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Geography > Forests under threat > Flashcards

Forests under threat Flashcards

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1
Q

Acid rain

A

Formed when chemicals from industrial processes react with water in clouds to form acids

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2
Q

Adaptation

A

An evolved trait of an animal/plant that helps them to cope with environmental changes

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3
Q

Biodiversity

A

A large variety of animal/plant life living in the same ecosystem

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4
Q

Biofuels

A

Fuels produced from biomass (eg organic matter)

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5
Q

Biomass

A

Total mass of organisms in a set area

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6
Q

Biome

A

A large distinct region of the Earth with similar climate, soil, plants and animals

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7
Q

Abiotic

A

Non-living components (climate, soil type, light exposure)

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8
Q

Biotic

A

Living components (plants, animals)

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9
Q

Main canopy

A

The layer of a tropical rainforest where the tops of tree touch, forming a dense area of vegetation

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10
Q

Carbon sink

A

Something that absorbs more carbon dioxide than it emits

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11
Q

Climate change

A

A distinct change in global patterns of climate, such as changes in temperature/precipitation patterns

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12
Q

Commercial farming

A

Agriculture that is intended to create surplus produce to sell for a profit

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13
Q

Conifers

A

Cone-bearing trees that are usually evergreen and have needle-shaped leaves - native to colder environments

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14
Q

Conservation

A

Taking action to ensure a resource is not over-exploited

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15
Q

Consumers

A

Organisms that eat other organisms

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16
Q

Decomposers

A

Organisms that break down organic material and release the nutrients back into the ecosystem

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17
Q

Deforestation

A

The permanent removal of trees

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18
Q

Drought

A

A sustained period of abnormally dry weather

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19
Q

Ecosystem

A

A natural system in which a community of plants/animals interact with each other and their physical environment

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20
Q

Ecotourism

A

Tourism that aims to have reduced environmental impact and supports conservation efforts making it sustainable

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21
Q

Forest fire

A

An uncontrolled fire that burns woodland and vegetation

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22
Q

Fossil fuels

A

Fuels made up of the remains of organic material such as oil, coal and gas

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23
Q

Fuel wood

A

Wood that is burnt to provide energy

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24
Q

Hydroelectric power (HEP)

A

Energy harnessed from the movement of water causes large areas to flood behind the dams

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25
Q

Indigenous people

A

The earliest known settlers in an area

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26
Q

Leaching

A

A process in souls where minerals are washed away by water (usually rainfall)

27
Q

Litter

A

Organic matter that falls onto a forest floor

28
Q

Migration

A

The seasonal movement of animals

29
Q

Nutrients

A

Elements that support the growth of plants/animals such as phosphates

30
Q

Open-cast mining

A

A mining technique where an area is cleared and resources are mined close to the surface rather than underground

31
Q

Plantations

A

Farms where crops are grown in large amounts with the intention to sell for a profit

32
Q

Producers

A

Organisms that convert energy from the environment into sugars

33
Q

Replanting

A

Planting a tree after cutting down a tree so that theoretically the environmental impact of deforestation is reduced

34
Q

Runoff

A

Rainwater that flows over the Earth’s surface

35
Q

Selective logging

A

A form of logging where only certain trees are cut down to refied the environmental effects of logging

36
Q

Subsistence farming

A

Agriculture that is intended to produce only enough food for the farmer and their family to eat

37
Q

Sustainability

A

The ability to continue with an activity or process far into the future at the same rate

38
Q

Sustainable forestry

A

Management strategies that work to reduce the environmental impacts of commercial forest use

39
Q

Taiga biome

A

A biome located at high latitudes, conifer trees and a cold climate

40
Q

Tar sands

A

An area with natural deposits of oil mixed with sediments and water

41
Q

Tropical rainforest biome

A

A biome located near the equator, very high precipitation and sustained warm temperatures

42
Q

Under canopy

A

Made of younger trees that haven’t reached their full height, only survive where there are breaks in the canopy to let a little bit of light through

