The Amazon Rainforest (Case Study)

Question 1

How much of South Americas landmass does the Amazon cover?

Answer 1

40%

Question 2

What is the climate of the Amazon?

Answer 2

Hot and wet climate with dense vegetation.

Question 3

How many plant species is the Amazon home to?

Answer 3

1 million

Question 4

How many species of mammal are there in the Amazon?

Answer 4

500

Question 5

How does the water cycle affect the Amazon?

Answer 5

-Wet air is blown over the Atlantic towards the Amazon= high rainfall
-Warm temp= high evaporation= more precipitation.

Question 6

How does the Amazons canopy affect the water cycle?

Answer 6

Dense canopy= interception is high
=less surface runoff

Question 7

How are the species in the Amazon adapted?

Answer 7

It’s population is adapted to high humidity and frequent rainfall.

Question 8

How does the Amazon affect the carbon cycle?

Answer 8

-Carbon sink( stores in vegetation and soil)
-More carbon dioxide= more photosynthesis

Question 9

Why might we not be able to rely on the Amazon as a carbon sink?

Answer 9

Deforestation has meant there is less vegetation to photosynthesise.

Question 10

How does deforestation affect the water cycle?

Answer 10

Deforestation
=no tree canopy to intercept. Too much water to infiltrate= more risk of flooding
=Less evapotranspiration= less water is put back in the atmosphere= less rainfall =more risk to drought

Question 11

How does deforestation in the Amazon affect the carbon cycle?

Answer 11

=Heavy rainfall washes away carbon stored in soil into hydrosphere
=Less leaf litter means less humus which limits new plant growth = less carbon absorbed
=Less CO2 removed from atmosphere.

Question 12

How does climate change impact the Amazon rainforest?

Answer 12

-Temperature increase = rainfall decrease = risk to drought
- Species adapted to moist weather for in dry climate
-Dry climate = risk to forest fire

Question 13

Why is a temperature rise so bad for the Amazon? (What do the scientists say?)

Answer 13

Scientists say 4° increase would kill 85% off the Amazon’s rainforest.
Carbon released into atmosphere.

Question 14

How does selective selective logging limit human impacts on the Amazon rainforest?

Answer 14

-Only some trees are felled (oldest)
If only a few trees from each area are taken the forest structure is kept and can regenerate.

Question 15

How does replanting limit the human impact on the Amazon?

Answer 15

-New trees are planted to replace deforestation.
Same types of tree must be planted so variety can be kept.

Question 16

How many trees have Peru promised to restore and by when?

Answer 16

Peru plans to restore 3.2 million hectares of forest by 2020.

Question 17

How do environmental laws limit human impacts on the Amazon?

Answer 17

Protect the rainforest:
-Ban on unsustainable wood
-Ban excessive logging
-Controls on land use.

Question 18

Give an example of an environmental logging law that affects land use.

Answer 18

The Brazilian Forest Code
Landowners have to keep 50 to 80% of land as forest.

Question 19

How does protection limit the affect of human impacts on the Amazon?

Answer 19

Protects biodiversity and encourages sustainable land use.
Damaging practices like logging can be monitored and prevented.

Question 20

Give an example of how the Amazon rainforest has been protected?

Answer 20

Central Amazon Conservation Complex
Protects 50,000 km^2 area while bringing in tourism.