Chapter 5: Spatial Distribution of Tropical Rainforests and Mangroves

Question 1

Characteristics of a tropical rainforest

Answer 1

very high annual rainfall, high average temperatures, nutrient-poor soil, and high levels of biodiversity (species richness).

Question 2

Where are Tropical rainforests found?

Answer 2

Places with tropical climate
Close to the equator

Question 3

What are the characteristics of the trees in the tropical rainforest?

Answer 3

Evergreen
Large variety of plant species
Emergent layer
Canopy layer
Undergrowth layer

Question 4

How have plants in tropical rainforests adapted to their environment?

Answer 4

Broad leaves
Waxy leaves
Drip tips
Buttress roots

Question 5

Where are mangroves found? (Not the world map kind, describe the area.)

Answer 5

Water with high salinity
Coastal areas
River mouths
Sheltered environments

Question 6

Characteristics of mangroves

Answer 6

Limited variety of plant species
Relatively uniform height
Horizontal zonation

Question 7

How have plants in mangroves adapted to their environment?

Answer 7

Salt-secreting leaves
Salt-excluding roots
Aerial roots
-pencil roots
-cone roots
-prop roots
-knee-bend roots

Question 8

Where are mangroves located?

Answer 8

Mangrove forests only grow at tropical and subtropical latitudes near the equator because they cannot withstand freezing temperatures.

Question 9

Function of broad leaves:

Answer 9

Leaves that are broad and flat are better equipped for photosynthesis. They have more surface area so they can absorb more sunlight to make food.

Question 10

Waxy leaves function:

Answer 10

Tropical rainforest plants often have a waxy coating on their leaves to repel water. In wet habitats, a waxy leaf surface can make the water run quickly off of a leaf. Deserts have very little water. Desert plants often have a waxy covering on their leaves to reduce water loss through the leaf surface.

Question 11

Drip tips adaptation function:

Answer 11

This tip, along with the waxy covering makes it easier for water to run off the leaves. This is very important as without these adaptations, algae would grow on the leaves. This in turn would make it more difficult for the plant to get the sunlight it needs.

Question 12

Buttress roots adaptation function:

Answer 12

These “above-ground” roots help support and anchor the tree. Leaf litter collects between these buttress roots so the tree has access to more nutrients when the collected leaves decompose. Buttress roots also absorb oxygen directly from the air.

Question 13

Characteristics of the emergent layer

Answer 13

This layer receives the most sunlight and lots of rain, it is also very windy

Question 14

Characteristics of the canopy layer

Answer 14

The canopy layer provides protection from strong winds and storms while also intercepting sunlight and precipitation, and retains the moisture of the forest below. Trees have adapted to this damp environment by producing glossy leaves with pointed tips that repel water.

Question 15

Characteristics of the undergrowth layer

Answer 15

The layer made up of young trees, short species of trees, shrubs, and soft-stemmed plants. The understory varies a lot from rainforest to rainforest. But everywhere it is darker, there is less wind, and it is more humid than the canopy above it.

Question 16

How have plants in Mangroves adapted to their environment?

Answer 16

Salt-secreting leaves
Salt-excluding roots
Aerial roots

Question 17

Aerial roots adaptation function:

Answer 17

aerial roots are roots that grow above the soil surface, which enables them to take in oxygen directly from the air when they are exposed during low-tide. This helps them to survive in the oxygen-poor and waterlogged soil.

Question 18

How do mangroves help in managing coastal processes?

Answer 18

Wide areas of mangroves can reduce tsunami heights, helping to reduce loss of life and damage to property in areas behind mangroves. The dense roots of mangroves help to bind and build soils. The above-ground roots slow down water flows, encourage deposition of sediments and reduce erosion.

Question 19

Salt-excluding roots adaptation function

Answer 19

They prevent salt from entering.

Question 20

Salt-secreting leaves adaptation function:

Answer 20

It enables them to remove salt from the saline water that their roots have absorbed. As the concentrated salt solution secreted by the leaves evaporates, salt crystals are left behind on the leaf surfaces and are subsequently removed by rain or wind.