forest under threat - paper 3 Flashcards
abiotic components
Non-living environmental factors that have influence over the ecosystem
acid rain
Rain with a pH of around 4, formed when chemicals from industrial processes react
with water in clouds to form acids.
adaptation
An evolved trait of an animal or plant that helps them to cope with environmental
stresses.
biodiversity
A large variety of animal and plant life living in the same ecosystem.
biofuels
Fuels produced from biomass
biomass
Total mass of organisms in a set area.
biome
Also known as a global-scale ecosystem; a large, distinct region of the Earth with similar
climate, soil, plants and animals.
biotic components
Living organisms that interact with the environment and other organisms
within an ecosystem.
buttress roots
Large, thick tree roots that grow above the ground in tropical rainforests.
camouflage
An animal adaptation where animals purposefully look like their surroundings to
hide from predators.
canopy
The layer of a tropical rainforest where the tops of trees touch, forming a dense area of
vegetation.
carbon sink
Something that absorbs more carbon dioxide than it emits, causing a net loss of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
cattle ranching
The rearing of cows on large areas of land, usually to produce meat to sell for a
profit.
CITES
(The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna & Flora)
an international agreement that works to protect threatened wildlife from exploitation.
climate change
A distinct change in global or regional patterns of climate, such as changes in temperature or precipitation patterns.
commercial farming
Agriculture that is intended to create surplus produce to sell for a profit.
conifers
Cone-bearing trees that are usually evergreen and have needle-shaped leaves, native to colder environments
conservation
Taking action to ensure a resource or environment is not depleted and over-exploited.
consumers
Organisms that receive energy from consuming (i.e.eating) living organisms.
debt-for-nature swaps
Agreements where one country reduces the amount of debt owed by
another country in return for the owing country putting efforts into environmental conservation.
decomposer
Organisms that break down organic material and release the nutrients back into
the ecosystem.
deforestation
The permanent (and usually large-scale) removal of trees.
drip tip
An adaptation of a leaf where the end of the leaf is tapered, allowing rainwater to drip off.
drought
A sustained period of abnormally dry weather.
ecosystem
A natural system in which a community of plants and animals interact with each other
and their physical environment.
ecotourism
Tourism that aims to have reduced environmental impact and supports conservation
efforts, making it sustainable.
epiphytes
Plants that live on the surface of other plants, receiving nutrients from these plants.
food web
A representation of the interactions between multiple producers and consumers within
a specific ecosystem, shown through a series of different food webs.
fossil fuels
Fuels made up of the remains of organic material, such as oil, coal and gas.
growing season
The time of the year when temperatures and precipitation levels are high
enough that plants can grow.
hibernation
An adaptation where animals sleep through the entire winter by entering a state of
extremely reduced activity to conserve energy.
hydroelectric power (HEP)
Energy harnessed from the movement of water.
indigenous people
The earliest known settlers in an area.
interdependence
The concept of multiple things depending on each other for survival.
leaching
A process in soils where minerals are washed away by water (usually rainfall).
lianas
Woody vines found in tropical rainforests; their roots grow on the forest floor, but the vines
stretch high into the canopy.
litter
Organic matter that falls onto a forest floor.
logging
cutting down trees for wood.
migration
The seasonal movement of animals.
nutrient cycle
The transfer of nutrients through an ecosystem, from the decay of organic
material into the production and energy of living organisms.
nutrients
Elements or compounds that support the growth of plants and animals, such as
phosphates, potassium, magnesium, and nitrogen.
opencast mining
A mining technique where an area is cleared and resources are mined close
to the surface, rather than underground (also called strip mining)
plantations
Farms where crops are grown in large amounts with the intention to sell for a profit.
producers
Organisms that convert energy from the environment (mainly sunlight) into sugars
(glucose).
productivity
A measure of new plant and animal growth in a given time, usually measured in
grams per square metre per year.
pulp/paper production
The process of making paper from softwood.
REDD
(Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation)
a group of United Nations-run schemes with the aim to reduce the environmental impact of poorly managed forests.
replanting
Planting a tree after cutting down a tree, so that theoretically the environmental
impact of deforestation is reduced.
runoff
Rainwater that flows over the Earth’s surface.
selective logging
A form of logging where only certain trees are cut down to reduce the
environmental effects of logging.
slash and burn fsrming
A farming practice where plants and trees are cut down and then purposefully
burnt to clear the area.
subsidence farming
Agriculture that is intended to produce only enough food for the farmer and
their family to eat.
sustainability
The ability to continue with an activity or process far into the future at the same
rate.
sustainable forestry
Management strategies that work to reduce the environmental impacts of commercial forest use, allowing forestry to continue into the future at the same rate
taiga biomes
A biome located at high latitudes, characterised by conifer trees and a cold climate.
tar sanda
An area with natural deposits of oil mixed with sediments and water.
tropical rainforest biome
A biome located near the equator, characterised by very high
precipitation and sustained warm temperatures.
understory
The layer of a tropical rainforest that lies beneath the canopy but above the forest
floor.
weathering
The breakdown of soil and rock through chemical or physical processes.
