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geography > 3.1.2.2 Tropical rainforests > Flashcards

3.1.2.2 Tropical rainforests Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the climate like in tropical rainforests?

A

Same all year round, no definite seasons:
- Hot (20-28C) doesn’t vary much (sun is overheard
all year round)
- Rainfall is very high (rains every day, usually in afternoon)

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2
Q

Why is the climate hot?

A

Because it’s near the equator

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3
Q

What is the soil like?

A

Not very fertile

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4
Q

Why is the soil not very fertile?

A

Heavy rain washes nutrients away

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5
Q

Where are the nutrients found in the soil and why?

A

At the surface due to decayed leaf fall

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6
Q

Why is the layer of nutrients found on the soil very thin?

A

As decay is fast in warm, moist conditions

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7
Q

Why type of trees are most of the trees and why?

A

Evergreen - to take advantage of the continual growing season

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8
Q

Why does very little light reach the forest floor?

A

Trees are really tall and vegetation cover is very dense

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9
Q

What types of plants are there lots of?

A

Lots of epiphytes e.g. Fern, orchids

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10
Q

What are epiphytes?

A

Plants that grow on other living plants and take nutrients and moisture from the air

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11
Q

How many animal species are there?

A

Contains more animal species than any other ecosystem

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12
Q

All parts of rainforest are … on another

A

All parts of rainforest are dependent on another (interdependent)

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13
Q

The warm and wet climate means …

A

That dead plant material is decomposed quickly by fungi and bacteria on forest floor

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14
Q

What is the effect of dead plant material being decomposed quickly?

A

Makes the surface soil high in nutrients = plants can grow quickly and easily

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15
Q

How do animals get their nutrients?

A

By eating plants

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16
Q

Why are animal populations high?

A

Dense vegetation provides lots of food

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17
Q

How can deforestation lead to climate change?

A

Reducing amount of CO2, being absorbed from the atmosphere, adding to the greenhouse effect and changing the climate

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18
Q

How do trees provide moisture for further rainfall?

A

Trees intercept and take up loads of water and release back into the atmosphere

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19
Q

What can deforestation increase the risk of, if there’s less trees to intercept water?

A

Can increase the risk of drought

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20
Q

What is biodiversity?

A

It’s the variety of organisms living in particular area (plants and animals)

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21
Q

Why are rainforest are stable and productive environments?

A

Because it’s hot and wet all year round ∴ plants and animals don’t have to cope with changing conditions = always plenty to eat

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22
Q

Why are many species only found in a small area?

A

Organisms have evolved to depend on a few species for survival - are very specific to a particular habitat and food source

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23
Q

What is the biodiversity like in tropical rainforests?

A

Extremely high biodiversity - contains 50% of world’s plant, animal and insect species (may contain half of all life on earth)

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24
Q

What is the effect of deforestation on the ecosystem?

A

Likely extinction of species + loss of biodiversity

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25
Q

What are plants are adapted to cope with?

A

High rainfall, high temperatures & competition for light

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26
Q

What do tall trees competing for sunlight have?

A

Have big roots called buttress roots to support their trunks

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27
Q

How are plants’ leaves adapted and why?

A

Plants have thick, waxy leaves with pointed tips = pointed tips (drip-tips) channel water to a point do it runs off. So the weight of the water doesn’t damage the plant + no standing water for fungi an bacteria to grow in & waxy coating of leaves helps repel the rain

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28
Q

Name the distinct layers of plants (with different adaptations) that rainforests have (from the top to bottom)?

A
  1. Emergent layer
  2. Canopy layer
  3. Understory/shrub layer
  4. Forest floor
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29
Q

How are plants adapted in the emergent layer?

A

Plants only have branches at their crown (where most light reaches them)

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30
Q

How are plants adapted in the undercanopy?

A

Have large leaves to absorb as much light as possible

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31
Q

How are climbing plants adapted?

A

Climbing plants (e.g. Lianas) use the tree trunks to climb up to the sunlight

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32
Q

Why do plants drop their leaves gradually throughout the year?

A

So they can go on growing all year round

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33
Q

How are animals adapted?

A

Are adapted so they can find food and escape predators

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34
Q

Where do many animals spend their entire life?

A

High up in the canopy

35
Q

How are animals adapted to get from tree to tree?

