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AQA GCSE Geography > The Living World - Tropical Rainforests > Flashcards

The Living World - Tropical Rainforests Flashcards

(51 cards)

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1
Q

Distribution/Location of TRFs

A

Found in the belt close to the equator

South America, West Africa, South-East Asia, North Australia

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2
Q

Climate of TRFs

A

High temperature - 27 degrees Celsius

High rainfall - 2,000mm per year

High Humidity

No seasonal Difference

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3
Q

Plants and Animals in the TRF

A

Highest level of biodiversity

Huge range of habitats available

Home to over Half the worlds plants and animals

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4
Q

Water in TRFs

A

Distinct wet season

High rainfall lasting several months

Excess water = local rivers flood

Water soaks into soil = leaching

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5
Q

Soils in TRFs

A

Not very fertile

Nutrients are in the upper top soil

Trees and plants have shallow roots

Intense leaching removes nutrients from soil

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6
Q

People in TRFs

A

Traditional tribes live in the rainforest in harmony with the natural environment

Exploitation of rainforest for commercial gain - deforestation

Harmful to rainforest - reduces biodiversity and destroys habitats

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7
Q

Different plant layers in a tropical rainforest

A

Emergents

Canopy

Under canopy

Forest Floor

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8
Q

Species in each layer of the rainforest

A

Emergents - bats

Canopy - Birds

Under canopy - Mammals - sloths/monkeys

Forest Floor - Deer

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9
Q

Nutrient cycling process

A
  1. Nutrients in soil are taken up by tree roots
  2. They are stored in the leaf (biomass) of the tree
  3. When the leaves die they fall to the forest floor (Litter)
  4. Moist + warm conditions cause the leaf to decompose - returns nutrients to the soil
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10
Q

