6.2 Adaptations To The Tropical Rainforest Environment

Question 1

How to plants cope with poor soils

Answer 1

• rapid cycling of nutrients
• absorption of sunlight, leading to photosynthesis
• warm, humid climate is ideal for plant growth throughout the year
• the ability for plants to adapt as they compete for sunlight and nutrients

Question 2

Describe 7 adaptations of plants

Answer 2

• dead leaves decompose rapidly in hot and humid climate
• lateral root system
• live in canopy
• leaves are flexible, waxy, spiky and have drip tips
• are evergreen
• epiphytes live on branches in the canopy

Question 3

Dead leaves decompose rapidly in the hot and humid climate means that….

Answer 3

…nutrients quickly return to the thin soil layer

Question 4

Trees have shallow roots means that…

Answer 4

Nutrients are absorbed from the thin soil

Question 5

Plants live in the canopy so that…

Answer 5

…they can absorb more sunlight

Question 6

Trees have buttress roots so that…

Answer 6

…the trees which can reach up to 50m high are supported

Question 7

Leaves are flexible, waxy and have drip tips which means that

Answer 7

• …heavy rain is intercepted and ‘dripped’ to the layers below
• Insects are deterred from eating the leaf
• They can turn toward the sun to maximise photosynthesis

Question 8

Plants are evergreen which means that…

Answer 8

… lush vegetation grows all year round and sustains animal habitats

Question 9

Epiphytes (parasitic plants) live on branches high in the canopy which means that…

Answer 9

… they don’t rely on the soil for nutrients. They have a host and are able to collect water and nutrients from the air