wilderness
An area that is untouched by humans, and therefore remains unaffected by human activity
what are the similar environmental characteristics in rainforests
climate, soil type, plant and animal life
what is rainfall like in the rainforest
high precipitation - wettest biome - exceeds 2000mm per year - distinct wet season
what is temperature like in the rainforest
high (26-27°) - consistent - directly by the equator - sun shines down on it
what is soil like in the rainforest
nutrient deprived and infertile despite all the vegetation - nutrients are washed away very quickly due to high precipitation - leaching
how do plants in the rainforest get their nutrients
decomposing organic matter
what is the nutrient cycle in in tropical rainforests
vegetation grows quickly and shed continuously - vegetation decays due to humidity - nutrients enter top soil and are either absorbed or washed away - shallow roots take up nutrients on the forest floor
4 layers of the rainforest (top to bottom)
emergent layer
canopy
understory
forest floor
butteress roots adaptations
grow large roots above ground to absorb nutrients, keep the tree stable, makes sure roots have enough air
leaf structure adaptions
have drip tips, stems which move to find light when blocked by light
lianas adaptions
roots in the ground to absorb nutrients but vines high up to find light
epiphytes adaptions
growing on trees high up so they can absorb more sunlight
animal adaptions - poisons and venoms
saves them from being eaten - paralyse and kill other animals/predators, sting or bite if threatened, poisonous to eat
animal adaptions - physical characteristics
live in trees to find food, strong claws/sticky pads to help climb trees
primates - long limbs and strong tails to help find food
animal adaptions - camouflage
hide from predators (gecko)
animal adaptions - size
smaller size - flows through dense vegetation more quickly (jaguar)
taiga biome facts
high latitudes 50°-70° in mostly the northern hemisphere
cold long winters with short growing summer seasons, confections trees
e.g. Canada, Russia, Norway
taiga climate + temperature characteristics
climate: varies a lot in winter and summer months - effects components such as nutrient cycle
winter temperature: below freezing most months -20°, very dry, majority of precipitation is snowfall
summer: short, may rise to 20°, more precipitation, ice melts makes land waterlogged
taiga plant and animal characteristics - productivity
very low - not much plant or animal growth due to low temps, frozen ground, dry weather which limits plant growth and no net biomass additions which affects animal foods supply
taiga plant and animal characteristics - biodiversity
low biodiversity due to low productivity
animals - struggle to survive due to reduced food supply - animals tend to migrate away for winter
plants - only highly adapted plants can survive
plant adaptations for the taiga
cone shaped - allow snow to fall off
branches are flexible - take weight of snow
needle shaped - reduces water loss
roots - wide but shallow to stop them from reaching the frozen subsoil
animal adaptations
migration and hibernation
physical:
thick oily fur - retain body heat
large feet - stay stable on frozen ground
camouflage in winter coat
nutrient cycle in the taiga
small biomass due to limited vegetation and low biodiversity
soil is nutrient deprived
decay is slow - litter is high
plant uptake is low
low precipitation
direct threats to the tropical rainforest (6)
subsistence farming - for themselves to survive - slash and burn
commercial farming - make profit - cattle ranches 80% of deforestation due to this - palm oil plantations
logging - huge environmental problems
biofuels - substitute for fossil fuels
mineral extraction - large areas of land cleared
energy development - HEP - large areas need to be flooded
direct threats to the taiga
logging - deforestation
pulp and paper production - global demand and supply
what is an indirect threat to the rainforest
climate change - alter ecosystems, temperature, precipitation patterns, flowering patterns may alter, aquatic habits, droughts
indirect threats to the taiga
mineral sources - 7000 abandoned mines - harmful waste washed in water nearby
extraction of fossil fuels - tar sands - produces toxic waste
development of HEP - have to flood land
threats to taiga biodiversity
acid precipitation - weakens trees, reacts with soils, rain forms chemicals when burning fossil fuels and turns into clouds, indirect
pests and diseases- reduce biodiversity, once there hard to get rid of
mountain pine beetle - destroyed 16 million hectares of taiga forest
forest fires - cuts off food supply as well as killing animals
lists of animals/plants under protection from CITES
38,700 species of animals - ring tailed lemur
32,800 species of plants
CITES advantages
- many countries are part of the agreement
- successes in their conservations
- meetings, research and reports spread awareness to country leaders and decision makers to allow them to take action
CITES disadvantages
- each party control their own management - could break rules with no consequences
- low income countries - may be their only source of income to profit off - difficult to ban
- focuses on species not habitats which are also destroyed
what does REDD off
financial incentives to developing countries to conserve their forests and assists them
REDD advantages
- more likely to take action if offered financial rewards
- monitoring in place to makes sure countries do their part
- helps communities - creates jobs
REDD disadvantages
- putting economic value on forests rather than people realising the value of their community
- focuses on LIC - shifts blame to developed countries who drive deforestation
- may not actually read ur emissions
reasons for rising rates of deforestation in rainforests
- urban poverty forces people to move to rural areas where job opportunities are are limited - often involves forest degradation
- conflict and war limit protection efforts
- LIC do not have enough money to invest in protection
- high demand still
reasons for falling rates of deforestation in rainforests
- forest protection laws (financial rewards for protection)
- growing urban population means more people rely on tropical rainforest activities
- increasing national park protection
- education and public awareness - people support forest protection
4 ways to sustainability manage tropical rainforests
selective logging and replanting - replants what’s cut down
ecotourism - provide income for people
international agreements
conservation and education - teaching the public
protection of the taiga wilderness (2)
wilderness areas and national parks - protect from human activities
- ban motorised vehicles
- restrictions of recreational activities
- bans on logging, mining, resource extraction and round building
sustainable forestry
- limits on trees which can be cut down
- selective logging
- tree replanting
example of sustainable forestry in taiga
forest certification scheme - businesses prove their practises
problems with protecting the taiga
- massive area to monitor
- can cause conflicts
- replanting is slow - takes a while for trees to grow back
- money and resources are needed for conservation
people in favour of protecting the taiga
indigenous people - rely on land to live
environmental groups - protect wilderness and endangered species - vulnerable ecosystem
tourists - people want to visit the beauty
climate scientists - benefits the world
people in favour of exploiting the rainforest
- oil companies - economic opportunity
- logging companies - only effects a small area?
- HEP companies - economic benefits
- mining companies - important income source
