Generic Rainforest Facts

Question 1

__% of the world’s plant and animal species

Answer 1

> 50

Question 2

The four layers are the ______ _____, __________, _______ and the ___________ _____

Answer 2

Forest floor, understory, canopy, emergent trees

Question 3

The ____________ can also be known as the undercanopy

Answer 3

Understorey

Question 4

GCSE example q (ooOOooh!): Describe the location of the tropical rainforest. (2 marks) (with a bit of luck you’ll get a map to help)

Answer 4

Rainforests are found near the Equator and between the Tropic of Cancer (23N) and the Tropic of Capricorn (23S). They are found in Asia, Africa, Australasia, North and South America, and an example is the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil. (this is not an exact answer: it can be adapted)

Question 5

The temperature is ____ and ________ throughout the year because the sun is ________ for most of the time because they are near the __________

Answer 5

Hot, constant, overhead, Equator

Question 6

The rainfall is ____ because the ______ ____________ _____________ causes an area of ____ pressure to form at the equator. The ______ air creates ______ and _______ ______

Answer 6

High, global atmospheric circulation, low, rising, clouds, heavy rain

Question 7

Rainfall _____ throughout the year, with a distinct wet season lasting about _ months. This is due to a period of intense rainfall when the _________ ___ _______ area is _________ __________

Answer 7

Varies, 6, equatorial low pressure, directly overhead

Question 8

Emergent layer: __-__m high, - trees per ____, most exposed so it’s ______

Answer 8

45-70m, 1-2, acre, strong

Question 9

Canopy: __-__m high, __% of sunlight, very _____

Answer 9

30-40m, 80%, thick

Question 10

Understorey: _m high, _-__% of sunlight, common features are _____, _____, small _____ and ________ plants

Answer 10

4m, 2-15%, shrubs, ferns, small trees, climbing plants

Question 11

Forest floor: _% sunlight, common features are ____, _____ and other ___ ______ plants

Answer 11

<2%, moss, ferns, low lying plants

Question 12

TRF (Tropical RainForest) soils are ________ because so many plants take _________ and heavy ________ washes them away, This is called _________. The soil left is, however, ____ rich

Answer 12

Infertile, nutrients, rainfall, leaching, iron

Question 13

TRF nutrient cycle: Trees ____ _______ all year round —> _______ vegetation ________ rapidly —> ________ enter the soil —> shallow _____ take nutrients —> trees grow _______

Answer 13

Shed leaves, decaying, decomposes, nutrients, roots, rapidly