T4- Tropical Rainforest Flashcards
What is the average temperature in the TRF?
Hot, Average of 27 Degrees. Low range.
What is the average annual rainfall in the TRF?
2,000 mm (WETTT)
What are the seasons in the TRF?
There are no seasons although rainfall changes with the tropical rain belt (ITCZ).
What is the structure of the TRF?
Emergents Canopy (most sunlight) Under canopy Shrub layer Forest floor
((Each layer has flora and fauna adapted to it))
How are the Buttress Roots adapted?
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.
How is the Stinking Corpse Flower adapted?
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.
What percentage of precipitation does the canopy intercept and then transpire?
26%
What percentage of precipitation does BIOMASS take in and then transpire?
48%
What percentage of precipitation reaches the forest floor?
26%
What is evapotranspiration?
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.
What percentage of precipitation is transpired through evaporation? (Evapotranspiration)
74%
Meaning the TRF creates its own rainfall.
What is the name given to the thin topsoil containing decomposed organic matter?
Humus.
Why is soil low in nutrients?
Because flora rapidly take it up.
What is leaching?
The rapid loss of minerals down and out of the soil due to high rainfall.
What are the perfect conditions for decomposers?
The forest floor is dark, wet, hot and humid.
What gets decomposed rapidly into the soil and drawn up by the trees quickly?
BIOMASS (organic matter) that falls to the Litter (Dead leaves and animals of the floor)
What makes the soil of the TRF poor?
Most of the nutrients are in the BIOMASS not the soil.
What is interdependence?
the dependence of two or more people or things on each other.
What does the climate depend on?
The climate depends on the flora as the trees crest their own rainfall. Widespread deforestation can cause a reduction in the amount of rain.
How does the soil rely on the canopy?
The canopy intercepts rainfall which prevents nutrients and minerals being washed away from the soil.
How does the soil rely on rapid decomposition of dead organic matter?
If the rapid decomposition is prevented (deforestation) then soil quickly becomes infertile.
What are the goods of the TRF? (Food)
Bananas, coffee, cacao, avocado.
What are the goods of the TRF? (Medicine)
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%
What services does the climate provide?
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.
What services does the habitat of the TRF provide?
Proves a home for 50% of life in earths surface.
Name an example of large scale agriculture in the TRF.
Palm oil plantations in Indonesia. Palm oil is globally demanded and is a quick and easy way to creat wealth.
What are the impacts of palm oil plantations?
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.
Name an example of small scale agriculture…
Poverty pushed people to clear the rainforest and farm. Brazil’s government have given over 2 million people land to farm in the forest.
What are the impacts of small scale agriculture in the TRF?
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.
Logging… ((HOW AND WHY?))
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.
What are the impacts of logging?
Unselctive logging- to cut one hardwood, a wide area of the forest is cleared.
Indigenous groups are threatened or even killed by loggers.
Cattle ranching… ((HOW AND WHY?))
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.
Wha are the impacts of cattle ranching?
80% of Brazil’s deforested land is used for cattle ranching.
The cattle themselves produce half of Brazil’s greenhouse emissions.
What is the local, small scale case study? (TRF)
“Sustainably managing the TRF -Crocker Range Biosphere Reserve, Borneo, south east Asia.”
