Tropical rainforests and Malaysia

how high do trees grow up to in the rainforests

45 m high

3 things about the rainforest

1. variety of wildlife

2. up to 100 species

   1. trees grow tall

where are tropical rainforests found?

belt through the tropics

2 examples of a tropical rainforest

1. central and south america

2. central africa

climate in tropical rainforests

warm and wet, rainhigh rainfall due to being on near the equator, high temps throughout the year

rainfall of tropical rainforests

high because of global atmospheric circulation causes low pressure to form at the equator therefore rising air creates clouds and triggers heavy rain

temperature of tropical rainforests

high and constant because of sun

how long does rainfall lasts in the rainforests

6 months

soils in tropical rainforests

infertile + old

why are soils in the tropical rainforests infertile?

because of the frequent heavy rainfall washing out the nutrients = leaching

how does the rainforests create lush vegetation despite leaching?

nutrient cycling = 3 main nutrient stores transfer = interdependence + decomposition

what is nutrient cycling

biomass, litter and soil decompose + transfer nutrients to each other

( the recycling of nutrients between living organisms and the environment )

what is leaching

heavy rainfall washing out nutrients in the soil

why is there biodiversity in rainforests?

long hours of sunlight + high temps and heavy rainfall

= ideal for plants to thrive ( lots of plants )

= primary producers store energy through photosynthesis and support the rest of the ecosystem ( lots of animals )

how drip tips have adapted to the rainforest

have pointy tips on leaves to allow for surface run off ( water )

allows water to drain quickly, prevent rotting, adapt to heavy rainfall and avoid growth of fungus in the warm, wet, tropical forest so sheds water

how large leaves have adapted to the rainforest

large surface area to absorb as much sunlight as possible ( in the shrub = bottom layer )

how lianas are adapted to the tropical rainforest

woody vines rooted in the ground but can climb up the trees to reach sunlight and their leaves/flowers grow in the canopy

how buttress roots are adapted to the tropical rainforest

large roots have ridges to create a large surface area to support large trees

• soils have poor levels of nutrients therefore causes the roots to be shallow, but shallow roots can’t support huge rainforest trees so they have grown buttress roots

• helps join the tree far up and support it, also helps it gather more nutrients as they spread over a wide area and provides extra stability

how waxy coats on leaves are adapted to the tropical rainforest

reduce water loss and protects plant from grazing, also prevents infection by disease organisms, and protect dehydration

how animals eg. orangutans have adapted to living in the rainforest

• long arm length - 7 feet to hang on branches + support themselves

• opposable big toe - suspend weight

• highly mobile hip - sway between trees

• flattened nails - to use their tactile pads

• separate control of all fingers

• red orange coat = camouflage

definition of adaptation

changes in the behaviour or structure of a living organism to make it more suited to living in its environment

how male orangutans are adapted to female orangutans

have cheek pads to intimidate other orangutans + notify other orangutans of their location

the pads increase the distance of their long calls + seems like a threat

what is an ecosystem

community of plants and animals living together in a habitat

biotic components

living

abiotic components

non living components eg. sunlight

food chain vs food web

chain = one link of links

web = diagram of multiple linkages ( between consumers in an ecosystem )

what is a biome

global scale ecosystem

4 aspects of the pond

• surface

• margin

• mid water

  • bottom

polar environments are found in the _____ latitudes

higher

tundra environments are found in the ____ of continents

edges tr

tropical rainforests environments are found in the ____ regions

equatorial

emergent layer of tropical rainforest

top layer, fast growing trees, compete to reach sunlight, they are called emergent trees, lots of sunlight

canopy layer

seek sunlight to obtain nutrients from air rather than soil

contains most of the plants and animals because food is abundant ( 3rd highest level) = largest section

understory layer

little sunlight, plants have to grow larger leaves to reach sunlight = Lianas

forest floor

dark, no plants, not much sunlight, decays quickly, lots of buttresses to support + transport water

rainforest water cycle

rain, interception by trees, reaches ground, trees take up water, it evaporates

rainforest nutrient cycle

trees shed leaves, decomposed, nutrients enter soil, roots take up nutrients, trees grow, shed leaves

biomass store in nutrient cycle

most nutrients here because climate is ideal for plant and tree growth

litter store in nutrient cycle

relatively small because it decomposes quickly so nutrients are removed

soil store in nutrient cycle

smallest store of nutrients, plants take up the nutrients from the soil very quickly and there are lots of them

3 threats to biodiversity

deforestation, water pollution, climate change

economic value of rainforests

• medicines - 25% of our modern medicines originate from tropical forest plants

• 120 prescription drugs are derived from rainforest plants

social value of tropical rainforests

• indigenous tribes depend on the rainforest for survival ( food, shelter, medicines)

• medicines derive from tropical forest plants

• 2/3 or more of all drugs with cancer fighting properties come from the rainforest

• provide local foods

environmental value of the rainforest

• prevents soil erosion as the trees prevent the heavy rain from washing away the nutrients in the soil

• stores alot of water as it helps release it back into the atmosphere

• habitat for animals and plants ( contains over 30 miilion species of plants and animals )

