rainforests - malaysia Flashcards
where are tropical rainforests found
belt through the tropics: central and south america, south east asia, central africa, northern australian
climate of tropical rainforests
warm and wet
high rainfall (over 2000mm a year) due to global atmospheric circulation causes low pressure, rising air creates clouds and triggers heavy rainfall, varies throughout the year, distinct season of about 6 months
high temperatures (average 27 degrees C) throughout - powerful sun overhead
soils
quite infertile
frequently heavy rainfall washes out nutrients through leaching
old, deep and red due to oxidation of iron and aluminium minerals
nutrient cycling
the constant movement of nutrients between biomass, soil and litter
few nutrients are stored as litter due to significant leaching caused by heavy rainfall, rapid decomposition
climate promotes decomposition weathering and leaching, accounting for the rapid recycling of nutrients
plants and animals
supports the largest number of species
over half of all species live in tropical rainforests which represent just 7 percent of earth’s land
plant adaptations in rainforest
emergent - fast growing trees out compete for sunlight, drips tips for water to drip off
canopy - epiphytes live high on branches to seek sunlight , lianas are woody creepers rooted to ground carried up by trees where they have leaves and flowers, thin smooth bark to let water flow down easily
shrub and ground layer - buttress roots support tall trees and aid oxygen/carbon exchange with increase surface area.
animal adaptations in rainforest
camouflage - protect from predators and conceal from prey
mimicry - to seem more dangerous than they are
limited diet - only eat things other animals can’t access
habitat adaptation - adapt to a place that keeps them safer
biodiversity threats
change has significant knock-on
- deforestation - 20 percent of amazon has been destroyed, 80000 hectares burned everyday
- water pollution - mining can result in pollutants which reach rivers
- climate change - reduced rate of evapotranspiration, climatic drying which may reduce biodiversity and alter rainfall patterns
deforestation in malaysia
one of the highest rates of deforestation on the world
in 2018 145000ha of primary forest was cut down (a football pitch every four minutes),
between 2002 and 2018 malaysia lost almost 16 percent of primary forest.
logging in malaysia
some 80 percent of borneos rainforest has been destroyed for timber mostly by clear-felling (huge amounts at a time), recently been selective logging where only adult trees cut down (leave young trees to continue to grow)
commercial farming in malaysia
one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of palm oil (used in many food products).
mineral extraction in malaysia
tin mining and smelting, in borneo drilling for oil and gas has started
other places cleared for transportation to ports (for logging and minerals extraction)
settlement and population growth in malaysia
clearing forest for living space
in past, a transmigration policy involved new settlements being created for urban poor
subsistence farming in malaysia
indigenous tribal people living in the rainforest practice subsistence farming
sometimes use slash and burn method, creates valuable nutrients which help plants to grow, can become out of control
economic gains of deforestation
- development of land for farming mining and energy leads to jobs
- companies pay taxes to government which improve countries infrastructure, education etc.
- gold and tin are valuable for export, oil and gas also extracted in borneo