A
  • Have strong limbs = can spend all day climbing + leaping from tree to tree (E.g. Howler monkeys)
  • Some have flaps of skin = to glide between trees (E.g. Flying squirrels)
  • Others have suction cups for climbing (E.g. Red-eyed
    tree frogs)
36
Q

Why do some birds have short, pointy wings?

A

So they can easily manoeuvre between dense tangle of branches in trees (E.g. Harpy eagle has small wingspan)

37
Q

Why are some animals camouflaged?

A

(E.g. Leaf-tailed geckos look like leaves) can hide from predators

38
Q

What does it mean if animal is nocturnal and why do they do this?

A

They sleep though the day and feed at night when it’s cooler - helps them save energy (E.g. Sloth)

39
Q

How are animals like anteaters adapted to low light levels on forest floor?

A

Anteaters have sharp sense of smell and hearing = can detect predators without seeing them

40
Q

What the benefit of animals being able to swim?

A

Allows them to cross river channels E.g. Jaguars

41
Q

Name 6 reasons why tropical rainforests are being chopped down

A
  • Commercial Logging
  • Population Pressure
  • Commercial Farming
  • Energy Development
  • Subsistence Farming
  • Mineral Extraction
42
Q

Explain how population pressure is a reason for deforestation?

A

As population in the area increases = trees are cleared to

make land for new settlements

43
Q

Explain how commercial logging is a reason for deforestation?

A

Trees are felled to make money - Road building for logging also requires more tree clearance

44
Q

Explain how commercial farming is a reason for deforestation?

A

Forest is cleared to make space for cattle grazing & huge palm oil / soya plantations

45
Q

Explain how subsistence farming is a reason for deforestation?

A

Forest is cleared so farmers can grow food for themselves and their families

46
Q

Name 3 environmental impacts of deforestation?

A
  • Increased Greenhouse Gas Emissions
  • Reducing Soil Fertility
  • Increase in Soil Erosion
47
Q

How can the deforestation increase greenhouse gas emissions?

A
  • Trees remove CO2 from the atmosphere → Deforestation means more CO2 in the atmosphere = adds to the greenhouse effect
  • Burning vegetation to clear forest produces CO2 → Deforestation is responsible for 15% of global CO2 emissions each year (more than all of the world’s annual transport emissions combined)
48
Q

How can the deforestation reduces soil fertility?

A

Without a tree canopy to intercept rainfall and tree roots to absorb it = more water reaches the soil → This reduces soil fertility as nutrients are washed away, out of reach plants

49
Q

How can the deforestation increase soil erosion?

A

With no trees to hold the soil together = heavy rain washes away the soil (soil erosion)

50
Q

What is the effect of increased soil erosion?

A

Can lead to landslides and flooding

51
Q

Name 2 economic benefits of deforestation

A
  • Logging, farming and mining create jobs
  • A lot of money is made from selling timber, mining and
    commercial farming
52
Q

Name 2 economic disadvantages of deforestation

A
  • In long term, deforestation can destroy the resources that countries depend on (e.g. Timber and reduce the
    attractiveness of the are to tourists)
  • Livelihoods of some local people are destroyed ← Deforestation can cause loss of animals and plants that they rely on to make a living
53
Q

What is the rate of deforestation like in the rainforest?

A

Very high

54
Q

Why is it important to protect tropical rainforests? Name 6 reasons

A
  • To preserve its biodiversity = maintaining high diversity of plants and animals valuable to people and environment
  • Products (e.g. Coffee, rubber, chocolate and medicines) are sourced from the rainforest
  • Sustainable development - long-term economic benefits
    e. g. Ecotourism
  • If species become extinct, the change to discover new medicines will decrease and develop new products is reduced
  • Reduce the greenhouse effect, by reducing CO2 emissions, allowing trees to continue absorbing CO2
  • Impacts of deforestation e.g. Climate change can affect all countries not just the one
  • Help regulate climate and water cycle - without them risks of drought and flooding in certain areas can increase
55
Q

Name 6 sustainable ways to manage rainforests

A
  • Selective logging
  • Replanting
  • Ecotourism
  • International hardwood agreements
  • Education
  • Reducing debt
  • Conservation
56
Q

Explain how replanting is a sustainable management

A

It’s when new trees are planted to replace ones cut down, means there’ll be trees for people to use in future

57
Q

Why is it important that same types of tree are planted that were cut down?

A

So a variety of trees is kept for the future

58
Q

How do countries make sure trees are replanted?

