Tropical Rainforests

What is the climate like?

Same all year round.

Hot - 20-28 degrees as sun’s energy is more intense near the equator all year.

High rainfall - 2000mm per year

What are the different layers of a rainforest?

Emergent Layer - Tallest trees - Few animals

Canopy Layer - Thickest layer

Understory Layer - Young shrubs and trees

Forest Floor - Giant animals - Darkest - Humid

What are some animal adaptations?

Malaysian Leaf Insect:

Physical - Camouflaged as a leaf

Behavioural- Eggs look like seeds

Jaguar:

Physical - Powerful jaws which can pierce skull

Behavioural - Stealthy hunting technique

What are some plant adaptations?

Drip Tips - Waxy pointed leaves so water can runoff the leaves. Used so leaves don’t break and fungus doesn’t grow.

Buttress Roots - Special tree roots that help support the tree trunks, supporting the tree and absorbs more nutrients.

What are goods and services?

Goods - Things provided by changing an ecosystem.

Service - Things provided by an ecosystem without changing it.

Why does deforestation happen in the Amazon?

Cattle Ranching - Area cleared for cattle - 70%

Commercial Logging - Logging for wood - 3%

Subsistence Farming - Farms for food - 25%

Mining - Extracting minerals - 1%

Roads - Transport in the Amazon - 1%

What are some Impacts of deforestation?

Social - Local tribes may be forced to move out.

Economic - Many jobs are created and money made.

Environmental- Habitat is lost and animals hunted.

What are some solutions to deforestation?

Selective Logging - Only felling old trees

Replanting - New trees replace old ones

Ecotourism - Letting few visitors learn and visit the area.

ITTA - International Tropical Timber Agreement which loggers have to agree to to log wood.