Area of Tropical Rainforest

Question 1

Introduction

Answer 1

Located in Brazil, South America, the Amazon is the world’s largest tropical rainforest which has a very interdependent ecosystem made up of biotic and abiotic factors.

Question 2

Climate

Answer 2

1) Very hot annual temperatures, averaging 29 degrees Celsius with a range of 1.5 degrees Celsius.
2) Ver humid/lots of moisture in the air.
3) Average rainfall is <2000mm/year and it often rains seven days a week in short bursts.

Question 3

Soil

Answer 3

1) Very fertile due to nutrient dense decomposing plant matter. This allows plants to grow healthily and efficiently.
2) There are over 10 million species of plant e.g. giant water Lily and 12 million species of animal e.g. red salamander

Question 4

Trees and vegetation

Answer 4

1) Organized into the forest floor, understory, canopy, and emergent layer
2) Competition for sunlight means trees are very tall, often exceeding 40m.

Question 5

Biodiversity

Answer 5

The Amazon rainforest has more biodiversity than any other single ecosystem on earth due to a wide range of habitats and food sources (>50% of the world’s wildlife)

Question 6

Vines

Answer 6

1) Epiphytes-get all the nutrients from the air and rain. They don’t have roots in the soil e.g. Orchid
2) Lianas-vines that grow up other plants to get to sunlight e.g. strangler fig
3) Buttress roots-stabilize tall trees which often exceed 40m