Geoecology- Biomes Flashcards
What is a biome?
A large area on the Earth’s surface where climate, soil, natural vegetation and animal life are inter-related.
What is the most important factor that affects a biome?
Climate
How does each biome get its name from?
Frrom the dominant vegetation found within in it.
eg. Brazil forms part of the tropical rainforest biome.
Where is the tropical rainforest found?
In the tropics, close to the equator
-Between the tropic of cancer and the tropic of capricorn
Where are the majority of tropical rainforests found?
Central and South America
Where is the largest rainforest located?
The Amazon Basin
Where are the rainforests in Africa located?
Central and Western Africa.
Madagascar
How much % do rainforests cover on the earth’s surface?
2%
What % of living things are in rainforests?
50%
How much % of fresh water do rainforests produce?
30%
How many square kilometres is the Amazon Rainforest?
5.5 million kilometres
How many acres is the Amazon Rainforest?
1.4 billion acres
What nations does the Amazon Rainforest occupy?
- Brazil
- Peru
- Colombia
- Venezuela
- Ecuador
- Bolivia
- Guyana
- Suriname
- French Guiana
What climate affects the rainforest?
Tropical/ equatorial
Describe tropical/equatorial.
Hot, wet and humid all year round
What region receives the maximum amount of solar heating on earth?
The equatorial zone
What angle does sunlight strike the equatorial?
90 degree angle
How many hours of sunlight does the area receive?
12 hours
What is the average temperature?
27 degrees
What is the annual rainfall?
2500-6600 mm per year
What are the two seasons of the Amazon rainforest?
- The rainy season
- The not so rainy season
When is the not so rainy system?
June to December
Where does 50% of the precipitation come from?
Comes from the rainforest itself due to evaporation.
What is the average amount of water each tree releases through transpiration?
775 litres per year
What is the humidity level?
77%- 88%
What has the climate resulted?
Has led to high biodiversity in the tropical rainforest biome
What soil is associated with the tropical rainforest biome?
Latosol
