TOPIC 3B: tropical rainforests 🦜🥭

Question 1

How does climate change, present a threat to the structure of tropical rainforests ?

Hint: drier

Answer 1

• structure- drier conditions can slow down the process of decomposition- this slows down the biomass store
• this is because prolonged droughts can dry out the forest floor, killing decomposers and altering the nutrient cycle

Question 2

How does climate change, present a threat to the functioning of tropical rainforests ?

Hint: cloud

Answer 2

• longer periods of drier conditions could stop cloud functioning

Question 3

How does climate change, present a threat to the biodiversity of tropical rainforests ?

Hint: milder

Answer 3

• an effect of climate change is milder winters, which can threaten species as pests survive- causing a rise in diseases.

Question 4

• Fill in the gaps: the _______ of climate change, also mean that flowering and ________ patterns may alter.
• this affects species that rely on these ______, and carnivores that then rely on those species.

Answer 4

• the effects of climate change, also mean that flowering and fruiting patterns may alter.
• this affects species that rely on these plants, and carnivores that then rely on those species.

Question 5

What is deforestation ?

Answer 5

• deforestation, is the permanent and usually large scale removal, of trees

Question 6

What is a social cause of deforestation ?

Answer 6

• population pressure, is a social cause of deforestation because an increase in the number of people in a population, means deforestation increases- to make resources for the increased population.

Question 7

What are the economic impacts of deforestation ?

Answer 7

• the economic impacts of deforestation are:
• conversion to agriculture meaning: subsistence farming and commercial farming
• and, resource extraction [including: logging and mineral extraction]

Question 8

How is subsistence farming, an economic impact of deforestation ?

Hint: growing surlpus food

Answer 8

• subsistence farming- subsistence farming, is when farmers only produce enough food for themselves and their families to eat, rather than growing surplus food for profit.
• this can cause deforestation because, poor farmers occupy plots of the forest to grow food; this means land [and therefore trees] in tropical rainforests is cleared using the slash and burn techniquel

Question 9

What is subsistence farming ?

Answer 9

• subsistence farming, is when farmers only produce enough food for themselves and their families to eat, rather than growing surplus food for profit.

Question 10

What is commercial farming ?

Answer 10

• commercial farming- commercial farming, is agriculture with the direct intention of making profit from produce

Question 11

How is commercial farming, an economic impact of deforestation ?

Answer 11

• commercial farming is an economic cause of deforestation since, commercial farming is a huge contributor to tropical deforestation.
• this is because, [large] areas of land are cleared to make space for plantations or cattle ranches for beef production.

Question 12

How is resource extraction, an economic cause of deforestation

Hints: sold as timber

Answer 12

• logging- logging, is the process of cutting down trees for wood which is then sold as timber or processed into other products.
• logging is a form of resource extraction because in clear felling, all the trees in an area are cut down- meaning, this method of deforestation destroys habitats and disrupts vegetation.

Question 13

How is mineral [resource] extraction, an economic cause of deforestation ?

Answer 13

• mineral extraction- because areas of the tropical rainforest have a vast resource of minerals such as gemstones and fossil fuels, these are extracted by mining or drilling.
• this is a form of resource extraction [which is an economic cause of deforestation] because, large areas of land has to be cleared to create space for mines- causing the deterioration of the tropical rainforest environment.

Question 14

How is population pressure, a social cause of deforestation ?

Answer 14

• population pressure is a social cause of deforestation because as the population in an area increases, trees are cleared to make land for new settlements.

Question 15

What’s an example, of population pressure in tropical rainforests ?

Answer 15

• for example in the Brazilian tropical rainforest- Parauapebas [which is an iron ore mining town] has rapidly grown to population pressure.
• this means, large areas of the tropical rainforest is destroyed and replaced with shanty towns.