• absorbs CO2 and releases oxygen to stabilize the earth’s climate

2 global importance points about TRFs

• many important medicines are derived from TRF

• large carbon sink and helps absorb CO2

2 local importance points on TRFs

• indigenous people’s ancestral territory

• habitat for animals and plants

what is deforestation

cutting down of trees

Causes of deforestation

• industrial uses : to build factories/ residential areas

• agriculture : for palm oil plantation

• live stock: farmers clear the land for pasteurizing lands for cows etc

effects of deforestation

• removes animal habitats ( in Sabah especially )

• indigenous tribes lose their home

• tribes cannot practice subsistence farming

deforestation mainly impacts who in the TRF?

orangutans and indigenous tribes

What is selective logging

only fully grown trees are cut down and trees with important ecologicalvalue have been left unharmed ( selecting which trees to cut down )

Clear felling

cutting everything down

malaysia’s significance in terms of their history of logging

since 1980s has been one of the world’s largest exporters of tropical wood

80% of deforestation in malaysia is due to

logging

what are hardwood trees cut down for

furniture and other uses

cause - what is commercial farming

deforestation for farming crops + cattle ( done by large companies ) to export palm oil + 10 year tax incentive for plantation owners to encourage further development

cause - subsistence farming

indigenous tribes practice this…. deforest the land to grow food crops in cleared pockets of the forest - small scale + sustainable

cause - slash and burn

a method of deforestation/clearing land - using fire to clear the land

small scale - creates vulnerable nurtrients that help plant grow

but large scale - can get out of control and destroy large areas of the forest

cause - what is mineral extraction

tin mining in peninsula malaysia ( for copper and gold ) and smelting = large areas of rainforest have to be cleared for the mining operations, roads and housing for the workers

• in Borneo, driling for oil and gas has started

• coal is an important source of energy with 99% of malaysia’s supply in Borneo

cause - road building

cut down trees to gives access and supplies to new mining areas/energy projects

in malaysia, logging companies use extensive roads for heavy machinery to transport wood

this is happening in Sarawak, east malaysia ( island of borneo )

cause - energy development

high rainfall means lots of dams/reservoirs = good conditions for hydro- electric power dams

for example, Bakun Dam in Sarawak ( completed in 2011 and is 205 metres high ) - flooded over 700km2 of forest and farmland

supplies energy for the industries in peninsula malaysia

significance of Bakun Dam

example of energy development causing deforestation and it completed in 2011, being 205 metres high - highest in asia, except china

flooded over 700km2 of forests and farmland, to boost malaysia’s electricity supply

cause - settlement and population growth

people moving away from overcrowded cities to live in less populated areas, clearing forests to create living space

in the past transmigration ( poor ppl in cities move to countryside ) caused 15,000 hectares of the rainforest to be felled for migrants, created new settlements

settlements have also grown to service those who work in commercial farming and mineral extraction = drives population growth

why does logging lead to road construction

need to bring in machinery + take away the timber

main impact - deforestation on local scale

hilltops exposed to heavy tropical rainfall and leads to soil erosion

impact - deforestation on a global scale

• timber ( hardwoods ) taken for markets in developed countries - valuable source of income for malaysia

• adds to greenhouse effect

economic gains of deforestation in Malaysia

• jobs ( directly and indirectly )

• pay taxes to the government to improve public services

• improved transport infrastructure = better for tourism + industrial development

• palm oil + rubber can provide raw materials for processing industries

• HEP will provide cheap and plentiful energy

• gold is very valuable

economic losses of deforestation in Malaysia

• plants bringing huge medical benefits + profits could become extinct

• climate change cause people to have to adapt in warmer conditions + destroy crops such as tea, fruit and flowers

• number of tourists could decrease as biodiversity in TRF decreases

One stat of TRFs

11371 species of trees grow in the malaysian rainforest

3 environmental impacts of deforestation to TRFS

1. soil erosion

2. loss of biodiversity

3. contribution to climate change

what is HEP

hydroelectric power dams

why HEP is good for malaysia

provides cheap electricity

what is sutainable management

rainforests managed sustainably to allow people to meet the social, economic and environmental needs of the present ( without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs )

selective logging

only some trees are felled ( oldest ones )

most are left standing

ecotoursim

tourism that doesn’t harm the environment, and benefits local people by providing a source of income

management - ecotourism

• suita palm roofs - made by local tradesmen

• bungalows blend in - not an eyesore

• reusable bottles

• 100% biodegradable soap

• greenhouse effect to dry laundry ( no tumble dryer )

• open structure

• solar panels to power energy

example of eco tourism

Costa Rica, or Lapa Rios

benefits of ecotourism to locals

creates jobs to build the structure of the huts/bungalows

management - how replanting trees helps deforestation

planting to replace ones cut down, plant cacao, coffee, bananas etc

management - debt reduction helps deforestation

• poorer countries in the past borrowed money for economic development, so now they use deforestation as a method to repay debt ( at a huge environment cost )

• often, log, farm or mine in rainforests to pay back the debt

• organisations ( eg. WWF ) cancel debt to conserve rainforests = “debt for nature”

• paying countries to maintain their rainforests in the form of debt relief

management - international agreements for deforestation

promotes sustainable forestry so logging companies have to replant trees and consumers are educated about the need to buy wood from sustainable sources

management - how selective logging helps deforestation

most trees left standing to avoid soil erosion + reduces damage to the land, allows forest to regenerate and be used in the future