Forests Under Threat

Question 1

In tropical rainforests the warm wet climate means…

Answer 1

plants grow quickly
dense leaf cover protects the forest floor from wind and heavy rainfall
root systems hold the soil together - stop it from being eroded

Question 2

In tropical rainforests the lack of wind near the forests floor means…

Answer 2

many plants there have plenty of bees, butterflies or other animals of pollination
symbiotic relationships between plants and animals are common here

Question 3

Symbiotic relationship

Answer 3

they both depend on the other for survival

Question 4

Layers of a Tropical rainforest

Answer 4

Emergents
Main canopy
Undercanopy
Shrub layer

Question 5

Emergents

Answer 5

tallest trees which poke out the main canopy layer
have straight trunks
only have branches and leaves at the top where they can get light
big roots called buttress roots - support their trunks
40m high

Question 6

Main canopy

Answer 6

continuous layer of trees
like emergent they only have leaves at the top
dense layer of leaves shades the rest of the forest
30m high

Question 7

Undercanopy

Answer 7

made up of younger trees that have yet to reach full height
can only survive where there are breaks in the canopy to let light through
20m high

Question 8

Shrub layer

Answer 8

nearest the ground where it is quite dark

shrubs have large broad leaves to absorb as much of the available light as they can

Question 9

Plant adaptations

Answer 9

thick waxy leaves with pointed tips
pointed tips (drip tips) allows water to runoff so weight of water doesn’t damage plant
trees have smooth thin bark
climbing plants use tree trunks to climb up to sunlight
drop leaves gradually throughout year - go growing all year