Geography chapter 5 (102-109)

Question 1

What is Natural Vegetation?

Answer 1

Plant life which covers particular parts of the world’s land areas and develops without human interference

Question 2

Why are several different types of natural vegetation only found in certain parts in the world?

Answer 2

The climate of a given location determines the type of natural vegetation found there.

Question 3

What is the definition of the word: Climate?

Answer 3

Average weather conditions of a place over a long period of time (30 years +)

Question 3

Which part in the world is known as the tropical climate?

Answer 3

Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn

Question 4

What does the Tropical Climate support?

Answer 4

Tropical Rainforests

Question 5

What does the word ‘mean’ in Mean Rainfall or Mean Temperature mean?

Answer 5

Average

Question 6

Describe the rainfall throughout the year in the tropical climate.

Answer 6

There is rainfall throughout the year and there is no month in which rainfall is very low or absent

Question 6

What can be found in the tropical climate?

Answer 6

Natural vegetation such as tropical rainforests and mangroves

Question 6

How is the tropical climate characterised?

Answer 6

High ANNUAL RAINFALL (2000 ml on average and as high as 4500 ml)

Question 6

Describe the temperature in the tropical climate throughout the year

Answer 6

Temperatures are high throughout the year

Question 7

Where are mangroves found?

Answer 7

Along narrow strips of the world’s coast and are concentrated largely within the tropics.

Question 8

What percentage of the coastlines in the tropics are covered by mangroves?

Answer 8

70%

Question 8

Where are Tropical Rainforests found?

Answer 8

1. Central and South America, Brazil
2. West and Central Africa, Congo
3. South and Southeast Asia, Singapore

Question 8

What do areas that experience tropical climates receive?

Answer 8

Abundant sunlight and high rainfall throughout the year, making them very suitable for plant growth

Question 9

What are Tropical Rainforests?

Answer 9

Main type of natural vegetation found in parts of the world which experience tropical climate

Question 10

Where are the regions where tropical rainforests are found located close to?

Answer 10

Very close to the Equator

Question 11

What are the vast majority of tropical rainforest plants?

Answer 11

Evergreen

Question 11

What is the definition of evergreen? (2)

Answer 11

Tress in the tropical rainforests do not shed all their leaves at particular times of the year

Question 12

What is the definition of evergreen? (1)

Answer 12

Trees do not shed all their leaves at particular times of the year

Question 13

How do trees in the tropical rainforest maintain a constantly green appearance?

Answer 13

They continuously grow new leaves to replace older ones that die and fall off

Question 14

How do the trees in tropical rainforests differ from trees in temperate deciduous forests in Europe and North America?

Answer 14

Trees in Europe and North America shed their leaves before winter to conserve water. Trees in the tropical climate continuously grow new leaves to replace older ones that die and fall off

Question 14

How would you describe the structure of a rainforest?

Answer 14

1. Large variety of plant species
2. Vertical structure

Question 14

Why do tropical rainforests contain such a large variety of plant species? (more than any other type of ecosystem in the world)

Answer 14

Favourable climate conditions

Question 14

What does the phrase “No particular rainforest plant species is more significantly represented than others” mean?

Answer 14

This means that someone can walk hundreds of metres inside a tropical rainforest without finding more than one tree that belongs to the same species.

Question 15

Why do the tropical rainforest plants grow as tall as possible?

Answer 15

Intense competition for sunlight

Question 16

Can all plants grow to the same height?

Answer 16

No

Question 17

What are the 3 main layers of the distinct vertical forest structure?

Answer 17

1. Emergent
2. Canopy
3. Undergrowth

Question 18

What do the different height of plants in a tropical rainforest give?

Answer 18

Distinct vertical forest structure comprising of 3 main layers

Question 19

Emergent layer

Answer 19

Formed by the crowns of the tallest trees that grow up to 30m-50m

Question 20

What are brief descriptions of the trees in the canopy layer?

Answer 20

1. The trees grow very close together.
2. The crowns interlock to form a thick & continuous mass of branches & leaves

Question 20

How tall do the trees in the Canopy layer grow up to?

Answer 20

20-30m in height

Question 21

How much sunlight do the trees in the canopy layer prevent from reaching the floor?

Answer 21

97-98%

Question 22

How tall do the trees grow in the undergrowth layer?

Answer 22

0-20m

Question 23

How much sunlight reaches the undergrowth layer?

Answer 23

Very little

Question 23

Are many plants able to grow in the undergrowth layer?

Answer 23

No. The number of plants able to grow here is sparse

Question 23

What happens to the plants in the undergrowth layer when there are gaps in the canopy?

Answer 23

Certain plant species take advantage of the sunlight and grow quickly.