T4- Tropical Rainforest

Question 1

What is the average temperature in the TRF?

Answer 1

Hot, Average of 27 Degrees. Low range.

Question 2

What is the average annual rainfall in the TRF?

Answer 2

2,000 mm (WETTT)

Question 3

What are the seasons in the TRF?

Answer 3

There are no seasons although rainfall changes with the tropical rain belt (ITCZ).

Question 4

What is the structure of the TRF?

Answer 4

Emergents
Canopy (most sunlight)
Under canopy
Shrub layer
Forest floor 

((Each layer has flora and fauna adapted to it))

Question 5

How are the Buttress Roots adapted?

Answer 5

Roots several meters high allow stability for tall trees. They also spread wide, rather than deep to reach as much of the thin nutrients in the soil as possible.

Question 6

How is the Stinking Corpse Flower adapted?

Answer 6

Smells of rotting flesh to attract fauna who eat it (flies, beetles). They act as pollinators. The smell also keeps other animals from eating it.

Question 7

What percentage of precipitation does the canopy intercept and then transpire?

Answer 7

26%

Question 8

What percentage of precipitation does BIOMASS take in and then transpire?

Answer 8

48%

Question 9

What percentage of precipitation reaches the forest floor?

Answer 9

26%

Question 10

What is evapotranspiration?

Answer 10

the process by which water is transferred from the land to the atmosphere by evaporation from the soil and other surfaces and by transpiration from plants.

Question 11

What percentage of precipitation is transpired through evaporation? (Evapotranspiration)

Answer 11

74%

Meaning the TRF creates its own rainfall.

Question 12

What is the name given to the thin topsoil containing decomposed organic matter?

Answer 12

Humus.

Question 13

Why is soil low in nutrients?

Answer 13

Because flora rapidly take it up.

Question 14

What is leaching?

Answer 14

The rapid loss of minerals down and out of the soil due to high rainfall.

Question 15

What are the perfect conditions for decomposers?

Answer 15

The forest floor is dark, wet, hot and humid.

Question 16

What gets decomposed rapidly into the soil and drawn up by the trees quickly?

Answer 16

BIOMASS (organic matter) that falls to the Litter (Dead leaves and animals of the floor)

Question 17

What makes the soil of the TRF poor?

Answer 17

Most of the nutrients are in the BIOMASS not the soil.

Question 18

What is interdependence?

Answer 18

the dependence of two or more people or things on each other.

Question 19

What does the climate depend on?

Answer 19

The climate depends on the flora as the trees crest their own rainfall. Widespread deforestation can cause a reduction in the amount of rain.

Question 20

How does the soil rely on the canopy?

Answer 20

The canopy intercepts rainfall which prevents nutrients and minerals being washed away from the soil.

Question 21

How does the soil rely on rapid decomposition of dead organic matter?

Answer 21

If the rapid decomposition is prevented (deforestation) then soil quickly becomes infertile.

Question 22

What are the goods of the TRF? (Food)

Answer 22

Bananas, coffee, cacao, avocado.

Question 23

What are the goods of the TRF? (Medicine)

Answer 23

25% of modern medicines are based on rainforest ingredients. Including rose periwinkle from Madagascar. It has been used to childhood leukaemia and has seen survival chances increase by 85%

Question 24

What services does the climate provide?

Answer 24

Acts as a carbon sink, removing and storing 15% of annual CO2 emissions.

Massive transpiration amounts cool the Earth and for mm clouds which reflect sun energy back into space.

Question 25

What services does the habitat of the TRF provide?

Answer 25

Proves a home for 50% of life in earths surface.

Question 26

Name an example of large scale agriculture in the TRF.

Answer 26

Palm oil plantations in Indonesia. Palm oil is globally demanded and is a quick and easy way to creat wealth.

Question 27

What are the impacts of palm oil plantations?

Answer 27

Plantations cover 270,000 km2 globally. Has lead to rapid forest loss and increased endangerment of orangutangs. Palm oil plantations do not support wildlife and have near zero biodiversity.

Question 28

Name an example of small scale agriculture…

Answer 28

Poverty pushed people to clear the rainforest and farm. Brazil’s government have given over 2 million people land to farm in the forest.

Question 29

What are the impacts of small scale agriculture in the TRF?

Answer 29

Slash and burn agriculture means the forest is cut and burned. But the soil only lasts several years before a new farm must be cleared.

Question 30

Logging… ((HOW AND WHY?))

Answer 30

Half the wood is used for fuel.

Hardwood trees such as mahogany can sell for thousands of pounds.

People due it do to poverty, companies and government do it to generate wealth.

Question 31

What are the impacts of logging?

Answer 31

Unselctive logging- to cut one hardwood, a wide area of the forest is cleared.

Indigenous groups are threatened or even killed by loggers.

Question 32

Cattle ranching… ((HOW AND WHY?))

Answer 32

Forest is cleared to create grass (pasture) for cattle.

Beef and leather is in huge demand globally as more and more people look for a western lifestyle.

Question 33

Wha are the impacts of cattle ranching?

Answer 33

80% of Brazil’s deforested land is used for cattle ranching.

The cattle themselves produce half of Brazil’s greenhouse emissions.

Question 34

What is the local, small scale case study? (TRF)

Answer 34

“Sustainably managing the TRF -Crocker Range Biosphere Reserve, Borneo, south east Asia.”