The Living World: Tropical Rainforests

Question 1

What is the temperature of a rainforest?

Answer 1

27C

Question 2

How much of the earth’s surface is rainforest?

Answer 2

2%

Question 3

Why is soil less fertile in some rainforests?

Answer 3

due to high biodiversity, nutrients are constantly taken up/ consumed by animals

Question 4

Why are there many different layers in a rainforest?

Answer 4

different plants fighting for access to sunlight for photosynthesis

Question 5

How is a three-toes sloth adapted to its environment?

Answer 5

-extra vertebrae to be able to turn neck 270 degrees (to check for predators)
-can swim in floods (high rainfall= surface runoff)

Question 6

Give 3 socio-economic opportunities of rainforests?

Answer 6

-resources
-employment
-medicine

Question 7

What percent of medicines come from rainforest plants?

Answer 7

25%

Question 8

Name 3 resources from rainforests

Answer 8

-wood
-nuts
-fruits (e.g. bananas)

Question 9

Give 3 environmental opportunities of a rainforest

Answer 9

-water source
-prevents climate change
-biodiversity

Question 10

What % of the world’s freshwater comes from Amazon basin?

Answer 10

20%

Question 11

What % of the world’s plants and animals are found in the Amazon?

Answer 11

50%

Question 12

How do rainforests prevent climate change?

Answer 12

-absorb CO2 from atmosphere
-trees act as carbon sinks

Question 13

What is biodiversity?

Answer 13

measure of how many different species live in an ecosystem

Question 14

How many different species are in the Amazon rainforest?

Answer 14

15 million

Question 15

Give 6 causes of deforestation in rainforests

Answer 15

1. farming
2. logging
3. road building
4. mineral extraction
5. energy development
6. population growth

Question 16

What percentage of deforestation is due to cattle ranching in the Amazon?

Answer 16

80%

Question 17

Example of wood deforested for logging

Answer 17

teak

Question 18

What is the road built through the Amazon rainforest?

Answer 18

Trans-Amazonian Highway

Question 19

How long in km is the Trans-Amazonian Highway?

Answer 19

4,000km

Question 20

Give 2 examples of mineral extracted in Brazil

Answer 20

-gold
-copper

Question 21

What is the largest iron ore mine called?

Answer 21

Carajas

Question 22

How many workers work at Carajas?

Answer 22

3,000 workers

Question 23

Give 1 type of energy generated in rainforests

Answer 23

hydroelectric power

Question 24

Specific example of a hydroelectric power complex in Brazil

Answer 24

Belo Monte dam

Question 25

Opportunity of deforestation

Answer 25

Economic development

Question 26

Why does deforestation cause economic development?

Answer 26

-framing generates employment -raw materials provides for industry (e.g. palm oil) -provides cheap energy for industry -improves infrastructure

Question 27

2 challenges of deforestation

Answer 27

1. soil erosion 2. climates change

Question 28

Why does deforestation cause soil erosion?

Answer 28

-soil must more vulnerable to torrential tropical rain -soil is easily eroded and washed away

Question 29

Why does deforestation cause climate change?

Answer 29

-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

Question 30

3 examples of resources from rainforests

Answer 30

-cocoa -banana -sugar

Question 31

How much of the world's oxygen do rainforests contribute?

Answer 31

28%

Question 32

5 ways to manage rainforests sustainably

Answer 32

1. selective logging and replanting 2. conservation and education 3. ecotourism 4. international agreements 5. debt reduction

Question 33

Sustainable management of rainforests: selective logging & replanting

Answer 33

-planting new trees ensures ecosystem is sustainable -trees are selected by professionals

Question 34

Sustainable management of rainforests: Ecotourism

Answer 34

-employs indigenous people as guides -focus on nature

Question 35

Sustainable management of rainforests: International agreements

Answer 35

-The Forest Stewardship Council -International Tropical Timber agreement 2006

Question 36

Sustainable management of rainforests: Debt reduction

Answer 36

-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)

Question 37

How much rainfall in a rainforest annually?

Answer 37

2,000 to 10,000mm

Question 38

Soils in rainforests

Answer 38

-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

Question 39

What animals live in the canopy (branches and leaves)?

Answer 39

birds - high above forest floor, feeding on seeds from nectar of flowering plants

Question 40

What animals live in the trees?

Answer 40

mammals - monkeys, sloths

Question 41

Snakes travel up the...

Answer 41

trunks of trees as a vertical highway - from forest floor to canopy

Question 42

Where do deer and rodents roam?

Answer 42

vegetation of forest floor