2 - Tropical Rainforests

Describe the global distribution of tropical rainforests?

They have found near the equator between the tropic of Cancer and Capricorn. They are found in South America, Africa and Asia in large clusterd

Why are tropical rainforests so biodiverse?

They receive lots of sunlight for plant photosynthesis and have enough rainfall as well as minerals.

What is the temperature like in TRF?

The warmest months are in August September and October with an average of 29° but the coldest month is April with an average of 27°. Therefore the range of temperatures is only 2 degrees

What is the rainfall like in TRF?

The wettest month of the year is March with 300 mm of rainfall but the driest month has 41 mm. The total rainfall per year is 2096 mm.

Why are tropical rainforests so consistently warm?

The sunray are more direct near the equator, which means they receive a lot of sunlight all year-round and warm air rises at the equator

Why is there lots of rainfall in TRF?

The high temperatures mean warm air rises near the equator and condenses creating a low pressure which causes conventional rainfall.

What is the average temperature in TRF?

28 degrees

What are the four layers of the rainforest? Give a short description for each one.

Emergent - very tall trees 30-60 metres tall exposed to strong winds: Canopy - 80% sunlight with dense trees 20-30 metres tall: Understory - high humidity, short trees, darker: Forest Floor - 1-2% of light with sparse vegetation

What are the soils in TRF called?

Latosols

What is the soil like in TRF and why?

The soil is rich and iron giving it a reddish brown colour. It is infertile because heavy range was the nutrients out of the soil and tree root soak up nutrients very quickly.

How does the soil support life in the rainforest?

The hot and humid conditions allow for quick decomposition so nutrients are returned to the soil quickly. The surface is the most fertile because there is a constant supply of leaf litter being broken down but the tree roots are adapted to absorb nutrients quickly so it becomes infertile

What does interdependence mean?

The climate water soils, plants and animals all along each other so if one thing changes everything is affected

Give one way the plants rely on the climate in TRF

They need the right amount of sunlight and rainfall for photosynthesis so they can grow

Give one way the soil relies on the climate in TRF

The soil needs to be full of nutrients for crops to grow so they need to be enough rainfall and sunlight so drought and floods are not caused

Give one way the people rely on plants in TRF

Indigenous people rely on plants for medicines as food as well as create shelters for safety

What is the adaptation of plant roots and how does it help them to survive in TRF's?

Buttress Roots - they have long and wide tree roots with a large surface area to absorb more nutrients

What is the adaptation of leaves and how does it help them to survive in TRF's?

They have drip tips to allow water to drain preventing damage on the leaf and a waxy top to stop water from pooling

What are Liana's and how does it help plants and trees to survive in TRF?

They are thick woody stems that intertwine with trees to support them to grow tall in order to gain maximum sunlight in the canopy or emergent layer

What is the adaptation of a flying squirrel and how does it help it to survive in a TRF?

It has a flat tail to act as a stabiliser and large nocturnal to see prey and predators in the dark. It also has food storage to store nuts.

What is the adaption of a spider or howler monkey and how does it help it to survive in a TRF?

They have long strong limbs for agility to climb through the rainforest and a long tail helps it to wrap round branches for support. They have a loud howl for good communication and a large snout with wide nostrils providing a good sense of smell for food.

What is the adaptation of a leaf tailed gecko and how does it help it to survive in a TRF?

It's camouflage to mimic the appearance of leaves to hide from predators and has sticky toe pads to grip tree trunks for stability for climbing. It's jaw opens wide to show a red mouth to scare other animals away.

What is the adaptation of a sloth and how does it help it to survive in a TRF?

They move slowly to make it less obvious for predators and grow green algae on their skin to camouflage from predators. They eat leaves to slow metabolism saving an energy.

What are the three major threats to biodiversity and why?

Climate change - plants can't adapt quick enough to the climate: Deforestation - loss of habitat and affected food chains: Human Development - disrupted food chains and habitats.

Where are the largest areas of tropical rainforests?Give detailed descriptions

The Amazon is found in South America covering most of the northern part of the continent with 6% found in Brazil and the rest in countries such as Peru and Ecuador. The Congo basins found in Asia within the democratic Republic of the Congo and there are other areas of rainforest in Malaysia and Indonesia.

What is the difference between commercial and subsistence farming?

Commercial farming is farming to sell for a profit to retailers or food companies but subsistence is used to produce food and materials for the benefit of the farmer and his family only

What is mineral extraction?

The removal of solid mineral resources from the air including all which contain commercially valuable amounts of metals pressure stones and solid fuels

What is shifting cultivation?

