Tropical Rainforests

Describe the location of tropical rainforests.

Mainly located near the equator.

They can be found in west and central Africa, north east Oceania, central and south America and southeast Asia.

The majority of TRFs are found between the tropic of cancer and tropic of Capricorn at latitudes 23.5 degrees north and 23.5 degrees south.

Why do TRFs have equatorial climates?

They are located near the equator where the climate is consistently warm and wet.

This is due to the direct sunlight the equator receives all year roundleading to consistently high rainfall and high temperatures.

The temperatures cause rapid evaporation which quickly condenses and falls as rainfalls due to the humidity. This humid environment is ideal for the dense vegetation found there.

Describe the temperatures in a TRF.

Temperatures typically range from 20°c to 34°c.

The average rainfall is 26°c.

What is the average rainfall?

2000mm or 78 inches, and often much higher.

Describe nutrient cycling in TRFs

The warm and moist conditions promote rapid decompisition of organic matter by fungi and bacteria, releasing nutrients back into the soil.

Plants quickly absorb these nutrients through their shallow roots before they can be leached away by rain.

Fallen leaves and other plant material decompose on the forest floor, contributing to the nutrients cycle.

How are TRFs adapted to be biodiverse?

Stable climate: the warm temperatures and high rainfall create ideal conditions for species to thrive in.

Complex structure: the different structures provide many niches and habitats

Rapid nutrient cycling

Describe the layers in the rainforest from the top to the bottom.

Emergent

Understory

Shrub

Forest floor

Describe the understory layer.

It has limited sunlight, humid and shady, home to many insects, reptiles and amphibians.

Describe the characteristics of the shrub layer.

Located just above the forest floor, contains dense plant growth eg. Shrubs and young trees

Describe the characteristics of the forest floor.

The bottom layer, dark and damp, thin layer of decomposing leaves and organic matter, crucial for nutrient cycling. Inhabited by fungi, insects etc.

Describe the characteristics of the emergent layer.

The topmost layer, tallest trees often 50m+, receives the most sunlight, home to birds, insects etc.

Describe how the TRF shows interdependence.

Symbiotic relationships: many plants and animals form partnerships. For example, some trees work with fungi to absorb nutrients, and in return, the fungi gets sugars from trees.

Food webs: plants provide foods for herbivores=es, which are then eated by carnivores. This web supports a wide range of species.

Describe the adaptations of the sloth.

Specialised tendons: lock into place allowing them to hang from branches without losing much energy

Giant claws: long and curved, helps them climb Nd hang onto trees.

Slow metabolism: helps conserve energy, crucial due to low calorie diet of leaves.

Camoflage fur: often hosts algae giving a greenish tinge, brown blends to tree trunks.

Describe the adaptations of the poison dart frog.

Permeable skin: highly permeable skin allowing them to absorb water and oxygen directly from their environment, crucial for maintaining hydration.

Toxin production: secreted through skin derived from diets of ants, mites and termites, highly toxic.

Aposematism: bright, vivid colours as a warning to predators, signs they're toxic and should be avoided.

Describe the adaptations of the glass wing butterfly.

Transparent wings: camoflauges them

Reflective as caterpillars: the caterpillars have a reflective quality due to their green body, making them nearly invisible to predators.

Strong flight: can carry up to 40x their own weigtht and fly up to 8mph

Describe the adaptations of epiphytes.

Aerial roots: specialised to anchor them into their host plants, can absorb moisture and nutrients directly allowing them to survive without soil.

Light access: growing higher up in the canopy allows them more access to sunlight crucial for photosynthesis.

Describe the adaptations of buttress roots.

Adaptation to shallow soils: soils are often shallow and waterlogged, roots stay close to the surface where they can provide support and nutrients without having to penetrate deeply.

Erosion prevention: by covering a wide area, they help prevent soil erosion and anchor soil in place.

Describe the adaptations of orchids

Aerial roots: specialized and covered with a spongy tissue called velamen, helps absorb moisture and nutrients from and air and rain, crucial for survival high in the canopy.