Forests Under Threat Flashcards
Name adaptations of plants in Tropical Rainforests
Thick waxy leaves with pointy tips
Smooth thin bark
Climbing plants use tree trunks to climb to sun
Plants drop their leaves
How do thick waxy leaves with pointed tips help plants in the rainforest?
The pointed tips (drip tips) mean that the water can run off so the weight of the water doesn’t damage the plant, and there is no water for bacteria to grow in. The waxiness also helps repel the rain.
How does smooth thin bark help plants in the rainforest?
There is no need for thick bark as there aren’t cold temperatures and the smooth surface allows water to run off easily.
How is trees dropping their leaves an adaptation to the rainforest?
They drop their leaves gradually throughout the year meaning they can go on growing all year round.
List ways that animals have adapted to the physical conditions of the rainforest?
Can swim
Nocturnal
Camouflage
How does camouflage help animals?
Camouflage allows animals to hide from predators
How does being nocturnal help animals?
Sloths sleep through the day and feed at night when its cooler which helps them to save energy.
What are the 3 ways nutrients are stored in the ecosystem (TRF)
Living organisms (Biomass)
Dead organic material e.g. fallen leaves (litter)
The soil
What results in nutrients being able to be rapidly taken up by plants’ roots?
Dense vegetation and rapid plant growth means that nutrients can be rapidly taken up by plants roots
What is biodiversity?
The variety of organisms living in a particular area. (plants and animals)
Rainforests have really high……
Biodiversity- they contain 50% of the animal insect and plant species and contains about half the life on earth.
Why do rainforests have a high ….. ?
Biodiversity- because they have a stable environment where it’s hot and wet all year round.
The biome is also extremely old (10 million) so has been lots of time for evolution.
What is the food web like in the TRF?
Very complex- some animals are primary and secondary consumers.
List reasons why the TRF is being destroyed?
Logging- trees are felled for construction. Road building for the logging also requires clearance of trees.
Commercial farming- land cleared for huge plantations
HEP-building dams floods large areas of forest behind the dams
Local demand for fuel wood- fuels for cooking or to make charcoal
Name an indirect threat of the TRF?
Climate change, as this may lead droughts so many species which are adapted to the wet will die,
Drought can also lead to forest fires which can destroy large areas of forest.
Why could deforestation rates be rising?
Economic development, foreign debt (poorer countries can then pay off their debts to other countries)
Why could deforestation rates be reducing?
Government policies (paid to REforest areas) Monitoring systems- this means that due to satellite data tracking forest loss authorities can quickly stop illegal logging.
Name two global actions to protect TRF
CITES and REDD
What is REDD
REDD is a scheme to reward forest owners in poor countries for keeping forests instead of cutting them down
What is CITES?
CITES is an agreement to tightly control trade in wild animals and plants
Name advantages of CITES
Global level so the trade of endangered species is controlled all over the world.
Raises awareness of threats to biodiversity through education
Name disadvantages of CITES
Protects individual species but not their habitat so they could still go extinct
Some rules are unclear
Not all countries are members and some countries even promote the trade of materials from endangered species.
Name advantages of REDD
Deals with the cause of climate change as well as direct impacts of deforestation
Everyone benefits from reducing emissions and its relatively cheap.
Name disadvantages of REDD
Deforestation may continue in another area
Preventing activities e.g. local mining may affect local communities who depend on the income from them.
Name adaptations in the taiga biome?
Thick fur White coats to camouflage with snow Hibernation Pine needles reduce water loss from strong winds due to surface area Cone shaped so heavy snow slides off.
Taiga forests have a much lower …….. than TRF
Taiga forests have a much lower biodiversity than Tropical Rainforests
How are Taiga Forests being exploited?
Logging for softwood
Hydro Electric Power
Fossil fuels e.g. tar sands
What things are causing loss of biodiversity in Taiga Forests?
Acid rain, forest fires and pests& disease.
These things are all ruining habitats as well as organisms.
Why do people think protecting the Taiga Forests is important?
As they store lots of carbon- deforestation will release this as CO2 and cause global warming.
Some species only live in taiga forests and destruction of their habitat may lead to extinction.
Indigenous people depend on the forest for their traditional way of life
Why do people want to exploit the Taiga Forests?
The demand for resources is increasing and therefore more wood fuel and minerals are needed from the forest.
Name methods of conserving Taiga Forests
Creating wilderness areas
Creating a National park
Sustainable forestry
How does sustainable forestry help conserve the taiga?
Limits placed on number of trees felled to allow forest to regenerate. Companies are also required to regenerate after logging. However some countries struggle to enforce the restrictions e.g. lots of illegal logging in Russia.
How does having wilderness areas affect the conservation of the taiga biome?
Human activity is banned
Usually covers a very large area so large scale processes can still take place e.g. animal migration.
However the large remote areas are hard to police, and there is pressure from companies and tourists to build roads to allow greater access.
How does having a national park affect the conservation of the taiga biome?
Established to protect particular species e.g. wood bison
Good access for tourists and recreational users however national parks must take into account the needs of indigenous people who my use the land for hunting.
What is acid raid?
fossil fuels release sulphur dioxde and nitrogen oxides which dissolve in water in the atmosphere to form acids, when it rains of snows the acids are deposited on plants and soils and can kill organisms preventing growth.
How are coniferous trees adapted?
Cone shaped- heavy winter snow can slide off the branches without breaking them.
Needles instead of leaves- reduces water loss from strong cold winds as the SA is smaller.
What alternative ways of living are beneficial long term/?
Sustainable farming e.g. crop rotation so soil has time to recover.
Ecotourism - Only allowing a small number of visitors into an area at a time. (making sure litter is disposed of properly preventing water contamination.
What is meant by a conventional oil source?
Ones that are easily exploited e.g. through drilling. It is quick and cheap
Define renewable
Can be used continuously
Define Recyclable
Made from waste products
Define non-renewable
Can’t be replenished quickly.
