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Climate of polar regions
250mm of rainfall a year
Average temp - less than 0 degrees
Cold and dry
Flora and fauna of polar regions
Mosses, lichens, grasses and shrubs
Polar bears, seals, owls, foxes
Climate of coral reefs
High temperatures
Water between 23 and 29 degrees
Flora and fauna of coral reefs
Zooxanthellae, algae, seagrass
Starfish, seahorse, clownfish
Climate of grasslands
20 to 30 degrees
Up to 90cm of rain a year
Flora and fauna of grasslands
Long grass and some trees
zebra, elephant, lion, cheetah
Climate of temperate forests
Warm summers
75 to 150cm of rain per uear
In the winter it may freeze but not for long
Flora and fauna of temperate forests
Trees, lichen and moss
Squirrels, owls, mice and birds
Climate of tropical forests
Hot and wet
25 to 30 degrees
200 to 400cm of rain a year
Flora and fauna of tropical rainforests
Tall trees, shrubs and ferns
Snakes, birds, sloths, monkeys
Climate of hot deserts
Less than 25cm of rain a year
Up to 38 degrees in the day
But minus degrees in night
Flora and fauna of hot deserts
Succulents and trees
Rattlesnakes, scorpions and camels
Nutrient cycle in tropical rainforests
Decaying vegetation decomposes rapidly due to hot, damp conditions
Nutrients enter the soil
Shallow roots take up the nutrients
Trees grow, then shed again, repeating the cycle
Soil profile of tropical rainforests
The very thin litter rapidly decomposes in heat
Shallow topsoil is a mix of decomposed organic matter and minerals
Sub-soil is deeper, due to weathering of rocks below
Underlying rocks weathers quickly at high temperatures
Soil is low in nutrients as they are quickly taken up by trees
Water cycle in tropical rainforests
Heavy daily convectional rain
Trees intercept rain
Roots take up rainwater when it reaches the ground
As rainforest heats up, water evaporates
Then water condenses and forms clouds, repeating the cycle
What goods do rainforests supply on a local scale
Wood is used for cooking and heating
Indigenous people get food from rainforests
They depend on rainforest materials to survive
What goods do rainforests supply on a global scale
Timber, rubbers, oils and fibres come from rainforests
25% of modern medicines are made from rainforest ingredient
Food from indigenous people has made its way into the diets around the world
E.g. Bananas, pineapples
What services do rainforests supply locally
2/3 of Brazil's energy comes from hydro-electric power from rainforest dams
Rainforests purify water for big cities in tropical regions
Rainforests control water flow, preventing drought and flooding in nearby cities
What services do rainforests supply globally
Remove and store 15% of the world's CO2 emissions
Lots of water evaporates from rainforests, helping to cool the earth
What human activities impact rainforests
Tourism
Logging
Tourism in rainforests (how much, negative impacts)
In 2020, over 343,000 people visited the Amazon
The tourism industry can harm wildlife and plants due to over-exploitation of natural resources
Tourism results in pollution
Benefits of tourism
Offers employment e.g. Hotel staff, tour guides
Ecotourism is especially good as it gives LIDCs revenue by protecting rainforests not exploiting them
Logging (how much, negative impacts)
200,000 acres of rainforest are burned per day
Destroys natural habitats of wildlife, including breeding sites
Causes flooding and desertification
Benefits of logging
Large scale farms can bring money and jobs
4 marker - Describe and explain the impact of one human activity on tropical rainforests
Logging is the process of cutting down trees to be used for furniture and timber
This affects the environment since 78 million acres of rainforest are burned a year
This disrupts the nutrient cycle because leaves cannot drop onto the soil
This means soil does not get necessary nutrients from leaves
Additionally it disrupts the water cycle because leaves cannot intercept rainwater
This may lead to flooding
What is Samasati Nature Retreat
An ecotourism resort in Costa Rica
What defines ecotourism
Does not damage natural environment
Is on a small scale
Consults with local community about planned developments
Ensures that infrastructure improvements benefit the local people
Background info on Costa Rica
Home to 100 species of mammals and 3000 types of plant
It has lost two thirds of its rainforest from deforestation
How is accommodation in Samasati made to minimise the impact of tourism
Timber comes from an afforestation project in Costa Rica
Natural light and ventilation minimise energy used
Rainwater is collected on rooves and used for toilets and showers
Buildings fit between trees so that none have to be cut down
No heavy machinery is used
Only biodegradable soap and shampoo is used
Ecotourism activites in Samasati
Bird watching
Canopy exploration
River kayaking
Walking and hiking
How is ecotourism ensured
Posters are put up around the resort
These are effective because they ensure that ecotourists respect wildlife by putting their phones off, sticking to pathways etc
They may not work if people choose to ignore them or they are covered by foliage
However if people are going on an eco holiday I think they will follow the rules
How does the Samasati nature reserve affect local people
Local people are employed
The community benefits from wages earned and can enjoy a high quality of life
This makes the rainforest more valuable standing up than cut down
