Rainforests Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

What percentage of marine rubbish is plastic?

A

90%

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2
Q

What is the definition of climate change?

A

“The change in the average weather conditions (temp+rainfall) experienced in a specific area as a result of natural or human activities.”

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3
Q

What is an ecosystem?

A

A natural system made up of plants, animals and the environment

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4
Q

What are the living components in an ecosystem called?

A

biotic

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5
Q

What are the non-living components in an ecosystem called?

A

abiotic

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6
Q

What is the definition of producer?

A

Something that converts energy from environment (mainly sunlight) into sugars (glucose).

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7
Q

where do consumers get energy from?

A

From the sugars produced by the producers

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8
Q

What are decomposers?

A

Decomposers break down plant and animal matter and return the nutrients to the soil, eg bacteria and fungi.

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9
Q

what % of the world’s land surface do TRFs cover?

A

Used to be 14%, now only 6%

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10
Q

what % of plants and animals come from the TRF?

A

over half

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11
Q

what % of medicines come from the TRF?

A

about 25%

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12
Q

how many species per hectare in a TRF?

A

over 100

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13
Q

What is the average temperature in TRFs?

A

about 32 degrees

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14
Q

What are lianas?

A

Woody creepers rooted to the ground but have their leaves and flowers when they climb up trees

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15
Q

what are epiphytes?

A

plants that grow on other plants that aren’t rooted to the soil- they get their nutrients from sunlight and water instead

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16
Q

In the nutrient cycle, what connects soil -> biomass?

A

uptake by plants

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17
Q

In the nutrient cycle, what connects biomass -> litter?

A

fallout as tissues die

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18
Q

In the nutrient cycle, what connects litter -> soil?

A

release as litter is decomposed by decomposers

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19
Q

In the nutrient cycle, what comes in at soil?

A

input weathered from rock

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20
Q

In the nutrient cycle, what comes in at litter?

A

input dissolved in rainfall from atmosphere

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21
Q

In the nutrient cycle, what leaves at soil?

A

loss by leaching

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22
Q

In the nutrient cycle, what leaves at litter?

A

loss in runoff

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23
Q

What are waxy drip tip leaves?

A

Leaves that enable water to run off, preventing algae from growing, which would block the plant’s ability to photosynthesise.
It also prevents the leaf from becoming too heavy and breaking.
The water than runs off will also reach the roots easier

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24
Q

How are leaves adapted in size in TRFs?

A

Since there is limited sunlight, a plant’s leaves will grow in size as the plant grows higher

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25
Q

what does keystone species mean?

A

an organism that holds an ecosystem together

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26
Q

what does carbon sink mean?

A

a store of carbon

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27
Q

What is transpiration?

A

Where the water on the leaves of vegetation are evaporated because of sunlight

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28
Q

What is the top layer of the TRF called?

A

the emergent

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29
Q

What % of the light does the shrub layer recieve?

A

less than 2%

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30
Q

What are the long term economic losses of developing the rainforests? (4)

A
  • pollution of water, water shortages, drier climates makes it harder to farm (or grow actual trees??)
  • rising temperatures devastate some farms like fruit and flowers
  • number of tourists decreases
  • hydroelectric power dams are not sustainable as they can only be used for about ten years
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31
Q

What are the short term economic gains of developing the rainforests? (4)

A
  • quick money, jobs and development
  • taxes for gov can improve education and healthcare
  • cheap hydroelectric energy
  • mining can find valuables such as gold
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32
Q

What is interception?

A

where vegetation catches precipitation

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33
Q

What is mineral extraction?

A

the removal of solid materials from the earth (ores eg iron, precious stones eg diamonds and fuels eg coals)

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34
Q

What is selective logging?

A

The cutting out of trees that are mature or inferior to encourage growth of the remaining trees in a forest or wood

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35
Q

What are buttress roots?

A

Roots that are wide, not deep, so the

tree can still hold on to the ground without wasting resources sending roots downwards into infertile soil

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36
Q

Are tropical soils infertile or fertile?

A

infertile

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37
Q

What are stilt roots?

A

Similar to buttress roots they provide support as they are anchored to the shallow rainforest soil

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38
Q

Why are rainforest trees adapted to have thin, smooth bark?

A
  • to prevent other plants growing on them
  • so water can flow down to the bases
  • there is no need to conserve moisture as their environment is always wet, so they don’t spend energy developing a thick bark
39
Q

Why do some young rainforest plants have red leaves?

A

So they don’t get damaged by extreme sunlight. (their leaves change to green over time)

40
Q

Where is Sarawak?

A

In the Borneo Rainforest in Malaysia

41
Q

how tall is the bakun dam?

A

205 metres (asia’s highest dam outside china)

42
Q

when did the bakun dam finally start producing electricity?

A

2011, after 50 years of delays

43
Q

who does the bakun dam supply electricity to?

A

industrialised peninsular malaysia

44
Q

Who is the world’s largest producer of palm oil?

A

malaysia

45
Q

What are the causes of deforestation in malaysia?

A
  • palm oil farming
  • mineral extraction
  • subsistence farming
  • settlement and population growth
46
Q

why is settlement and population growth a cause of deforestation?

