Amazon

Question 1

How much space does Amazon occupy

Answer 1

Occupies an area more than 6 million km²

Question 2

home to how many species etc

Answer 2

Estimated home to 30% of species: Great diversity of plant species estimated 40,000 varieties & 2.5million species of insect

Question 3

what percent of drugs come from amazon

Answer 3

25% of drugs come from the Amazon

Question 4

how much oxygen produced in rainforest

Answer 4

20% of Oxygen produced by Amazon rainforest

Question 5

temp in rainforest?

Answer 5

High average annual temperatures between 25⁰C - 30⁰C - response to intense insolation throughout the year. Significant cloud cover ensures that maximum temps do not reach the extremes of subtropical desert climates. Temp range 5⁰C . Humidity = 80%

Question 6

average rainfall?

Answer 6

High average annual rainfall (>2000mm) with no dry season

Question 7

trf characteristics?

Answer 7

Lianas grow quickly towards the canopy to reach sunlight.

Drip tip leaves allow water to easily be shed

Leaves of canopy vegetation are large to catch any light that manages to penetrate the dense canopy layer.

Epiphytes set their roots into the trunk or branches of other plants enabling them to reach maximum sunlight.

Trees grow tall and straight to reach the canopy where maximum sunlight can be absorbed.

Large buttress roots support trees which can grow to 90m and have shallow roots systems in the ground due to the latosol. (Dominant - Kapok tree)

Question 8

carbon stores?

Answer 8

Large forest trees typically store around 180 tonnes C/Ha above ground & further 40 tonnes C/ha in their roots - Soil carbon stores average between 90-200 tonnes/ha

Question 9

deforestation

Answer 9

Transmigration schemes encouraging land colonisation in the Amazon by the Brazilian government.

HEP schemes: The Tucurui dam completed in 1984 creating Lago Tucurui which flooded 2250 km² of forest.

Mining: increases in gold and mineral mining leave areas cleared and greater volumes of suspended sediments and mercury in rivers.

Cattle ranching accounts of over 60% of deforestation in the Amazon. The beef has become an important export for Brazil; 80% of its beef is farmed in the Amazon.

Soybean production is increasing facilitated by the opening up of the rainforest. Brazil is now the 2nd largest producer of soybean after the USA.