Ecosystems

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Across
  1. 2. The process by which fertile land becomes desert, typically as a result of drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agricultural practices.
  2. 5. The large-scale removal of trees from forests, often for agricultural expansion, logging, or urban development, leading to habitat destruction and biodiversity loss.
  3. 7. Organisms that produce their own energy through photosynthesis, typically plants.
  4. 9. A community of plants, animals, and microorganisms interacting with each other and their physical environment (e.g. soil, climate, and water).
  5. 11. A climate characterised by low rainfall, often leading to very dry conditions and limited vegetation. Hot deserts are typically arid environments.
  6. 12. A semi-arid region located south of the Sahara Desert in Africa, where desertification is a significant problem due to a combination of climatic conditions and human activities.
  7. 14. The process by which fertile land becomes desert-like, often due to overgrazing, deforestation, poor agricultural practices, or climate change, leading to a decline in productivity.
  8. 15. A form of sustainable tourism that focuses on responsible travel to natural areas, aiming to conserve the environment, respect local culture, and benefit the local community.
  9. 18. The variety and variability of life forms (plants, animals, and microorganisms) within a specific ecosystem or on Earth as a whole.
  10. 19. Cycling The movement and exchange of nutrients between living organisms and their environment (e.g. plants absorbing nutrients from soil, animals eating plants, decomposition returning nutrients to the soil).
Down
  1. 1. A large-scale ecosystem, such as tropical rainforests or deserts, defined by distinctive climate, vegetation, and animal life.
  2. 2. Organisms, such as bacteria and fungi, that break down dead organic material and recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem.
  3. 3. Scarcity The shortage of water resources, a common problem in hot deserts where rainfall is low, and evaporation rates are high.
  4. 4. Web A complex network of interconnected food chains showing the multiple pathways through which energy and nutrients flow in an ecosystem.
  5. 6. The excessive grazing of livestock on desert or semi-arid land, which can damage vegetation and contribute to soil erosion and desertification.
  6. 8. Organisms that obtain energy by feeding on other organisms. They can be primary (herbivores), secondary (carnivores), or tertiary consumers (top predators).
  7. 10. The process of removing salt from seawater to produce fresh water, often used in desert regions where freshwater resources are scarce. Desalination plants are commonly found in desert countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
  8. 13. Chain A linear sequence showing how energy is passed from one organism to another, starting with a producer and ending with a top consumer.
  9. 16. The living components of an ecosystem, including plants, animals, bacteria, and fungi
  10. 17. The non-living components of an ecosystem, such as climate, soil, water, and temperature.