1
Q
What affects the distribution of organisms and why?
A
- abiotic factors
- non-living, physical facters in an environmement
- e.g.light, temperature, water, oxygen, salinity and soil quality
- organisms are adapted to live in certain physical conditions, they are more likely to survive and reproduce in areas with these conditions
- many organisms can only survive in the conditions they’re adapted to
2
Q
What is zonation?
A
-the gradual change in the distribution of species across a habitat
3
Q
How do changes in abiotic factors lead to zonation?
A
- a gradual change in abiotic factors can lead to zonation
- e.g. in a coastal habitat, changes in salinity and soil depth cause zonation of plants
- few plants in the zone 1, marram grass can as it is adapted to live in salty conditions (nearest to the coast)
- lichens and mosses can grow in zone 2, out competing marram grass in less saline conditions
- shrubs such as heather and gorse can grow as they out compete lichens and mosses in the lower salinity and deeper soil of zone 3
- trees such as birch and oak out compete the shrubs in the very low salinity and deep soil in zone 4 (further inland)
4
Q
What is biodiversity?
A
-a measure of variety of life in an area?
5
Q
What does biodiversity include?
A
- amount of variation between individuals of the same species
- number of different species
- number of different habitats in an area
6
Q
What is the biodiversity like in forestry plantation?
A
- one specie of tree, planted for timbre
- blocks of trees planted at the same time, so many are the same age
- fewer plant species because trees are densely packed, leaving less room and sunlight for other plants
- fewer habitats as there isn’t enough plant species to create them, when the trees are felled habitats are also disturbed or destroyed
- fewer animal species because of the lack of habitats or sources of food
7
Q
What is biodiversity like in native woodlands?
A
- variety of tree species
- trees of different sizes and ages#
- variety of plant species
- variety of habitats
- variety of animal species
8
Q
What is biodiversity like in lakes?
A
- many different fish species
- variety of plant species
- variety of animal species
9
Q
What is biodiversity like in fish farms?
A
- one fish is farmed for food
- fewer plant species, as fish food is added and the food waste can cause algal blooms
- fewer animal species. Predators are kept out and pests (e.g.fish lice) are kept out. Also less food and lack of habitats because of the lack of plants
10
Q
Why is biodiversity important?
A
-more diverse ecosystems are better able to cope with changes in the environment
