The Living World: Tropical Rainforests Key Terminology

Biodiversity

The variety of species in an ecosystem

Canopy

The layer of branches in a tropical rainforest which hosts the majority of plant and animal species

Biotic

components in an ecosystem that are living such as plants and fish

Carbon sink

The removal of CO2 from the atmosphere

Climate

The average weather over a long period of time

Climate change

A long-term change in the Earth’s climate

Conservation

Managing the environment in order to preserve, protect or restore it

Debt reduction

Countries are relived of some of their debt in return for an agreement that they preserve and protect their natural environments

Deforestation

The cutting down or removal of large areas of forest

Ecotourism

Nature tourism usually involving small groups with minimal impact on the environment

Equator

An imaginary line that divides Earth’s surface into a northern and southern hemisphere

Global warming

The increase in global temperatures

Indigenous tribes

Tribes native to a particular place, usually living in harmony with the natural environment

International agreements

Promises made between countries to mitigate the destruction of natural habitats

Leaching

Heavy rainfall carries away nutrients in rainforest soils, leaving behind nutrient poor soil called latosol

Selective logging

Sustainable forestry management where only selected trees are cut down

Soil erosion

Removal of top-soil faster than it can be replaced (can occur due to natural water or wind action, or human activity)

Sustainability

Actions that meet the needs of the present without reducing the ability of future generations to meet their needs.