Question 1: What is an ecosystem?

Answer: A community of living organisms interacting with their physical environment in a specific area.

Question 2: Define a biome.

Answer: A large geographical area characterized by specific climate conditions, vegetation, and animal life.

Question 3: Name two types of biomes.

Answer: Tropical rainforest and desert.

Question 4: Give an example of a tropical rainforest ecosystem.

Answer: The Amazon Rainforest.

Question 5: What is biodiversity?

Answer: The variety of plant and animal life in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

Question 1: Which biome is characterized by very low rainfall and extreme temperatures, often found in northern Africa?

Answer: Desert

Question 2: Name the main vegetation type found in the Taiga biome.

Answer: Coniferous trees (such as pines and spruces).

Question 3: What process leads to the formation of a desert biome in some areas?

Answer: High evaporation rates and low precipitation, often caused by climate patterns like rain shadow effects or proximity to cold ocean currents.

Question 4: Identify one location where a tropical rainforest biome exists.

Answer: The Congo Basin in Central Africa.

Question 1: The Amazon Rainforest covers approximately 5.5 million square kilometers and is home to over 10% of the world's known species. Deforestation is occurring rapidly due to logging, agriculture, and infrastructure development. Using this information, explain the potential impacts of deforestation on the local and global environment.

Answer: Deforestation in the Amazon leads to loss of biodiversity and habitat destruction, threatening species survival. It reduces the rainforest's capacity to absorb carbon dioxide, contributing to climate change. Locally, it affects indigenous communities and alters rainfall patterns, which can lead to droughts. Globally, the loss of this vital biome accelerates climate change and disrupts global weather systems.

Question 2: Considering the example of the Sahara Desert, discuss how human activities have affected its environment and extent.

Answer: Human activities such as overgrazing, deforestation, and climate change have contributed to desertification, expanding the Sahara's area. Increased temperatures and reduced rainfall due to global warming have intensified the process, leading to loss of vegetation and soil degradation.

Question 1: Explain why the Amazon rainforest has a high level of biodiversity.

Answer: The Amazon has a stable, warm, and wet climate providing ideal conditions for a wide variety of plants and animals. Its complex structure offers numerous habitats, and the long evolutionary history has allowed species to adapt and diversify extensively.

Question 2: Analyse the causes of desertification in the Sahel region of Africa.

Answer: Desertification in the Sahel is caused by overgrazing, deforestation, poor agricultural practices, and climate change leading to reduced rainfall and soil erosion. Human activities remove vegetation cover, making the land more vulnerable to drought and wind erosion, which further degrades the environment.

Question 3: Explain how climate patterns influence the distribution of tundra biomes.

Answer: Tundra biomes are found in polar regions and at high altitudes where cold temperatures and short growing seasons prevail. These climate patterns limit tree growth and support low-lying vegetation, creating a harsh environment with permafrost.

Question 1: To what extent are current conservation strategies effective in protecting the Amazon rainforest? Consider the roles of government policies, international organizations, and local communities in your answer.

Answer: Conservation strategies such as protected areas, sustainable logging practices, and international agreements have had varying degrees of success. Government policies sometimes lack enforcement, while international organizations promote reforestation and awareness. Local communities play a crucial role through sustainable livelihoods. Overall, while progress has been made, challenges like illegal logging and land use change still threaten the rainforest's future, indicating that conservation efforts need to be more integrated and globally coordinated.

Question 2: Evaluate the impact of global climate change on desert biomes such as the Sahara. To what extent can human intervention mitigate these impacts?

Answer: Global climate change has led to increased temperatures and altered rainfall patterns, intensifying desertification in biomes like the Sahara. Human interventions such as afforestation, sustainable water management, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions can help mitigate some impacts. However, the scale of climate change poses significant challenges, and local measures alone are insufficient without global efforts to reduce emissions. Therefore, while human intervention can slow degradation, complete mitigation requires coordinated international action.