Biomes pond - Oasis Academy Brislington

[Pages:16]KS4 Homework booklet

Small scale ecosystems ? The pond Large scale biomes ? Tropical rainforest

in Malaysia Name _____________________

Class ______________________

All homework must be completed by the due date given

The pond

Tropical rainforests

Ecosystem - a natural system made up of plants, animals and the environment. Examples include a pond, a hedgerow or a tropical rainforest.

Biome ? a global ecosystem. Examples include tropical rainforest or polar biomes

Biotic ? Living things within an ecosystem. Examples include fish or insects. They rely on abiotic things to survive. Example. Fish need oxygen, Plants need sunlight

Abiotic ? Non-living things within an ecosystem. Examples include sunlight, soil or water Flora ? Are plants (producers) within an ecosystem Faura ? Are animals (consumers) within an ecosystem Habitat ? Homes within an ecosystem where different flora and fauna live Detritus ? Dead and decaying plant and animal matter forming mud on the pond bottom

Consumers either eat producers (primary consumers) or

other consumers (secondary and

tertiary consumers) Example - Heron

Producers convert

sunlight into sugars in order

to grow. Example Reeds or algae in a pond.

Decomposers break down dead plant or animal

matter and return it to the soil or detritus.

Example ? a worm.

Food webs are easily damaged. If the

Different habitats in a pond contain different flora and fauna because of the different conditions.

producers are removed, consumers higher up the chain lose their food source and numbers drop. If tertiary

The Detritus layer has little oxygen or light. Decomposers, scavengers and the larva of water insects live here. Example - Water worms or May fly

consumers are removed their will be an explosion of creatures further down the chain.

larva.

Ecosystems can be

Deeper water. Oxygen and protection from predators. Animals that breath through gills or skin live here. Examples - Perch, Stickleback, Great diving beetle.

restored if they are damaged. Lake beds can be cleared and dredged to increase

Shallow water. Plenty of oxygen and sunlight. Producers grow here, rooting in the detritus. Insects and birds shelter here. Examples include Reeds, Dragon fly, Waterlily, Moorhen.

water depth and water oxygenation,

improving conditions for fish. Algae can be removed to increase

Water surface. Lots of light and oxygen. Producers and consumers. Examples pond algae, water boatman, water weed.

Producers also need nutrients from the soil or detritus on the bottom of a pond in order to grow. Nutrients are re-cycled. Dead plant and animal matter from the biomass falls to the soil layer, or pond bottom where it is decomposed to form litter or detritus, releasing

oxygen levels. New, shallow water habitats

can be planted to encourage pond life

Pond banks ? Fertile soil and sunlight. Water loving plants and trees. Example Willow tree.

nutrients, which are re-absorbed by the biomass through their roots or absorbed if dissolved in water. This is called the nutrient cycle.

and nesting water birds.

A Food chain shows how producers and consumers are linked in an ecosystem. Example ? Algae, tadpole, newt, heron) The arrows show who eats who (or the direction of energy flow)

Ecosystems are complicated. A food web shows

all the links between the consumers and producers in an ecosystem like a

pond.

Ecosystems are easily damaged naturally or by humans

Drought ? The pond level drops and marginal plants dry up and die. The pond may become de-oxygenated and fish die.

Eutrophication ? Farm fertilizers get into the water and cause algae to grow rapidly. Algae use up all the oxygen so fish die.

Drainage ? Ponds are drained for farmland causing the whole ecosystem to collapse.

Industrial pollution - released into the water, killing fish and insects.

Hedgerows - cut down to increase the size of fields for farming, destroying the hedgerow ecosystem.

Week 1 Homework: Due date __________________

Use the first knowledge organiser to answer these questions

Use the blank sheet on the next page for your answers

1. What is a biome? 2. What are biotic and abiotic features of an ecosystem. 3. What three abiotic features are most important to plants?

(consumers) 4. What is a habitat? 5. Describe the features of deep water that make it suitable for

fish. 6. Explain why Reeds live in shallow water. 7. Who lives in the detritus layer? 8. Name a plant that lives on the pond surface. 9. What is a consumer? 10. What is a producer? 11. What does a decomposer do? 12. What are the three nutrient stores in a nutrient cycle? 13. Explain how the nutrient cycle works in a pond. 14. What do the arrows show in a food chain? 15. Describe two ways farming can damage a pond ecosystem. 16. Why do farmers often cut down hedgerows? 17. How does hedgerow cutting destroy bio-diversity. 18. Describe two ways a damaged pond ecosystem can be

restored.

