Battle of the Biosphere Revision Notes

A summary of the battle of the biosphere topic for the exam tomorrow :)

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  • Created on: 12-06-11 15:58
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Battle for the Biosphere
Biome: a global ecosystem covering a huge area with its own type of vegetation and wildlife
(Boreal: Coniferous
White area = polar
Practice Description:
E.g. Tropical rainforest
It is in South America,
Asia and Africa. It is
situated around the area
approximately 5
degrees north and 5
degrees south of the
equator. This makes
consistently high.
Factors affecting the location and characteristics of biomes:
Latitude: affects temperature and precipitation
Temperature: the nearer the equator the lower the angle of the sun in the sky so the more
concentrated it is, allowing more vegetation to grow.
Precipitation: Low pressure zones have more precipitation as air masses converge and air
rises to form rain. High rainfall allows more vegetation to grow.
Altitude: Temperatures decrease by 1°C for every 100m in height
Soils: Rapid growth of vegetation will occur in soils rich in minerals
Tundra Temperate Coniferous Forests
Location Northern hemisphere: from the north South of the Tundra from Alaska across
poles to the Taiga. Southern North America to Eurasia. It's also called the
hemisphere: subantarctic islands Taiga.
Why is it Far from equator means sun is higher in Distance from equator makes it cooler with
located the sky thus less concentrated making it short summers and long winters. Rainfall is
here? cooler and restricting what can grow. low but soils can hold onto lots of water.
Examples Low shrubs, sedges, reindeer mosses, Coniferous trees: firs/pines have thick bark
of liverworts, grasses, lichen, 400 snow slides off without breaking them.
vegetatio varieties of flowers. Grow together as protection from wind.
Examples Lemmings, voles, caribou, arctic hares, Rodents, moose, deer, spiders, boars,
of foxes, wolves, polar bears, moths, bears, hawks, owls, some snakes, Andean
animals squirrels, falcons, ravens. condor, kestrel.
Climate Average winter temp: -34°C and Long cold winters (-15°C) Short summers,
summer is 3-12°C. Rainfall varies low precipitation 50cm because cold air
15-25cm. Very windy can't hold much water vapour.

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How is the biosphere useful to humans?
Building materials e.g. granite
Plant products e.g. cotton
Animal products e.g. leather, fur
Food from animals e.g. meat, milk
Food from plants e.g. fruit, nuts, veg.
Fuel e.g. oil, gas, coal
Maintaining O2/CO2 balance.
Sunlight ­ vitamin D
Leisure e.g. skiing, go ape
Prevent climate change
The importance of trees
Shelter e.g. for birds so it maintains diversity of wildlife.
Food e.g.…read more

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Conservation Strategies
Name Description Where? Scale Benefits
Sustainable Encourages replanting Forests: Global Oxygen levels
Forestry trees. Rain -Laws are Less damage to ecosystems
Restricts methods of Coniferous decided More fertile soil
deforestation and Deciduous nationally Less soil erosion
amount of trees e.g. Malaysian Future employment
chopped down. rainforests Future: more resources
National Preserving an area so Areas of great National Supports local population,
Parks it can't be developed natural beauty strategy providing employment
e.g.…read more


Mr A Gibson

Types of, uses of and conservation of biospheres. Get this in your armory of resources to cover the main points of these things relating to the study of this topic.

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