Living World

Name the layers of the rainforest

1. Emergent

2. Canopy

3. Under canopy

4. Shrub layer

5. Ground floor

What is a temperate deciduous forest?

A biome where trees have broadened leaves that fall off during autumn to preserve energy over the winter and grow back during spring.

What is meant by interdependence?

When ecosystems and organisms depend on each other for their survival.

What is a sustainable ecosystem?

When abiotic and biotic components are balanced out and allows the population to remain constant.

What is biotic?

Living

What is abiotic?

Non-living

What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?

• A food chain is a simple diagram showing energy being passed through a producer, primary, secondary, and tertiary consumer.

• A food web is more complex than a food chain as it overlaps between multiple consumers.

What are decomposers?

A small organism that helps break down nutrients into the soil to be reused at a faster rate.

Name 2 examples of decomposers?

• Fungi

• Bacteria

What is a biome?

A large area that has its own unique ecosystem and biodiversity that has adapted for that area

What is an ecosystem?

A community where biotic and abiotic components live together

What is deforestation?

The act of clearing out massive areas of natural forests for resources, land, and agriculture.

What is an adaptation?

A change in organisms that allows them to survive in certain conditions

What is evolution?

The gradual change overtime that takes generations to adapt to their surroundings for their own benefit.

What three types of adaptations in the rainforests

• Drip-tip leaves

• Lianas

• Buttress roots

How are buttress roots adapted?

Large roots of trees that grow out of the soil to support the weight of the actual trees and transport water.

How are lianas adapted?

A type of vine that grows on other trees to reach the emergent or canopy layer to photosynthesis.

How are drip-tip leaves adapted?

Waxy layer with pointy tips to let rainwater fall of so fungi does not grow on the leaves

Name human causes of deforestation

• Logging

• Mineral extraction

• Urbanization

• Commercial farming

• Subsistence farming

What is subsistent farming?

When farmers cut down trees to make space for farming to support their families needs.

What is commercial farming?

When areas of the forest are cut down to make space for large-scale production intended for global sales rather than for family consumptions.

What is logging?

Process of cutting down trees to be sold as timber, lumber, etc.

What is mineral extraction?

Clearing large space of forests to dig/ drill in search of mineral deposits.