Week 1 Homework answers __________________

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Example The pond ecosystem

The exam paper will refer to this case study in an exam question as; `the features of a small scale ecosystem in the UK'

Example exam question : For a small scale ecosystem you have studied explain the importance of the nutrient cycle in the functioning of the ecosystem.

Key idea: The pond is a small scale ecosystem made up of producers (flora) and consumers (fauna) and the environment. There are complex relationships in the ecosystem between the biotic (living) and abiotic (non living) parts. The ecosystem functions through a series of food chains and webs and through the recycling of nutrients. There are a variety of habitats.

Pond nutrient cycle Biomass. This includes all living things in the pond. Producers use nutrients from the pond mud (detritus) and sunlight to photosynthesise and grow. Consumers further up the food chain live by eating the producers or other consumers.

Detritus. Biomass dies (especially in winter) and sinks to the bottom and is broken down by decomposers, forming the detritus layer. Producers then reabsorb these nutrients through their roots to grow. (especially in spring and summer)

Nutrients. Can also be added by rainwater runoff or weathered soil/rocks, or lost through leaching.

Habitats Pond margins/shallow water. Reeds grow in shallow water using nutrients from the detritus and sunlight. They form a habitat for insects, snails, frogs and water birds.

Pond bottom. Decomposers and insect lava live in the detritus for food and protection. e.g. worms and midge lava.

Deep water. Plenty of oxygen for fish or insects to absorb. Deep enough to offer protection from predators. Food is found on the pond surface or in water column.

Pond surface. Algae and pond weed float and photosynthesise. These form a habitat and food for insects, snails and water birds.

Damaging the ecosystem

Adding or removing species. If species are added, removed or die out they affect the food web. An increase in fish could cause a reduction in insects. A reduction could cause food shortages for Herons.

Drought. A lack of rainfall causes pond levels to drop. Pond margin plants dry up and die. Lower oxygen levels in the water may kill fish.

Drainage. Farmers may drain the pond to create extra farmland, totally destroying the ecosystem.

Eutrophication. Farm fertilizers are washed into the pond, causing algae to rapidly grow and use up all the oxygen in the water. Fish die through lack of oxygen.

The pond ecosystem

Week 2 Homework: Due date __________________

The pond is a ____________ scale ecosystem. Made up of _____________ (flora) consumers ( ___________ ) and the environment. The living parts of the ecosystem are known as ___________ components. The non-living parts of the ecosystem are known as ____________ . Food chains and ___________ show us how living things rely on and are linked to each other, and show how ___________ is passed through the ecosystem when different organisms eat each other. Nutrients are also passed through the ecosystem and re-used. This is called nutrient ______________ .

Pond nutrient cycle

Pond Habitats

Damaging the pond ecosystem

All living things in the ecosystem are known as the ___________ .

Plants are called _____________ . They use nutrients from the pond mud ( __________ )and energy from ___________ to ______________ and grow. Further up the food chain ___________ live by eating the producers or other __________ .

Detritus is the mud at the bottom of the _______ . It is formed when ____________ dies especially in __________ . It and is broken down by ______________ . Producers then ___________ these nutrients through their _______ . This happens especially in _________ and summer.

Nutrients can also be added by ___________ or by weathered _____________ . Nutrients can be lost by being washed out by rainwater. This is called ______________ .

In shallow water plants like ____________ grow. They use nutrients from the ___________ and ___________ to grow. They form a __________ for insects, frogs, snails and water birds.

On the pond ____________ decomposers and insect _________ live in the detritus. They use it for ________ and ____________ . Examples are _________ and midge lava.

In deep water there is plenty of ____________ for fish to absorb. The water is also deep enough to offer protection from ___________ . Food e.g. insects is also found on the ___________ or in the water ________

On the pond surface _________ and pond weed float and use sunlight to _____________ . The weeds form a habitat and __________ source for insects, snails and water __________ .