How do people rely on plants and animals in the tropical rainforest

A

Animals help the nutrient cycle and keep the TRF healthy

Plants produce 20% of Earth’s oxygen

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11
Q

What resources are species competing for in topical rainforests

A

Space

Sunlight

Nutrients & water

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12
Q

3 adaptations plants have made in order to cope in TRFs

A

Lianas

Drip tips

Buttress roots

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13
Q

Lianas

A

Woody vines that climb up trees to reach the sunlight

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14
Q

Buttress Roots

A

Large roots which create a large SA to support trees

Absorb more nutrients from soil

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15
Q

Drip Tips

A

Leave that have pointy tips

Water can run off leaves quickly without damaging or breaking them

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16
Q

Two animals that have adapted to the physical conditions of TRFs

A

Poison Dart Frog

Three-toed sloth

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17
Q

How has the poison dart frog adapted to the physical conditions

A

When they eat poisonous insects, they absorb the toxins in their mucus

Feet have extra-strong suction cups to climb and hold slippery branches

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18
Q

How has the three-toed sloth adapted to the physical conditions of the TRFs

A

Extra vertebrae to be able to turn neck 270* to check for predators above/below

Can swim in floods

Grown green algae in fur to camouflage

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19
Q

Socio-economic value of rainforest

A

Resources

Tribes

Energy

Employment

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20
Q

Socio-economic value of resources from the rainforest

A

Medicine - 120 prescription drugs are derived from rainforest plants

Food - fruit, nuts, spices, wild meat and fish

Minerals - gold, silver, iron ore

Fuel source - energy

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21
Q

What employment opportunities do TRFs offer

Study These Flashcards
A

Tour guides for tourists

Primary Sector - Mining, logging, farming, construction

22
Q

How do tribes value the TRF

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A

Well being and survival depend on a balanced ecosystem

23
Q

How is energy generated in TRFs

Study These Flashcards
A

High rainfall = hydroelectric power - dams and resovoirs

24
Q

Environmental value of TRFs

Study These Flashcards
A

Water

Biodiversity

Climate

Climate CHange

Soil Erosion

25
Explain the Environmental value of the Rainforest
Water - vital source of fresh water Biodiversity - 50% of the world’s animals and plants exist in TRFs Climate - 28% of the worlds xylem in from TRFs Climate change - Carbon sink Soil Erosion - Roots bind to tropical soils, reducing risk of soil erosion - reduce risk of flooding
26
What are the human threats facing Biodiversity
- Slash and burn agriculture - Mining and subsequent pollution of water supplies from toxic metals - Unsustainable timber harvesting - Development of roads and settlements
27
If biodiversity declines, what issues does this lead to?
- Indigenous tribes are unable to survive - have to abandon their traditional lifestyle - Plant & animal species become extinct - Important medical plants may be extinct
28
Why do rates of deforestation vary
Different national governments have different policies, whether they exploit TRF for resources of conserve the delicate ecology of the TRF
29
Case study of a TRF
The Amazon Rainforest
30
Location of The Amazon Rainforest
South America Covers Columbia, Peru, Brazil, Bolivia, Venezuela
31
Which direction does the amazon river flow
West to East The source starts in the west and the mouth is in the east
32
Causes of Deforestation in the Amazon
Subsistence Farming Commercial Famring Logging Road Building Illegal trade in wildlife Mineral Extraction. Settlement & population growth Energy Development
33
Subsistence farming
Farming of crops is used to maintain the farmer + families leaving little for scale or trade 3 million landless people in Brazil
34
Commercial Farming
Faring of crops and cattle for sales in markets
35
Logging
Logging is cutting trees to sell wood to companies In the Amazon only 3% of deforestation comes from logging
36
Road Building
Construction of Transamazon highway allows access to remote areas
37
Illegal trade in wildlife
Poaching and hunting Upsets the natural balance ofd the rainforest ecosystem
38
Mineral extraction
Mining means trees are cleared and top soil is removed - damages whole ecosystem The largest iron ore mine in the world is at Caracas, it is worked by 3,000 people 24 hours a day
39
Settlements and population growth
As the industry develops, it brings economic oppurtunities, people migrate to the rainforest Increase demand for homes = deforestation
40
Energy Development
High rainfall creates ideal conditions for hydroelectric power Belo Monte Dam will block a river tributary flooding of more than 40,500 HC and displacing 15,000 people
41
Issues with commercial farming
Land can only sustain cattle and crops for a short period of time before soil loses nutrients Land is cleared more regularly to ensure the source of income is stable
42
Local Impact of deforestation
Water cycle is disrupted by deforestation Less moisture is returned to atmosphere, fewer clouds and drier climate Water is a cooling system - without it the climate gets warmer
43
Regional impact of deforestation
Biodiversity loss Deforestation = loss of habitat Endangered animals and threat of extinction
44
National impact of deforestation
Decline of Indigenous tribes Threatens homes, food supply and traditional way of life Knowledge of culture is lost
45
Global impact of deforestation
Climate change CO2 is released back into the atmosphere Carbon sink to carbon source 🙁
46
Small scale forestry strategies to reducing deforestation
Selective Logging - reduces number of valuable trees cut down - takes 30 years Agroforestry - planting trees and crops together to save resources Replanting - saving seeds from original trees and replanting them - takes time
47
Global scale strategy to manage deforestation
2006 International Tropical Timber Agreement + Prevents people illegally cutting down valuable wood/trees - Often goes unnoticed because remote parts of the rainforest are unmonitored
48
Management strategy - Debt reduction
+ Encourages countries to invest in sustainable management of TRF by making it economically neutral to do so - Money might not be used correctly, reliant on HIC investments
49
Management Strategy - Ecotourism
+ Uses the ecosystem to attract tourists, Monet generated is invested in conservation projects
50
Management strategy - Education add conservation
+ Teaches people the threats on the rainforest and how to protect these vulnerable areas - May not get enough volunteers or donations
51
What natural threats facing biodiversity
- lightining - Forest fires - Floods - disease

AQA GCSE Geography (17 decks)

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