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Forests under threat Flashcards

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
Indigenous people
The earliest known settlers in an area
26
Leaching
A process in souls where minerals are washed away by water (usually rainfall)
27
Litter
Organic matter that falls onto a forest floor
28
Migration
The seasonal movement of animals
29
Nutrients
Elements that support the growth of plants/animals such as phosphates
30
Open-cast mining
A mining technique where an area is cleared and resources are mined close to the surface rather than underground
31
Plantations
Farms where crops are grown in large amounts with the intention to sell for a profit
32
Producers
Organisms that convert energy from the environment into sugars
33
Replanting
Planting a tree after cutting down a tree so that theoretically the environmental impact of deforestation is reduced
34
Runoff
Rainwater that flows over the Earth’s surface
35
Selective logging
A form of logging where only certain trees are cut down to refied the environmental effects of logging
36
Subsistence farming
Agriculture that is intended to produce only enough food for the farmer and their family to eat
37
Sustainability
The ability to continue with an activity or process far into the future at the same rate
38
Sustainable forestry
Management strategies that work to reduce the environmental impacts of commercial forest use
39
Taiga biome
A biome located at high latitudes, conifer trees and a cold climate
40
Tar sands
An area with natural deposits of oil mixed with sediments and water
41
Tropical rainforest biome
A biome located near the equator, very high precipitation and sustained warm temperatures
42
Under canopy
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
Weathering
The breakdown of soil and rock through chemical or physical processes
44
Wilderness
An area that is untouched by humans and therefore remains unaffected by human activity
45
Emergents
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
Shrub layer
Nearest to the ground where its quite dark, shrubs have large, broad leaves to absorb as much available light
47
How does the warm and wet climate affect plant growth
Plants grow quickly because the dense leaf cover protects the forest floor from wind and heavy rain, plants roots hold soil together
48
Epiphytes
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
Adaptations on plants
- 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
Ways animals have adapted to the physical conditions in a tropical rainforest
- 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
What are the 3 ways nutrients are stored in a tropical rainforest
- living organisms (biomass) - dead organic material - soil
52
What happens in the nutrient cycle in a tropical rainforest
- 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
Why do tropical rainforests have high biodiversity
- 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
Describe complex food webs in a tropical rainforest
- 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
Reasons why tropical rainforests are being destoyed
- demand for fuel wood - mineral resources - Hydroelectric power - demand for biofuels - subsistence farming - commercial farming - commercial hardwood
56
How does deforestation have environmental impacts
- 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
Why in some areas is deforestation increasing
- 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
How are some areas reducing deforestation
- 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
REDD overview
- reduced emission from deforestation and forest degradation - reward forest owners in poorer countries fir keeping forests instead of cutting them down
60
CITES oveview
- convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora - agreement to tightly control trade in wild animals and plants
61
REDD advantages
- deals with cause of climate change and direct impacts - forest protected remains habitat for species - everyone benefits and relatively cheap
62
CITES advantages
- issue tackled at global level - encourage sharing information about wildlife trade raising awareness of threats to biodiversity - helps different sectors work together
63
REDD disadvantages
- 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
CITES disadvantages
- doesn't protect species habitats could still go extinct - some rules unclear - not all countries are members

Geography (9 decks)

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