L1 - Fast and Diverse

Question 1

How are nutrients cycled in the tropical rainforests?

Answer 1

Plants have essential elements of NPK, eaten by animals.

Animals die and decompose, the nutrients are recycled back into the soil to be used by plants.

Question 2

What are the sizes of the stores and why?

Answer 2

Biomass largest, litter smallest, soil middle
Leaves fall and drop into the litter store, decompose quick, soil absorbs them and then plants absorb those quickly (large biomass reason)

Question 3

Describe the climate.

Answer 3

Equtorial climate
26-32 degrees C
2000-3000mm precipitation all year round

Question 4

What allows for diverse and rich forests?

Answer 4

The soil isn’t fertile due to leaching from high precipitation
Without the vegetation the soil loses fertility

Question 5

How are nutrients exchanged in TRF?

Answer 5

Added through precipitation
Lost through leaching and surface run off
Taken up by soil and used by plants and eaten by animals

Question 6

How diverse is the TRF?

Answer 6

Very
16,000 tree species
40,000 plant species
1,300 bird species

Question 7

What challenges do the TRF provide for growing plants?

Answer 7

Light is the main challenge
Emergents - grow extremely tall to get light

Canopy (30-40m high) - they get light when a tree dies and falls, tree saplings then grow when light hits the floor and the gap is filled by the quickest grower.

Question 8

What are 2 adaptations of rainforest trees?

Answer 8

Drip tip leaves - water runs off quick to stop moss and algae growing which blocks light source

Buttress roots - structural base, shallow roots are in trees because the nutrients are at the top so the butresses have evolved to keep the tree stable

Question 9

Give examples of animal adaptations.

Answer 9

Monkeys - long prehensile tails for balance and colour vision to get food from all levels of the rainforest

Birds - claws to grab prey

Camouflage to avoid being eaten - insects mimic sticks and leaves