Forest Under Threat

Question 1

Where are Tropical Rainforests located?

Answer 1

In a zone within 20* north or 20* south of the Equator

Question 2

What is the average temperature in Tropical Rainforest?

Answer 2

Between 27 and 30 degrees Celsius. It never falls below 20.

Question 3

How much annual precipitation do tropical rainforests get?

Answer 3

2000-3000mm

Question 4

How are trees adapted in Tropical Rainforests?

Answer 4

Some trees grow extremely tall (50m or more) they’re called emergent. To reach the light

Question 5

Explain what drip tip leaves are and why they’re important to plants in Tropical Rainforests.

Answer 5

Drip tip leaves means water runs off them quickly, this is important to avoid moss and algae growing on leaf surfaces blocking out light.

Question 6

Why is there buttress structure at the base of trees in tropical rainforests?

Answer 6

So that nutrients are concentrated at the top level of the soil and only shallow roots are needed.

Question 7

Why/how have buttresses evolved?

Answer 7

To keep their tall slender trunks anchored upright.

Question 8

How have animals evolved in Tropical Rainforests to get food?

Answer 8

Animals travel through the canopy eating fruits as they appear on trees, monkeys have evolved gripping hands and feet and long gripping tails for balance and colour vision to identify ripe fruit.

Question 9

How have birds in the canopy of Tropical Rainforests evolved and why?

Answer 9

Hundreds of birds species live in the canopy, including eagles, they have developed powerful legs with clawed talons to grab monkeys from canopy.

Question 10

How to animals use camouflage to avoid being eaten in Tropical Rainforests?

Answer 10

Insects mimic sticks while birds develop colouring that makes them hard to see.

Question 11

Where is the Taiga located?

Answer 11

Stretches from 50* to 70* North, and across the north of Asia and America.

Question 12

Taiga forests have a subarctic climate, what does this mean?

Answer 12

They have long very cold winters with average temps of -40C. Summers are short and mild and average temps rarely go above 16C

Question 13

Why does the soil in Taiga have low nutrient levels?

Answer 13

Plant growth is limited because of short summers, decomposition of the litter layer is slow and can even stop at times which means the soil has low nutrient levels.

Question 14

How are conifer trees adapted to Taiga?

Answer 14

They have specialised adapted needle shaped leaves called pine needles.

Question 15

How do the pine needles help the conifer trees in the taiga forest?

Answer 15

They have a small surface e area so the lose little water and have a waxy coating to help reduce water loss too. They are dark green to help them absorb all available sunlight and they contain little sap so they don’t freeze easily and can operate in cold conditions.

Question 16

Why do conifer trees grow close together (Taiga)?

Answer 16

So they gain protection from wind damage.

Question 17

Most conifer trees have a conical shape, what does this mean and why does it help?

Answer 17

Branches grow downwards meaning heavy snow can slide off rather than accumulating and breaking the branches.

Question 18

How have animals adapted to survive in Taiga Forest?

Answer 18

Most animals have thick fur coats for insulation and smaller ears and tails to avoid frostbite.
They hibernate, build up fat reserves in summer and hibernate in a den in winter.
They develop winter camouflage so they don’t stand out against the white snow and white fur provides better insulation than dark fur.

Question 19

Nutrient cycle, what are the three compartments of the ecosystem?

Answer 19

Soil, litter, biomass

Question 20

What is the biggest store in the Tropical Rainforest?

Answer 20

Biomass, (made up of all living things)

Question 21

When leaves and branches fall into the litter store what happens?

Answer 21

They decompose quickly releasing nutrients into the soil for the plants to quickly absorb them.

Question 22

What is leaching in Tropical Rainforests?

Answer 22

Rainwater takes nutrients and minerals with it as it soaks through the soil, this is called Leaching.

Question 23

What store is the biggest store in the Taiga?

Answer 23

The litter store.

Question 24

In the Taiga was is the litter store made up of?

Answer 24

Pine needles which are slow to decompose.

Question 25

Why is the pine needles a problem on the litter store in Taiga?

Answer 25

They decompose slowly so provide very limited nutrients to the soil and as a result the soil is unable to support a large biomass.

Question 26

What do the needles do to the soil. (Taiga)?

Answer 26

Makes the soil slightly acidic so along with the frozen winters produce extreme conditions that only a small number of sprayed can survive.

Question 27

Why is commercial agriculture a threat to Tropical Rainforests?

Answer 27

Crops and herds are grown and sold for profit which is the leading cause of TRF deforestation.

Question 28

Why is commercial hardwood logging a threat to TRF?

Answer 28

There is high demand for tropical hardwood timber which Chinese buyers with pay high prices for so encourages illegal logging.

Question 29

How is mining a threat to TRF ?

Answer 29

Open case mining, it’s a way to extract minerals cheaply, 15% of deforestation is linked to mining in TRF

Question 30

Climate change in TRF what type of threat is it?

Answer 30

An INDIRECT threat (no direct cause and effect)

Question 31

Climate change in TRF what type of threat is it?

Answer 31

An INDIRECT threat (no direct cause and effect)

Question 32

How is commercial development a threat to Taiga Forests?

Answer 32

They’re the world’s main source of softwood timber which means all trees in the area are cut down and transported to sawmills. This is mostly illegal and no effort is being made to restore the taiga trees. Deforestation.

Question 33

Acid precipitation in Taiga why is it a threat?

Answer 33

When fossil fuels are burnt, chemicals like sulphur dioxide are released. These react with water and oxygen to form acid. The acid gets into the soils and lakes and kills insects and their eggs. The acid also kills soil microbes which prevents nutrients from entering the soil.

Question 34

Why is forest fires a threat to taiga forests

Answer 34

Young saplings are burnt before they can grow to replace old trees.

Question 35

What are the 2 international agreements designed to conserve rainforests?

Answer 35

CITES AND REDD

Question 36

Advantages and Disadvantage of CITES

Answer 36

Very large influence (181 countries signed up). Targeting the right problems and successful in outlawing the ivory trade, BUT the illegal trade in rainforest products is increasing not decreasing. CITES can’t monitor all 181 countries. Protection of species don’t halt deforestation.

Question 37

Adv and Disadv of REDD

Answer 37

Very large sums of money are available which is attractive the goverments BUT deforestation is still rapid in South Asia.

Question 38

Why is sustainable management good?

Answer 38

Ensures the ecosystem can recover quickly and prevents damage to ecosystem. Also helps local people benefit from their ecosystem.

Question 39

Possible tensions of sustainable management?

Answer 39

Economic-people want to make money so damage environment.
Social-if everyone wants to benefit it puts environment at risk.
Environmental- conflicts with making money and improving living standards.

Question 40

What’s sustainable forestry?

Answer 40

Trees that are cut down are replanted with native Taiga species. Habitat areas are preserved, and corridors of forests are maintained so that species can migrate from one area to another.

Question 41

What’s sustainable forestry?

Answer 41

Trees that are cut down are replanted with native Taiga species. Habitat areas are preserved, and corridors of forests are maintained so that species can migrate from one area to another.