43
Q

Weathering

A

The breakdown of soil and rock through chemical or physical processes

44
Q

Wilderness

A

An area that is untouched by humans and therefore remains unaffected by human activity

45
Q

Emergents

A

The tallest trees have straight trunks only have branches and leaves at the top where all the light is, buttress roots to support their trunks

46
Q

Shrub layer

A

Nearest to the ground where its quite dark, shrubs have large, broad leaves to absorb as much available light

47
Q

How does the warm and wet climate affect plant growth

A

Plants grow quickly because the dense leaf cover protects the forest floor from wind and heavy rain, plants roots hold soil together

48
Q

Epiphytes

A

Plants that grow on other plants - get access to light by growing on other plants, don’t have access to nutrients in soil though so rely on rainfall for water and nutrients

49
Q

Adaptations on plants

A
  • drip tips - channel water to a point so it runs off
  • smooth, thin bark - no need to protect trunk from cold temperatures
  • climbing plants - use trunks to climb up to the sunlight
50
Q

Ways animals have adapted to the physical conditions in a tropical rainforest

A
  • strong limbs so can climb and leap from tree to tree
  • flaps so skin so can glide
  • camouflaged
  • nocturnal
  • low light levels meaning good smell and hearing
  • can swim so can cross river channels
51
Q

What are the 3 ways nutrients are stored in a tropical rainforest

A
  • living organisms (biomass)
  • dead organic material
  • soil
52
Q

What happens in the nutrient cycle in a tropical rainforest

A
  • nutrients are transferred between 3 different stores
  • dead leaves fall of trees, warm climate means fungi/bacteria decompose dead organic matter, releasing nutrients into the soil
53
Q

Why do tropical rainforests have high biodiversity

A
  • rainforest been around a long time, lets animals and plants to evolve to form new species
    -layered structure provides different habitats
  • stable environments, hot all year round
54
Q

Describe complex food webs in a tropical rainforest

A
  • shows what’s eaten by what in an ecosystem
  • producers start they make their own foods
  • loads of different links as so many species
55
Q

Reasons why tropical rainforests are being destoyed

A
  • demand for fuel wood
  • mineral resources
  • Hydroelectric power
  • demand for biofuels
  • subsistence farming
  • commercial farming
  • commercial hardwood
56
Q

How does deforestation have environmental impacts

A
  • no trees to hold the soil together leading to landslides
  • no tree canopy to intercept rainfall more water reaches the soil reducing the nutrients
  • cutting down trees release the CO2 they removed
57
Q

Why in some areas is deforestation increasing

A
  • poverty - more small-scale subsistence farmers
  • foreign debt - huge market for good in rainforests ways to pay back the debt
  • economic development - road and rails projects promote development open up areas for logging, mining and farming
58
Q

How are some areas reducing deforestation

A
  • government polices - invested in ecotourism and pays landowners to reforest areas
  • international condemnation - pressure on companies by naming and shaming those involved in deforestation
  • monitoring systems - satellite data to track forest loss meaning authorities can act quickly
59
Q

REDD overview

A
  • reduced emission from deforestation and forest degradation
  • reward forest owners in poorer countries fir keeping forests instead of cutting them down
60
Q

CITES oveview

A
  • convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora
  • agreement to tightly control trade in wild animals and plants
61
Q

REDD advantages

A
  • deals with cause of climate change and direct impacts
  • forest protected remains habitat for species
  • everyone benefits and relatively cheap
62
Q

CITES advantages

A
  • issue tackled at global level
  • encourage sharing information about wildlife trade raising awareness of threats to biodiversity
  • helps different sectors work together
63
Q

REDD disadvantages

A
  • deforestation may happen in other areas
  • not clear meaning possible to cut down forest and get rewarded but replace it with other forests
  • prevents activities like agriculture affecting local communities who depend on the income from them
64
Q

CITES disadvantages

A
  • doesn’t protect species habitats could still go extinct
  • some rules unclear
  • not all countries are members

Geography (9 decks)

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