A

in the past, the government in malaysia encouraged many poor urban people to move to the countryside (transmigration). they felled about 15,000 hectares to make space for the newcomers, many of whom set up plantations

47
Q

what are the different types of sustainable forest management? (7)

A

re/afforestation, selective logging, debt relief, international agreements, conservation, education and eco-tourism

48
Q

What are the benefits of reforestation?

A

prevents soil erosion, loss of habitats and reduces fire risk, charities can pay local people to plant trees so they don’t have to cut them down instead,

49
Q

What are the downsides of conservation?

A

may not protect illegal logging, may not provide enough incentive (people don’t cut down trees because they’re evil, they do it because they have to)

50
Q

What are the benefits of education?

A

helps people see why the rainforests are important especially from a young age

51
Q

what are the disadvantages of eco tourism? (4)

A

tourists may leave behind noise and litter
deforestation is needed to build lodges
emissions from flight
not a steady source of income especially with a pandemic

52
Q

What does CITE stand for?

A

Convention of the international trade of endangered species

53
Q

What does ITTA stand for?

A

international tropical timber agreement

54
Q

How many tonnes of carbon does 1 flight from England to Brazil emit?

A

3.69 tonnes

55
Q

When was the IITA made?

A

2006

56
Q

When was the CITE made?

A

1973

57
Q

How many countries signed ITTA?

A

71

58
Q

How many countries signed CITE?

A

170

59
Q

What are the limitations of CITE?

A

Has had implementation problems, not enough species protected, doesn’t stop other types of planet harming activities eg deforestation

60
Q

What does CITE do?

A

Recognises and protects over 3000 species as endangered

61
Q

What is the name of the tribe we studied?

A

Penan tribe

62
Q

Where does the penan tribe live?

A

Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia

63
Q

What percentage of land in the Borneo rainforest is licensed for logging?

A

20%

64
Q

Why do the penan tribe want to remain in the forest?

A

Retain their community and culture. They wouldn’t know how to survive in an urban environment

65
Q

Why have food and medicine decreased for the Penan tribe?

A

The forest in which they gather and hunt from is the forest that’s being cut down (the edges)

66
Q

What will happen to trf soil after deforestation?

A

It will become infertile and dry as there are no trees to cover it. There will be more rai , and therefore, more leeching

67
Q

What is a niche?

A

the role of an organism

68
Q

Where are most nutrients found in TRF soil?

A

Most nutrients are found near the surfaces, where dead leaves decompose in hot and humid conditions

69
Q

What can heavy rainfall do to rainforest soil, and what is it called?

A

It can quickly dissolve and carry the nutrients away [leaching]

70
Q

What is leaching?

A

When heavy rainfall dissolves and carries away the nutrients in the soil

71
Q

What percent of the nutrients in soil come from plants?

A

80%

72
Q

What is the infertile soil left behind by leaching, and which mineral is it rich in?

A

Latosol

Iron

73
Q

What is sustainability?

A

Meeting the needs of today without comprimising the needs of future generations

74
Q

How does the selective logging process happen?

A
  • 2 yrs before / Pre-felling survey
  • 1 yr before / trees marked for felling, including directions of where to let it fall
  • felling
  • 3-6 mnths after / survey to check what has been felled
  • 2 yrs after / treatment plan drawn up to restore forest
  • 5-10 yrs after / Regeneration work and planting
  • 30-40 yrs after / Cycle begins again
75
Q

What happens 2 years before felling in the selective logging process?

A

A pre-felling survey to identifiy what is there.

76
Q

What happens 1 year before felling in the selective logging process?

A

Trees marked for felling. Arrows painted on trees to indicate direction of felling to avoid damaging other trees

77
Q

What happens 3-6 months after felling in the selective logging process?

A

Survey to check what has been felled. Prosecution may result from illegal felling

78
Q

What happens 5-10 years after felling in the selective logging process?

A

Remedial and regeneration work by state forestry officials. Replacement trees planted

79
Q

What happens 30-40 years after felling in the selective logging process?

A

Cycle begins again

80
Q

What happens 2 years after felling in the selective logging process?

A

Treatment plan drawn up to restore forest

81
Q

What is the most destructive form of felling?

A

Clear felling- clearing all of the trees in an area

82
Q

When was selective logging introduced in Malaysia?

A

1977

83
Q

What evidence shows that CITES may have been a success?

A

No species under its protection has been lost in the last 30 years

84
Q

Which two countries have the highest rates of deforestation (in order)?

A

Brazil, Indonesia

85
Q

What percentage of land does TRFs cover?

A

7%

86
Q

Why are rainforest trees important?

A

They store lots of carbon and water, prevent soil erosio, and their leaf litter keeps the top layer of soil fertile.

87
Q

The rainforest generates what percentage of its own rain?

A

50%

88
Q

The gums and resins found in rainforest trees are used in which products?

A

Insecticides, rubber products, fuels, varnishes and paints

89
Q

Oils found in rainforests can be used in which products?

A

Cosmetics, shampoos, detergents and perfume

90
Q

What percentage of oxygen comes from the rainforest?

A

28%

91
Q

What percentage of the world’s fresh water comes from the amazon basin?

A

20%

92
Q

What is eutrophication?

A

The addition of nutrients to rivers and lakes which can encourage plant growth that can take oxygen from the water and kill fish and other animals

93
Q

What are the causes of deforestation in malaysia?

A
logging
mineral extraction
population pressure
farming
road building
energy development
94
Q

What is convectional rain?

A

(RESEARCH)