Fragile Ecosystems

Question 1

Where are the locations of rainforests around the world?

Answer 1

Half of the rainforests are found in Latin America. One third of the world’s tropical rainforests are in Brazil. Other tropical rainforests are located in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands

Question 2

Give characteristics of rainforest climate

Answer 2

A tropical rainforest biome is found in hot, humid environments in equatorial climates. They contain the most diverse range and highest volume of plant and animal life found anywhere on earth. In general, tropical rainforests have hot and humid climates where it rains virtually everyday.

Question 3

Name the four layers of the rainforest

Answer 3

The emergents (tallest trees of 60m)
The canopy (thickest layer where most animals live)
The under canopy (has young trees, shorter greets and bushes)
The shrub layer (where you find ferns and other plants that grow close to the ground)

Question 4

Give three examples of plants that adapt to the climate

Answer 4

Epiphytes - perch on high branches and feed on rain and nutrients from rotting leaves
Shrub layer - plants grow large leaves with lots of chlorophyll to trap as much sunlight as possible
Roots - don’t grow deep into the soil. They spread out near the surface to take up nutrients quickly from dead leaves and animal droppings

Question 5

Why are rainforests being destroyed?

Answer 5

Land for farming - large areas are often cleared for cattle ranching by burning forest
logging - demand for hardwood like teak and mahogany leads to trees being felled illegally
Mining companies exploring for oil and metal ore - pollution occurs

Question 6

How do you protect them?

Answer 6

teach others the importance of the environment and how they can save rainforests
restore damaged ecosystems by planting trees on land where forests have been cut down
encourage people to live in a way that doesn’t hurt the environment

Question 7

Why they should be kept:

Answer 7

Rainforests hold over half the known species of plants and animals. Many chemicals and drugs come from plants found there. Losing these plants before they’re fully understood might mean losing essential cures for illnesses