Tropical Rainforest & Mangroves

A set of practice flashcards covering tropical rainforests and mangroves, their climate, distribution, structure, and adaptations.

What are the two main natural vegetation types studied in this unit?

Tropical rainforests and mangroves.

What climate and location define the tropical climate?

Located between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn; characterized by high annual rainfall (about 2,000–4,500 mm) and high temperatures year-round with little seasonal variation.

Where are tropical rainforests found geographically?

In Central and South America, West and Central Africa, and South and Southeast Asia, close to the Equator.

What are the key characteristics of tropical rainforests?

Evergreen vegetation, tall trees (up to 30 m or more), and a wide diversity of plant and animal species with a distinct vertical structure.

Name the three main layers of the tropical rainforest canopy.

Emergent layer, Canopy layer, and Undergrowth (forest floor).

What is the undergrowth layer in a tropical rainforest?

The forest floor, about 10 m high, with very little sunlight reaching it.

What is a drip tip on rainforest leaves and its purpose?

A narrow, downward-pointing leaf tip that helps water run off to prevent water accumulation and fungal/bacterial growth.

Why do rainforest plants often have broad leaves?

Broad leaves maximize sunlight absorption in the shaded forest environment.

What is buttress root and its function?

Large roots at the base of tall rainforest trees that provide support and stability, sometimes extending above the ground.

What does the vertical forest structure refer to in rainforests?

The arrangement of layers from emergent trees, to the dense canopy, to the undergrowth/forest floor.

What are mangroves and where are they found?

Coastal natural vegetation found along coastlines in sheltered environments with higher salinity.

Where in the world are mangroves found?

In tropical coastal areas around the world (Asia, Africa, the Americas, etc.).

How do mangroves cope with salt?

They have adaptations such as salt-secreting and salt-excluding roots.

What are aerial roots and why are they important for mangroves?

Roots that grow partly above the soil to obtain oxygen in waterlogged, low-oxygen soils and to help anchor the plant.

Name the three common mangrove aerial root types.

Pencil roots, Cone roots, and Prop roots.

Which mangrove species is associated with pencil roots?

Avicennia.

Which mangrove species is associated with cone roots?

Sonneratia.

Which mangrove species is associated with prop roots?

Rhizophora.

What are salt-secreting leaves and which mangrove uses them?

Leaves that excrete excess salt; Avicennia is a key example.

What is horizontal zonation in mangroves?

The distribution of mangrove species along the coast from high tide to low tide, influenced by salinity and flooding duration.

What is natural vegetation and what determines its type?

Plant life that covers land and develops without human interference; climate largely determines the type of natural vegetation found there.

What coastal conditions are favorable for mangroves?

Sheltered coastlines protected from strong waves and currents.