LW - Tropical Rainforest

Question 1

What is the climate?

Answer 1

• Plenty of rainfall (over 2000 mm of rainfall a year)
• High temperatures throughout the year (average 27 degrees)
  Ideal condition for plant growth

Question 2

Describe the soil in the rainforest

Answer 2

• Infertile
• Dead leaves decompose rapidly in hot, damp conditions -> Most nutrients found on the surface -> plants have shallow roots
• Leaching -> red coloured soil ‘latosol’ -> rich in iron and very acidic
• Fungi grow on roots transferring nutrients into the air

Question 3

What is leaching?

Answer 3

Dissolving and removal of nutrients from soil because of heavy rainfall

Question 4

Describe the vegetation

Answer 4

• Largest number of plant and animal species of any biome
• Majority live in the canopy - maximum light (e.g parrots, monkeys)
• Floor too dark to support many plants - seeds and berries

Question 5

What is the stratification in a tropical rainforest? (Smallest to biggest)

Answer 5

Shrub layer
Under canopy - thickest layer
Canopy
Emergents

Question 6

Give some plant adaptions

Answer 6

• Fast growing trees out-compete each other to reach sunlight
• Leaves have flexible bases to turn and face the sun
• Smooth, oval leaves that have a ‘drip tip’ - allow heavy rain to drip off
• Thin smooth bark - allow water to flow down easily
• Epiphytes live on branches in the canopy (get sunlight) + get nutrients from the air and water not soil
• Lianas (woody creepers) rooted to ground, carried by trees into canopy

Question 7

Where are tropical rainforests found?

Answer 7

• In a broad belt through the tropics
• Central and South America, some parts of Africa
• South - East Asia and northern parts of Australia