Download Topic 3 Battle for the Biosphere 2014

Topic 3: Battle for the Biosphere
What is the value of the biosphere
Key Ideas
The distribution of global biomes reflects climate
as well as other localised factors.
Content
Define the terms ‘ecosystem’ and ‘biome’, and map
the distribution of major biomes across the
planet.
Evaluate the role of temperature and precipitation
in explaining biome location, plus local factors such
as altitude and soils.
The biosphere acts as a life support system,
providing a wide range of goods and services.
Explain how the biosphere regulates the
composition of the atmosphere, in maintaining soil
health, and influences the hydrological cycle.
What you need to understand
 To learn a definition for ecosystem.
 To learn a definition for Biome.
 To learn a definition for Biosphere.
 To know the location of biomes such as
Tropical rainforest, Deserts, Deciduous,
Coniferous and Tundra.
 Know about the key characteristics of the
different biomes.
 To be able to use key terms such as
equator, high latitudes, Tropic of Cancer
in your descriptions.
 To be able to explain reasons for the
differing location of biomes.
 To understand that latitude is key in
biome distribution due to the differences
in air temperature as a result of the
concentration of solar energy at the
tropics and dispersion at the poles.
 To know how precipitation influences the
location of biomes.
 To understand how local factors (small
scale) also affect biomes e.g. altitude
(height of land), distance inland, drainage
and geology.
 Know how the biosphere regulates the
atmosphere by absorbing carbon dioxide
and producing oxygen.
 Be able to explain how the biosphere helps
to maintain soil health by adding nutrients
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The biosphere provides humans with a range of
goods such as food, medicines and raw materials.
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How have humans affected the biosphere and how might it be conserved?
The biosphere is being degraded by human actions. Consider the role of human activity in direct
destruction of tropical rainforests, including
deforestation, mining, conversion to agricultural
land.
Examine how degradation of the biosphere by
indirect means including the impact of climate
change on tropical rainforests.
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into the soils and burrowing animals.
Be able to explain how the biosphere
maintains the hydrological cycle by
intercepting rainwater and slowing down
the speed of water to rivers.
To learn the foods humans can get from
the biosphere.
To learn the medicines we can get from
the biosphere.
To learn the raw materials we can get
from the biosphere.
To understand the services the biosphere
can provide.
To be able to explain the economic/social
benefits from the biosphere.
With specific reference to the Amazon
Rainforest be able to explain how humans
are directly destroying it.
To know the specific reasons for
deforestation e.g. The Grande Carajas
Development Project, Hydroelectric Dams,
Trans-Amazonian Highway and the impact
of Soya farming.
To understand that humans can also
degrade the biosphere i.e. lowering the
character and quality, indirectly e.g.
climate change.
To be able to give specific examples of
climate change on flora and fauna e.g.
rainforest frogs,
Management measures, at a variety of scales, are
being used to conserve the biosphere and make
human use of it more sustainable.
Examine two contrasting examples of biosphere
conservation, including one global-scale approach,
eg RAMSAR or CITES, UK National Parks, a
tropical forest reserve.
Examine the challenges of producing sustainable
outcomes in economic, social and environmental
terms and the possible tensions.
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To be able to explain how a global action is
used to protect biospheres: RAMSAR.
To be able to explain how national action
can be used to protect the biosphere:
National Parks.
Learn specific facts.
To understand it is difficult to use areas
in a sustainable way that balances
economic, social and environmental
conditions.
To consider the tensions bought about by
sustainable development – Chico Mendez /
Dorothy Stang.