A

There’s laws to make logging companies replant trees when they clear an area

59
Q

Explain how selective logging is a sustainable management

A

Only some trees (e.g. older or inferior) are felled → less damaging to forest than felling all trees in area. So overall forest structure is kept (i.e. canopy’s still there and soil isn’t exposed) = forest will be able to regenerate = can used in future.

60
Q

Name the 2 least damaging forms of selective logging

A

‘Horse logging’ & ‘Helicopter logging’

61
Q

What is horse logging?

A

When felled trees are dragged out the forest using horses

62
Q

What is helicopter logging?

A

Removing them with helicopters instead of trucks

63
Q

Give an example where ‘helicopter logging’ is used

A

Helicopter logging is used in the Malaysian state of Sarawak

64
Q

What is ecotourism?

A

It’s tourism that minimises damage to the environment &

benefits the local people

65
Q

Explain how ecotourism is a sustainable management

A

Only a small number of visitors are allowed into an area at a time → environmental impacts are minimised

66
Q

Explain how ecotourism is a sustainable management

A

Only a small number of visitors are allowed into an area at a time → environmental impacts are minimised

67
Q

How is ecotourism good for the local people?

A

Proves source of income for local people (E.g. they act as guides, provide accommodation and transport)

68
Q

How is ecotourism beneficial? Name 2 things

A
  • Raises awareness of conservation issues

- Brings in more money for rainforest conservation

69
Q

Explain how ecotourism has been successful in Costa Rica

A

It’s largest source of income for country and has led to 21% of country being protected from development

70
Q

Explain how reducing debt is a sustainable management

A
  1. LICs (where most rainforest are) borrow money from HICs to fund schemes or cope with emergencies (e.g. flood)
  2. Money has to be paid back with interest
  3. These countries allow logging, farming and mining in rainforests to make money to pay back debt
  4. So reducing debt = counties don’t have to do this & rainforests can be conserved for the future
71
Q

What’s the problem with HICs (or organisations) cancelling debt?

A

There’s no guarantee the money that would have been spent on repayments will be spent on conservation instead

72
Q

What a better alternative to HICs (or organisations) cancelling debt?

A

Conservation swap - where part of a country’s debt is paid off in exchange for a guarantee that the money is spent on conservation

73
Q

Name an example of a HIC doing a conservation swap

A

In 2008 the USA reduced Peru’s debt by $25 million in exchange for rainforest conservation

74
Q

Explain how international hardwood agreements are a sustainable management

A
  1. High demand for hardwood from consumers in richer countries = tropical hardwoods trees are becoming rarer
  2. There are international agreements in place to try to
    reduce illegal logging and promote hardwood from
    sustainably managed forests
75
Q

Give an example of an international hardwood agreement

A

Forest Stewardship Council is an worldwide organisation that mark sustainably-sourced timber products with their logo = so consumers can choose products that aren’t contributing to unsustainable deforestation

76
Q

Explain how education is a sustainable management (general)

A

Educating the international community about the impacts of deforestation = encourage people to buy products that are certified from sustainably managed source

77
Q

Why do locals damage the rainforests?

A

They try making money in short-term (e.g. by illegal logging) to overcome their own poverty

78
Q

Explain how education is a sustainable management (for locals)

A
  1. Educating locals about impacts of deforestation & ways to reduce impacts = decreases damage to rainforest environment
  2. Educating locals about alternative ways to make money that don’t damage to environment e.g. ecotourism = aren’t dependent on unsustainable options in order to make a living
79
Q

What is meant by conservation (sustainable management)?

A

Many countries have set up national parks & nature reserves where damaging activities are redistricted

80
Q

How is the downside of conservation?

A

Lack of funds can make it difficult to police restrictions

81
Q

How is the problem of conservation tackled?

A

Countries have to set up funds which overseas governments and businesses can invest in = money can be used to enforce restrictions on damaging activities &
promote sustainable use of rainforests

82
Q

What is the rainforest nutrient cycle like and why?

A

Rapid because hot, damp conditions on forest floor helps speed up decomposition for dead plants

83
Q

What is a nutrient cycle?

A

The transfer of nutrients

84
Q

Explain how the nutrient cycle works

A
  1. Microorganisms decompose dead material, nutrients are then released into soil
  2. Nutrients are taken up from soil by plant
  3. Plants may be eaten by consumers
  4. When plants or consumers die, nutrients are returned to soil

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