The Living World: Tropical Rainforests Flashcards
What is the temperature of a rainforest?
27C
How much of the earth’s surface is rainforest?
2%
Why is soil less fertile in some rainforests?
due to high biodiversity, nutrients are constantly taken up/ consumed by animals
Why are there many different layers in a rainforest?
different plants fighting for access to sunlight for photosynthesis
How is a three-toes sloth adapted to its environment?
-extra vertebrae to be able to turn neck 270 degrees (to check for predators)
-can swim in floods (high rainfall= surface runoff)
Give 3 socio-economic opportunities of rainforests?
-resources
-employment
-medicine
What percent of medicines come from rainforest plants?
25%
Name 3 resources from rainforests
-wood
-nuts
-fruits (e.g. bananas)
Give 3 environmental opportunities of a rainforest
-water source
-prevents climate change
-biodiversity
What % of the world’s freshwater comes from Amazon basin?
20%
What % of the world’s plants and animals are found in the Amazon?
50%
How do rainforests prevent climate change?
-absorb CO2 from atmosphere
-trees act as carbon sinks
What is biodiversity?
measure of how many different species live in an ecosystem
How many different species are in the Amazon rainforest?
15 million
Give 6 causes of deforestation in rainforests
- farming
- logging
- road building
- mineral extraction
- energy development
- population growth
What percentage of deforestation is due to cattle ranching in the Amazon?
80%
Example of wood deforested for logging
teak
What is the road built through the Amazon rainforest?
Trans-Amazonian Highway
How long in km is the Trans-Amazonian Highway?
4,000km
Give 2 examples of mineral extracted in Brazil
-gold
-copper
What is the largest iron ore mine called?
Carajas
How many workers work at Carajas?
3,000 workers
Give 1 type of energy generated in rainforests
hydroelectric power
Specific example of a hydroelectric power complex in Brazil
Belo Monte dam
Opportunity of deforestation
Economic development
Why does deforestation cause economic development?
-framing generates employment
-raw materials provides for industry (e.g. palm oil)
-provides cheap energy for industry
-improves infrastructure
2 challenges of deforestation
- soil erosion
- climates change
Why does deforestation cause soil erosion?
-soil must more vulnerable to torrential tropical rain
-soil is easily eroded and washed away
Why does deforestation cause climate change?
-trees act as carbon sinks, less tress = more CO2 in atmosphere (contributing to enhanced greenhouse effect)
-when trees are burned CO2 is released into atmosphere
3 examples of resources from rainforests
-cocoa
-banana
-sugar
How much of the world’s oxygen do rainforests contribute?
28%
5 ways to manage rainforests sustainably
- selective logging and replanting
- conservation and education
- ecotourism
- international agreements
- debt reduction
Sustainable management of rainforests: selective logging & replanting
-planting new trees ensures ecosystem is sustainable
-trees are selected by professionals
Sustainable management of rainforests: Ecotourism
-employs indigenous people as guides
-focus on nature
Sustainable management of rainforests: International agreements
-The Forest Stewardship Council
-International Tropical Timber agreement 2006
Sustainable management of rainforests: Debt reduction
-HIC invest in NEEs/ LICs in return for protecting rainforest
-e.g. USA invested £13.5million to Brazil to restore rainforest (DEBT FOR NATURE SWAPPING)
How much rainfall in a rainforest annually?
2,000 to 10,000mm
Soils in rainforests
-not very fertile
-nutrients in upper top soil, very quickly taken up by plants (trees and plants have SHALLOW roost in response)
-intense leaching reduces nutrient content of soil
What animals live in the canopy (branches and leaves)?
birds - high above forest floor, feeding on seeds from nectar of flowering plants
What animals live in the trees?
mammals - monkeys, sloths
Snakes travel up the…
trunks of trees as a vertical highway - from forest floor to canopy
Where do deer and rodents roam?
vegetation of forest floor
