TOPIC 3B: tropical rainforests 🦜🥭 Flashcards
Explain how tropical rainforests are independent ecosystems ?
Hint: abiotic and biotic characteristics
- tropical rainforests are independent ecosystems because:
- their biotic characteristics are related with their abiotic characteristics.
What’s an example, of how rainforests are independent ecosystems ?
Hint: climate, grow
- For example, the warm and wet climate [abiotic characteristic] means that plants are able to grow quickly.
- This is because, dense leaf covers provides protection from the rainfall and root systems are what hold the soil together- stoping it from being eroded.
What’s a second reason, why rainforests are interdependent ecosystems ?
Hint: so many
- [tropical] rainforests are independent ecosystems because:
- they’re so many trees in tropical rainforests.
How does having many trees in the tropical rainforest, explain why rainforests are interdependent ecosystems ? [4]
Hint: transpiration, lots of rain, adapt
- it means that transpiration [water evaporating from trees] is high therefore, the majority of this transpired water, goes straight back into the clouds above tropical rainforests.
- this then causes lots of rain= this high amount of rainfall, results in nutrients being washed away [that were in the soil]
- and because of this, plants now adapt to this- by growing shallow roots, which optimises nutrient uptake, in the top organic layer
What is the nutrient cycle ?
Hint: movement
- the nutrient cycle, is the cyclic movements of nutrients such as: calcium, potassium and magnesium within an ecosystem.
What’s the Gersmehl model ?
Hint: transfer of materials
- the Gersmehl model, shows the transfer of material between: the vegetation and animals [biomass], soil and litter [dead vegetation]
What are the three stores in an ecosystem, that the Gersmehl model shows ?
- the three stores in an ecosystem, that the Gersmehl model shows are:
- living organisms [biomass]
- dead organic material [such as fallen leaves- litter]
- and, the soil
- Fill in the gaps: In the nutrient cycle, nutrients are transferred between _____ stores
- In the nutrient cycle, nutrients are transferred between three stores
- In a nutrient cycle, what are the sizes of the circles and arrows proportional to ?
- In the nutrient cycle, the sizes of the circles and arrows are proportional, to the amount of nutrients
What’s one reason, why the transfer of nutrients, is very rapid ?
Hint: evergreen
- the transfer of nutrients is very rapid because:
- trees are evergreen, so dead leaves and other material fall all year round
What’s a second reason, why the transfer of nutrients, is very rapid ?
Hint: moist
- the warm moist climate of tropical rainforests, means that fungi and bacteria, decompose dead organic material quickly.
- this means, the nutrients released are soluble therefore, they’re soaked up the soil.
What does soluble mean ?
- soluble, means able to be dissolved in water
What’s a final reason, why the transfer of nutrients, is very rapid ?
Hint: vegetation, rapidly
- a final reason, why the transfer of nutrients is very rapid is because:
- dense vegetation and rapid plant growth, means that nutrients are rapidly taken up by plants’ roots.
What is leaching ?
Hint: minerals
- leaching, is a process where minerals are washed away by water [usually rainfall]
Why don’t nutrients in the nutrient cycle, penetrate into deeper soils ?
Hint: absorbed
- nutrients don’t penetrate into deeper soils because:
- nutrients entering the topsoil; are either quickly absorbed by plants, or washed away by the rain.
Describe the process, of nutrient cycling [4]
Hint: rapidly grow, decays, topsoil, forest floor
- vegetation and trees rapidly grow and shed leaves continuously, as conditions are favourable for plant growth.
- this vegetation decays, and decomposes rapidly- due to the hot, moist conditions [and decomposers in the system.]
- nutrients then enter the topsoil; they are either quickly absorbed by plants, or washed away by the rain.
- and finally, shallow roots take up the nutrients on the forest floor, and use them to grow.
What’s one reason, why tropical rainforests, have a high biodiversity ? [2]
Hint: around, evolve
- rainforests, have a high biodiversity because:
- rainforests have been around for long periods of time without the climate changing very much.
- this means, lots of time is provided for many plants and animals to evolve, and form new species- which is a reason why rainforests have a high biodiversity.
What’s a second reason, why tropical rainforests, have a high biodiversity ? [3]
Hint: structure, adapt, different species develop
- rainforests, have a high biodiversity because:
- the layered structure of the rainforests, means lots of habitats are provided.
- and as a result, plants and animals adapt to become highly specialised to their particular environment, and food source.
- this means lots of different species develop, therefore resulting in tropical rainforests having a high biodiversity.
What’s a final reason, why tropical rainforests, have a high biodiversity ? [3]
Hint: stable, biomass, consistent
- rainforests, have a high biodiversity because:
- rainforests are stable environments [as the climate is annually hot and wet] and they’re very productive, since plants grow continually throughout the year.
- this means, a high amount of biomass is produced because of the high rate of nutrient cycling.
- and as a result of this, animals plants have a consistent food source and don’t have to cope with changing conditions- meaning they’re able to specialise, which provides rainforests with a high biodiversity.
What are buttress roots ?
Hint: above
- buttress roots, are large, thick tree roots that grow above the ground in tropical rainforests.
How are buttress roots a plant adaptation, in the tropical rainforest’s environment ?
- buttress roots ensure trees [that can grow up to 40m high] are kept stable, without growing roots far down into the soil.
- this ensures the soil recieves enough air [as their roots are above ground]
What’s a drip tip ?
- drip tips are tapered ends of a leaf, that allows excess rainfall to quickly drip off a leaf.
- this ensures plants are not left too wet, which can cause rotting.
How are drip tips, a plant adaptation of the tropical rainforest environment ?
- drip tips are tapered ends of a leaf, that allows excess rainfall to quickly drip off a leaf.
- this means, water will run off and prevent rotting
How is leaf structure, a plant adaptation of topical rainforest environments ?
- leaf structure, is a plant adaptation of topical rainforest environments because:
- many leaves have flexible stems, that move to find light.
- this is important since the dense canopy blocks light, from reaching lower levels of the rainforest.
- Fill in the gaps: some trees have also adapted to ________ deprived, water-logged soils by growing large [buttress roots] above ______
- some trees have also adapted to nutrient deprived, water-logged soils by growing large [buttress roots] above ground.