The process of cultivating land temporarily and then abandoning it for a period of time so the soil regained its fertility and reverts to its natural state because it had been exhausted

What is logging and slash + burn?

Logging is the business of cutting down trees and transporting the logs but/and burners where land is cleared quickly by burning the forest

What is cattle ranching?

The practice of raising herds of animals on large areas of land

How does cattleranching and commercial farming cause deforestation?

Land is cleared for cattle which accounts for over 60% of deforested land and farmers need space for crops. The soil nutrients are poor which only supports cattle for 5 to 7 years so they have to move to a new area of land which is cleared. They also release methane which is a greenhouse gas and contributes to climate change. Farmers use fertilisers which get washed away in polluted rivers.

How does logging cause high levels of deforestation?

Trees such as mahogany and teak are highly valuable for furniture which causes them to be cut down and the high paid price for timber encourages more logging

How does road building increase levels of deforestation?

It makes connections to settlements farm land and minds easier which triggers more deforestation because remote areas become accessible

How does mineral extraction cause deforestation and what are the effects?

The mines take up a huge amount of space so the land has to be cleared and when there all the mind they leave scars in the land releasing poison such as mercury. The poisons end up in rivers which caused silt build up.

How does a growing population contribute to deforestation?

It is an indirect cause because as population grows urban air expand so land is cleared for settlements and services. More food is needed to commercial farming cat ranches increased due to demand as well as mineral extraction and development.

How is energy development a cause of deforestation?

Areas are flooded for dams destroying habitats as well as for solar farms or wind farms.

Give six causes of deforestation

Cattle-ranching, commercial farming, logging, road building, mineral extraction, energy development.

Explain in detail why subsistence farming is sustainable

Indigenous tribes clear small areas of Forrest and Byrne the vegetation via the slash and burn technique. The ash provides nutrients to the soil meaning the land remains fertile and can be used to grow crops. When the soil is exhausted, the tribes move on and repeat this process on another area of land which is known as shifting cultivation. The original area is regenerated as it receives nutrients and seas from surrounding vegetation so no lasting damage occurs which is why is sustainable.

Give at least five impacts of deforestation

Loss of biodiversity, climate change, income, employment, river pollution, soil erosion

Explain how deforestation leads to climate change

When trees are deforested less carbon dioxide is absorbed so their greenhouse gases in the atmosphere which trapped radiation from the Sun. When the radiation is trapped, it leads to global warming and if the forest is burnt carbon dioxide is admitted in the process as well as this the lack of Evapotranspiration changes weather the patterns and affects biomes.

Explain how deforestation leads to soil erosion

The tree roof by the soil together so without them it becomes loose and minerals will be lost via soil saturation making it hard of a plant to grow and it kills aquatic life because sediment falls into the rivers. It affects the nutrient cycles for the soil won't receive nutrients from leaf litter which has been decomposed.

What does the term sustainable mean?

Sustainability is meeting the needs of today without compromising the needs of future generations

What are the international agreements about the use of tropical hardwoods? Give details.

Mahogany is in high demand to make furniture leading to an increase in a legal deforestation so the international tropical forest agreement was established to promote international trade in tropical forest from sustainably managed deforestation. There is a restriction on wood that does not come from a sustainable source and the Forest stewardship council (FSC) buy wood and identifies these products by stamping it with the label to traders know it was purchased legally and sustainably.

What does FSC stand for? And what do they do?

Forest stewardship council - they buy sustainable wood and stamp it with their logo so traders know it was purchased sustainably and legally

What are debt for nature swaps?

They are financial agreements where our countries debt is reduced or cancelled in exchange for investment into conservation efforts and protection of natural habitats

Given an example of conservation in rainforests

The ARPA program (Amazon region protected areas) is where the WWF works with the Brazilian government to protect parks covering 150 million acres of forest

What is an NGO?

non-government organization

Why is education a strategy for sustainability?

It helps local people businesses and politicians to understand the value of biodiversity and tourism in rainforest so they will protect it from deforestation

Why is selective logging a strategy for sustainability?

Only certain trees are cut down ensuring the canopy is preserved and habitats are saved. It gives young trees more space to grow and receive sunlight for photosynthesis and does not disrupt the nutrient cycles or food chains.

Why is replanting a strategy sustainability?

The rainforest can recover and it will not be damaged for future generations. Agro forestry can also be used to plant both crops and trees together so that local people benefit from food production and the tree support the ecosystem and nutrient cycles preventing soil erosion.

Why is Eco tourism a strategy for sustainability?

It provides an alternative source of income and profit for people in the government to help conserve the rainforest. Jobs are created and venues are built and visitors are educated on the importance of conservation.