Ecosystems, Biodiversity and management Flashcards
Define characteristics of a tropical rainforest.
High biodiversity, Biotic and abiotic factors depend on one another. Very wet climate, not very fertile soil. Lots of plant growth.
Layers of a tropical rainforest
Ground layer, shrub layer, under canopy, main canopy, emergents
Plant adaptations in a rainforst
Lianas - Woody vines that have roots in the ground but climb up trees to reach the canopy
Tree trunks - Tall and think to allow trees to reach the sunlight, bark is smooth to allow water to flow down to the roots more easily
Drip tips - Plants have leaves with pointy tips, this allows water to run off the leaves wthout damaging or breaking the leaves.
Buttress roots - large roots that have ridges to create a large surface area supporting large trees.
Animal adaptations
Sloth - Uses camoflage and moves very slowly making it hard for predators to spot
Spider monkey - Long strong limbs to help it climb
Flying frog - fully webbed hands and feet and a flap of loose skin that allows it to glide
Life support systems in tropical rainforests
They regulate the composition of the atmosphere, maintain soil health, and they influence the hydrological cycle (help provide water for people)
They also provide food for animals and local people, cash crops- wild coffee etc and can provide medicinal chemicals and plants
They also can be logged to provide timber such as hardwoods for garden furniture exports. Palm oil plants also can be sold off as a product- they are used in many products
Threats to the tropical rainforest
Farming - Large areas are cleaned for pastoral farming - many cattle farms have opened in the amazon basin. Arable farming is also responsible for the loss of tropical rainforest..
Logging - Tropical rainforests are being cut down
Mining - Amazon basin is rich in iron, copper, tin and aluminium,, manganes and gold. This developed mines which results in the clearance of tropical rainforests.
Roads - The construction of access roads for farmers loggers and miners results in large parts of the rainforest being destroyed.
Hydro power - Large stations have been constructed in the amazon basin an dhas resulted in large areas of the forest being flooded.
Impacts of tropical rainforest loss
Soil erosion - Once the land is cleared of rainforest vegetation nutrients in the soil are washed away. The nutrient cycle stops because there are no plants or trees shedding leaves to replace nutrients in the soil.
Loss of biodiversity - Many species of animal and plant die because of deforestation.
Climate change - The trees and plants of the amazon basin absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, if there are fewer trees - less CO2 Is absorbed
Sustainable management of tropical rainforests
Logging and replanting - Selective logging of mature trees allow the rainforest canopy to be preserved.
Education - Promoting the value and benefits of biodiversity
Ecotourism - Sustainable tourism that creates jobs for people for local people ensuring money is generated to protect and conserve the rainforest.
International agreements - In governments have agreed to protect rainforests through debt-for-nature swaps (When a country cancels part of the debt if an agreement is made by the debtor to conserve rainforests