If species are added or removed they affect the food ___________ . An increase in fish could cause a decrease in __________ . A reduction in insects could cause fish to die and could cause food shortage for _________ .

A lack of rainfall is called ___________ . This causes pond levels to ___________ . Plants in the pond _________ may dry up and die. Lower __________ levels in the water could cause fish to die.

Farmers often drain ponds to make extra ____________ . This totally destroys the __________ .

Farm fertilisers designed to make crops grow better can be washed in to the pond by ____________ . This causes _________ to grow rapidly which use up all the pond __________ . This process is called ______________ . This will then cause species like __________ to die through lack of oxygen.

Week 2 Homework ? Key words Use research and your own knowledge to define these key terms

KS4 ? The Geography Knowledge ? THE LIVING WORLD (part 4)

9

Location

Rainforests are located along the equator (0? latitude). Examples: South America (Brazil), Asia (Indonesia), Africa (Congo).

Climate

Hot and wet (humid). No seasons Temperature range: 20-30?C (due to direct sunlight from the sun) Precipitation range: 160 ? 330mm/month or 2000mm per year

Vegetation

Very dense and varied (e.g. banana and rubber trees).

Animals

Very dense and varied (e.g. apes, parrots, jaguars, insects)

Soil

Not very fertile, as heavy rainfall washes nutrients away. This is known as

leaching.

Most nutrients are in the top layer of the soil due to nutrient cycling from the

decayed leaves. As a result most trees have a shallow root system.

People

Tribes have lived in rainforests for a long time (sustainable). New groups of people and companies have arrived more recently, trying to make money from the rainforests through logging, energy, mining...etc (unsustainable)

Biodiversity

The variety of organisms living in a particular area (plants and animals)

Biodiversity in Deserts have very high biodiversity. Rainforests contain around 50% of the the rainforest world's plants, animals and insect species.

Threats to the Deforestation is causing a loss of biodiversity in the rainforest, as many

rainforest

animals and plants become endangered or extinct.

All parts of the rainforest ecosystem are linked together (climate, soil, water, animals, plants and people). If one of them changes, everything else is affected.

The humid climate = dead plants and animals decompose quickly by decomposers (fungi and bacteria) on the forest floor = the nutrients from the decaying plants/animals makes the top layer of the soil very nutrient rich = lots of plants can grow.

Plants pass on their nutrients when they are eaten by animals. There is a lot of vegetation = lots of animals.

People remove trees (deforestation) = less carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere = more greenhouse gases = more climate change.

Trees absorb water = this water travels through the tree to the leaves = transpiration evaporates water from the trees' leaves to the atmosphere = condensation in the atmosphere creates clouds = precipitation. The trees are one of the main reasons there is so much rainfall in the rainforest.

VEGETATION ADAPTATIONS

Layers

The rainforest has four layers (emergent, upper canopy, lower canopy and shrub & ground layer). Vegetation adapts to each layer.

Trees (height, buttress roots, bark)

The trees can grow to over 40 meters high in order to find sunlight.

To help support their height, they have buttress roots. These are large root systems above the ground that act as an anchor and support the tall trees.

Trees have a smooth, thin bark = helps water to run off easily.

Lianas

Woody vines that use trees to climb up to the upper canopy where they spread from tree to tree to get as much light as possible.

Leaves

On the shrub and ground layer, it is very dark due to the canopy. As a result, their leaves have a large surface area to catch as much sunlight as possible.

Many leaves have drip tips and a waxy coating. This help shed water easily.

Some plants, e.g. the fan palm, have large fan-shaped leaves which are segmented so that excess water drains away easily.

ANIMAL ADAPTATIONS Spider monkey

Leaf-tailed gecko & chameleon Jaguar

Have long, strong arms and tails so they can swing between the trees in the upper canopy. Some animals spend their entire lives in the upper canopy.

Are camouflaged so can blend into their surroundings to hide from predators

Can swim due to high rainfalls and many rivers.

Red-eyed tree frog

Anteater

Have suction cups on their feet and hands to help them climb up trees and leaves.

Some animals have adapted to the low light levels in the shrub and ground layer. Have a sharp sense of smell and hearing so they an detect predators without seeing them. This helps them survive in the low light levels in the shrub & ground layer.

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