minimalTraditionally impact minimal Access difficult Access difficult Hot, humid climate with many pestsHot, humid climate with many pests Latosol soil soon found to be infertile Latosol soil soon found to be infertile

on removal of vegetationon removal of vegetation Highly specialised nomadic cultures Highly specialised nomadic cultures

only survived wellonly survived well

RESOURCESRESOURCESTRANSPORTTRANSPORT

FARMINGFARMINGSETTLEMENTSSETTLEMENTS

Modern Human Impact

RESOURCESRESOURCES

TRANSPORTTRANSPORT

SETTLEMENTSSETTLEMENTS

FARMINGFARMING

RESOURCESRESOURCESTRANSPORTTRANSPORT

FARMINGFARMINGSETTLEMENTSSETTLEMENTS

Modern Human Impact

Leads To DEFFORESTATION

For/Against deforestationFor/Against deforestation In Favour of In Favour of

DeforestationDeforestation– Hunters and Hunters and

collectorscollectors– Shifting cultivatorsShifting cultivators– Rubber tappersRubber tappers– Collectors of forest Collectors of forest

productsproducts– EnvironmentalistsEnvironmentalists– Medical researchersMedical researchers

Against Against DeforestationDeforestation– Logging companiesLogging companies– MinersMiners– Cattle ranchesCattle ranches– Farmers from the Farmers from the

easteast– Some governments Some governments

ConsequencesConsequences

What is Sustainable What is Sustainable development?development?

What is sustainable What is sustainable development?development?

"Development that meets the "Development that meets the needs of the present without needs of the present without compromising the ability of compromising the ability of future generations to meet their future generations to meet their own needs."own needs." - The United Nations - The United Nations World Commission on Environment World Commission on Environment and Development and Development

Liana projectLiana project Founded in 1995, the Liana Project Founded in 1995, the Liana Project

coordinates the efforts of skilled people coordinates the efforts of skilled people within the forest communities of the within the forest communities of the Brazilian Government’s Extractive Reserves. Brazilian Government’s Extractive Reserves.

By creating locally controlled micro-By creating locally controlled micro-enterprises that use sustainably harvested enterprises that use sustainably harvested vines and natural fibers to make furniture vines and natural fibers to make furniture and decorative goods, the project integrates and decorative goods, the project integrates forest conservation, local economic forest conservation, local economic development, and the preservation of development, and the preservation of traditional skills. traditional skills.

There are six aimsThere are six aimsImprove quality of life of localsImprove quality of life of localsProvide secure income for localsProvide secure income for localsDevelop ways of increasing production Develop ways of increasing production

without debtwithout debtTo conserve the environmentTo conserve the environmentTo encourage re-useTo encourage re-useTo develop technology which is appropriate To develop technology which is appropriate

to the skills, wealth and needs of localsto the skills, wealth and needs of locals

Products made with amazonian Products made with amazonian fibresfibres

You MUST know a full You MUST know a full case study for human case study for human impact in a Tropical impact in a Tropical

rainforest – recommend rainforest – recommend AMAZONAMAZON

Where do we find tropical Where do we find tropical grasslands?grasslands?

Climate graph for Mopti (Mali)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

Months

Rai

nfal

l (m

m)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Tem

pera

ture

(deg

rees

Cen

tigra

de)

rainfallTemperature

Climate Graph for Serengeti, Tanzania

Tropical Grassland/SavannaTropical Grassland/Savanna Tall tufted grasses with the Tall tufted grasses with the

occasional tree or shruboccasional tree or shrub Close to streams and rivers cover Close to streams and rivers cover

including trees may increaseincluding trees may increase Moderate biodiversityModerate biodiversity Two main layers of vegetationTwo main layers of vegetation Extensive animal lifeExtensive animal life

Savanna SoilSavanna Soil Hot temps = high evaporation ratesHot temps = high evaporation rates Upward movement of water carries Upward movement of water carries

dissolved minerals eg calciumdissolved minerals eg calcium Minerals deposited in upper layers = Minerals deposited in upper layers =

rich soilrich soil Litter layer large especially at the Litter layer large especially at the

start of the dry seasonstart of the dry season Decomposition rapid in wet season, Decomposition rapid in wet season,

much slower in dry seasonmuch slower in dry season

AdaptatioAdaptation n

Areas of bare ground Areas of bare ground Drought Resistance – deciduous Drought Resistance – deciduous

trees that lose leaves during dry trees that lose leaves during dry season. bseason. b

Scavengers – an essential part Scavengers – an essential part of the food chainof the food chain

Flora of tropical grasslandsFlora of tropical grasslands

How is this plant adapted to its How is this plant adapted to its environment?environment?

How has How has this tree this tree adapted adapted to the to the

climate?climate?

ECOTOURISMECOTOURISM

Case Study: The SerengetiCase Study: The Serengeti

The biggest threat The biggest threat facing tropical facing tropical grasslands is grasslands is

desertificationdesertification

DESERTIFICATIONDESERTIFICATION What is What is desertificationdesertification??

Desertification is when a desert gradually spreads to the surrounding areas of semi-desert

DESERTIFICATIONDESERTIFICATION What is What is desertificationdesertification??

Desertification is when a desert gradually spreads to the surrounding areas of semi-desert

As tropical grassland buffers the edge of many deserts it is particularly vulnerable to desertification

What might cause What might cause desertification?desertification?

Brainstorm your ideasBrainstorm your ideas

MEMORY MAPSMEMORY MAPS

Drought in the Sahel

* * * * NEWS FLASH * * * *

MONDAY 22ND MARCH 1973

DROUGHTS HAVE PLAGUED THE LAND HERE IN THE SAHEL STRETCHING FROM WEST AFRICA EASTWARDS FOR FIVE YEARS BUT IS DROUGHT HERE REALLY THE PROBLEM?

• LAND USE PRACTISES HAVE CAUSED THE DEATHS OF MORE THAN 100,000 PEOPLE

• OVER 12 MILLION CATTLE HAVE DIED

• SOCIAL ORGANISATIONS HAVE BEEN DISRUPTED ON A NATIONAL SCALE

The SAHELThe SAHELThe Sahel is located in the southern region of the Sahara desert, Africa.

The Sahel regions are areas which experienceThe Sahel regions are areas which experiencedesertification.desertification.

Why does the Sahel suffer from Why does the Sahel suffer from desertification?desertification?

DESERTIFICATION

Increase in population Increase in cattle

Deforestation for fire wood Grassland grazed more intensively

Roots no longer hold soil together Roots may be eaten as well as grass

Leaves no longer protect soil from weather Less vegetation means less protection from weather

Loose top soil blown away by wind

(Soil Erosion)

=

Loose top soil blown away by wind

(Soil Erosion)

=DESERTIFICATION