A detailed summary of all the spec points and case studies for section B of AQA GCSE Geography Paper 1, with clear examples and information to ensure the highest grades. Written by a grade 9 geography student.
Producer: An organism or plant that is able to absorb energy from the sun and convert it into sugars (glucose), through
photosynthesis. E.g. common oak
Decomposers: An organism such as a bacterium or fungus, that breaks down dead tissue, which is then recycled to the
environment.
Herbivore: An animal that eats only plants (producers), to obtain its energy. E.g. squirrel
Carnivore: A creature that gets its energy by eating herbivores.
Top Consumer: A creature that gets its energy by eating other carnivores. It is at the top of the food chain. e.g Owl
Food chain: A simple line diagram which displays the direct links between different organisms (producers and consumers),
in a given ecosystem, that rely upon each other as their source of food.
Food web: A complex diagram which displays all of the connections between producers and consumers, in a given
ecosystem, which rely upon each other as their source of food.
Factors Affecting Ecosystem Balance:
● Agricultural fertilisers → eutrophication; nitrates increase the growth of algae→ deplete oxygen → FISH may die
● Ponds may be drained to use for farming → AQUATIC PLANTS will die, as will fish and other pond life
● Woods cut down → destroying habitats for BIRDS + affecting the nutrient cycle
● Hedgerows removed to increase the size of fields → destroying habitats → altering the plant animal balance
➔ Tropical Rainforests: CASE STUDY: Amazon Rainforest
The rainforest is consistently warm throughout the year (27OC) because:
→ The TRF is located along the equator. At the equator, the sun is at a high angle in the sky throughout the year.
→ This means that most of the sun’s rays are concentrated in a small area, thus heating it up more
The rainforest also has high rainfall at around 2000mm per year, mostly from December to May because:
→ As the warm, moist air rises and expands, it causes condensation which produces heavy rain and thunderstorms.
→ This constant heating and rising of air causes a low pressure belt to form in the equatorial zone called the Intertropical
Convergence Zone
→ When the ITCZ is directly overhead, this leads to the most intense rainfall
Animal Adaptations:
→ Spider Monkey:- Long tail - Helps the monkey to balance
- Resistant Stomach - Enables the monkey to eat potentially poisonous fruits
- Hairless underside of tail - Creates an enhanced gripping surface which can act like a thumb
→ Toucan: - Long, large bill- Allows the toucan to reach fruit from branches that are too weak to support its weight - Can
turn themselves into a feathery ball - Allows them to fit into comparatively smaller holes
, Plant Adaptations:
→ Bark:
- Thick bark - Limits moisture evaporation from the tree trunk
- Smooth bark - Makes it difficult for other plants to grow on its surface
→ Buttresses:
- Massive ridges near the base - Provides extra stability
→ Drip Tips:
- Enables rain drops to run off quickly - To shed water to avoid the growth of
fungus and bacteria
Causes of Deforestation:
● Logging- This is the first step so that forest land can be converted to
be used for other purposes.
Timber companies are most interested in trees such as mahogany and teak so that they can be exported.
● Mineral extraction- The mining of gold is the predominant type of mineral extraction in the TRF.
In 1999, there were 10000 hectares of land for gold mining. Now there is over 50000 hectares.
● Commercial farming- The rearing of cattle has been said to account for 80% of the Amazon’s deforestation. The
land can only be used for the short term as the pasture quality declines quickly, meaning farmers have to clear more
land.
● Rising Population- All of these activities require workers, and their families need homes and services, thus
rainforest is cleared to build homes for more people
● Road Building- This is needed for transport and is a knock-on effect of the other causes of deforestation.
The Trans-Amazonian Highway is 4000km long and is important in opening up remote areas of the rainforest.
Impacts of Deforestation:
→ Economic Development:
Increase in average monthly income (74 Reals to 196 Reals) and literacy rate (68%- 83%) because the newly available
natural resources in the area of cleared forest attracted investment and infrastructure → new roads → improved access to
education, medicine and increased income.
However, the monthly income and literacy rates dropped back down to initial levels as the natural resources dried up, losing
a source of income. Furthermore, higher populations would mean that there is a strain on the ever-dwindling resources used.
→ Soil Erosion:
Deforestation means that there is a lot less interception of heavy rainfall. This will mean that the topsoil is removed and there
are fewer leaves that have fallen, meaning that the soil cannot gain any nutrients.
Without the tree roots to bind the soil, the soil is more easily eroded by wind and rain. Exposed soil is more vulnerable to the
leaching of nutrients and the soil becomes less fertile.
Thus the soil becomes infertile for the next 2-3 years.
→ Impact on Climate Change:
Felling of the trees leads to a decrease in the absorption of carbon dioxide → Increases carbon dioxide concentrations in the
atmosphere and as this is a greenhouse gas this increases human-induced climate change.
Use of fire for clearance also increases carbon dioxide emissions
Value of the Rainforest:
→ Provides employment opportunities in traditional activities e.g. rubber tapping and subsistence agriculture
63000 families in the Amazon forest earn their living from rubber tapping
→ Indigenous communities such as the Awá in Brazil depend on the rainforest for food, materials, fuel and medicines. Also
provides 240 homes in total to all indigenous tribes.
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