paper 3- Tropical Forsest

Question 1

Name the TRF layers in order (bottom to top):

Answer 1

Shub layer, under canopy, main canopy, emergents

Question 2

describe the emergent layer

Answer 2

-tallest trees
-trees have straight trunks
- these trees only have branches and leaves at the top because it can get light
-have buttress roots

Question 3

describe the main canopy

Answer 3

-continuous layer of trees
-dense layer of leaves that shade the rest of TRF
-simpler to emerging layer

Question 4

describe the under canopy

Answer 4

-made up of younger trees
-these trees haven’t reached there full height
-they only survive where there are gaps of light through the trees from the main canopy layer

Question 5

describe the shrub layer

Answer 5

-nearest ground
-quite dark
-shrubs have large, broad leaves to absorb as much light available

Question 6

describe the climate of the TRF

Answer 6

-wet and warm
-temp: 20-28 degrees
-hot because near equator
-long days around 12hrs
-high rainfall

Question 7

what contents/coutries the TRF in

Answer 7

America, Asia, India, Africa, Australia

Question 8

Describe how leaves have adapted in TRF

Answer 8

-have thick waxy leaves with pointed edges
-the pointed tips channel water off, so weight of water doesn’t damage plant
-waxy leaves helps repel the rain

Question 9

How have animals adapted to the TRF

Answer 9

-strong limbs to climb high e.g howler monkeys
-some animals camouflaged to hide from predators e.g geckos
-flaps on skin to help them glide between trees e.g. red-eyed frogs

Question 10

3 ways the nutrients are stored in TRF ecosystem

Answer 10

-living organisms( biomass)
-litter (e.g. fallen leaves)
-the soil

Question 11

why is the transfer of nutrients very high in the TRF

Answer 11

the trees are evergreen so they drop all year round, warm climate helps them decompose quickly and they are then soaked into the soil.

Question 12

what is foodweb

Answer 12

A complex network of overlapping food chain that connect plants and animals in biomes

Question 13

an example of independence in TRF

Answer 13

-warm and wet climate means plants can grow quickly
-dense leaf cover protect the forest floor from wind and rain
-lack of wind near forest floor mean plant can rely on bees, butterflies etc for pollination

Question 14

reasons for deforestation in TRF

Answer 14

-local demand for wood
-mineral resources
-electricity(HEP)
-sustainable farming
-commercial farming
-commercial hardwood logging
-demand for biofuels

Question 15

explain sustainable farming

Answer 15

Forest cleared so farmer can grow food for them selves and family

Question 16

explain local demand for fuel wood

Answer 16

local people chop down trees to use as fuel for cooking or burn to make charcoal

Question 17

Indirect threat of the TRF

Answer 17

Climate change

Question 18

How does climate change affect the TRF?

Answer 18

-rise in temperature can lead to decrease of rainfall which can lead to droughts
-drought can lead to forest fires
-drought can lead to extinction of some species

Question 19

what is REDD

Answer 19

REDD- reduced emissions from deforestation and forest degradation
scheme that rewards forest owner in poorer countries for keeping the forest instead of cutting it down

Question 20

Advantages of REDD

Answer 20

-habitats not loss
-forest more protected form climate change
-benefits everyone as it reduces emissions
-relatively cheaper

Question 21

Disadvantages of REDD

Answer 21

-deforestation continues in other areas
-preventing activities e.g mining, agriculture. This may affect local communities income

Question 22

What is CITES?

Answer 22

CITES- convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora
It’s an agreement tightly control trade of wild animals and plants

Question 23

Advantage of CITES

Answer 23

-tackles at a global level, its controlled world wide
-spread awareness about endangered animals
-helps different sectors work together

Question 24

Disadvantage of CITES

Answer 24

-some rules are unclear
-not all countries are members
-although animals are protected from poaching it doesn’t protect there habitat

Question 25

what is eco tourism

Answer 25

-tourism that is minimum damage to the environment and benefits the local people
-only small number of people at a time
-provides an income for local people e.g. act as guides
-environmental impacts are minimised e.g making sure litter disposed properly

Question 26

What is sustaible management

Answer 26

Forest used in a way to prevent long term damage whilst people benefit from the resources

Question 27

Economic challenge of sustainable forest management

Answer 27

-only seen in the long term this affects poorer countries who need income immediately
-usually more expensive so can be difficult to persuade private companies the sustainable methods

Question 28

Environmental challenges of sustainable forest management

Answer 28

-trees are replanted however the entire ecosystem may nkt be restored
-trees can be slow growing, so complains will chop form other forest while waiting got them to grow
-selective logging can still damage other trees when removing the selected trees