How the climate of a biome impacts native soil & vegetation

Biome

Tropical rainforest biome, Amazon rainforest

Climate type

Tropical climate

Equator

Central position, 23deg N+S. Leads to a tropical, hot, humid atmosphere

Suns rays

Strong sun, direct 90deg angle. Heat is condensed across a smaller region = higher avg. temperature

Avg temperature

Day ~35deg C. Night ~24deg C. Diurnal range ~11deg C (intense nocturnal cloud cover)

Noon

Hottest part of day=great impact. Intense convectional rainfall, regular high precipitation=great impact

Avg precipitation

~6000mm p/annum. Intense heat evaporates moisture, leads to rainfall. Cycle

High relative humidity

77-88%. Contributes to impact as results in no definitive seasons in central amazon. Peripheral regions have mild seasonal changes

Determining

Hot, wet climate determines soils and therefore the plants that survive. Altered region.

Impact (1): Soil

Zonal soil

Home to soil

Latosol soil. Zonal soil, meaning formed in response to climatic patterns (heat and precipitation) in particular region.

Laterisation

Climate ~ laterisation. Washing away of soluble minerals due to intense precipitation.

Soil colour

Soluble minerals wash down to B and C horizons. Leaves insoluble iron and aluminium oxides= red, orange colour

Infertility

Although home to lush plant life. Infertility caused by intense leaching, by heavy rainfall

O horizon

Most nutrients found here due to short nutrient cycle (plants adapted to absorb nutrients quickly)

Vegetation removed from latosol

Left bare, baked by heat. Fertile for 2-3 years, then baked into laterite brick

Micro-organisms in soil

Ideal home in soils O horizon (heat, moisture, etc). Decomposers contribute to keeping soil fertile

Quick humification

Plant adaptation, short nutrient cycle to survive in heavily leached soil

4 layers of vegetation

Forest floor, understory, canopy layer, emergent layer

Forest floor

Lowest layer, 0-15m, 1-3% sunlight. Large leaves ~ efficient photosynthesis

Understory

Less sunlight~ larger and wider leaves to maximise photosynthesis (floor)

Oily understory

Waxy/oily leaves to prevent fungal infection in their ideal environment, e.g. palm oil leaves

Canopy

Trees grow tall, compete for sunlight. Have bendy leaves and branches to combat heavy rainfall

Leave shape

Drip-tips, to allow water to fall off

Emergent layer

Tallest layer of <70m. Receive most sunlight. Do not sprout until 30m as otherwise little light

Aerial plants

Adapted to not need soil, less strain on nutrient resources. Have aerial roots, e.g. orchids.