Human Activity, Biodiversity and Sustainability World’s population continues to grow, increasing the stress upon resources and environmental systems such as water and land. Population and growth and economic development resulted in spiralling demand for natural...
A Level>Notes>Physical geography>Ecosystems under stress
Case Study: Central Amazon Conservation Complex
The destruction of the Amazon rainforest has been particularly harmful to the biodiversity there. To prevent this some places have been protected by law meaning that they are undisturbed. There are three separate reserves which are linked and is known as the Central...
Case Study: Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania
The parkland occupies 2,305,100 ha, known for herds of wildebeest, 1,300,000. Endangered species, African elephant, perhaps only 2,000 left. More than 500 species of birds such as the flamingo. Populated by the Masai Mara, who have an extensive system of land...
The Sundarbans Reserved Forest, Bangladesh
Population pressure in Bangladesh is severe, large areas of the forest have been cleared to provide more space for agriculture and settlement e.g. 1000 inhabit every km². Threats Several risks threaten the Sundarbans: Climate change causing sea levels are rising at...
Ecosystems
The Structure of Ecosystems Ecosystem: a dynamic, stable system characterised by the interaction of plants and animals with each other and with the non-living components of the environment. The components of an ecosystem are categorised as either biotic and abiotic....
Ecosystems in the British Isles Over Time
Succession and Climax Succession - a series of changes that take place in the plant community over time. Climatic climax - the final stage of the plant succession, where the vegetation is in balance with the environmental conditions. Providing the environmental...
Temperate Deciduous Woodland
A biome is a global-scale ecosystem and is a naturally occurring organic community of plants and animals in the climatic climax stage of succession. Tropical rainforests and temperate deciduous woodland are both examples of high energy biomes. Low energy biomes are...
The Tropical Equatorial Rainforest Biome
The tropical rainforest biomes are between latitudes 10°N and 10°S of the equator. Climate The equatorial climate has little variation, temperatures remain high throughout the year. High diurnal temperature range, high during day and low during the night due to no...
Tropical Biome – Savannah Grassland
Climate: Wet and dry seasons. 500-1000mm of rain per year. Hot throughout the year. High pressure and strong trade winds in the dry season. Wet season dominated by the ITCZ. Fires may occur caused by heat and lightning. Vegetation: Trees dominate over grasses...
The Savanna Grassland Biome
Climate The tropical wet and dry climate of Africa shows seasonal variation in wind direction, precipitation and temperature. Variations occur with increasing latitude from the equator. Precipitation Varies Equatorial rainforest margins more than 1,000mm per...
Ecological Responses
Soil Moisture Budgets Precipitation is much higher than potential evapotranspiration during the wet season. High rainfall totals result in saturation of the soil, some of the moisture can be utilised by vegetation. A soil moisture deficit occurs by January, deciduous...
The Tropical Monsoon Forest Biome
Climate High temperatures throughout the year, small annual range(19°C-30°C) because of the location within the tropics. Annual precipitation is high. Winds blow in from the ocean with very moist air and heavy rainfall during May-October, the rest of the year the air...
Development Issues in the Three Biomes
Brazil has the greatest species diversity, a smaller proportion of its land is protected than in Tanzania, in Tanzania 39.6% of the land is designated National Parkland. Species diversity is of crucial importance because: Plants photosynthesise. Trees act as a carbon...
Ecosystem Issues on a Local Scale
Conservation-preservation of the natural environment. Ecology-the study of the relationships between living things and their environment. Sustainable development- he management of resources in such a way that the ability of the system to replace itself is greater than...