Topic 8 - Forests Under Threat

Question 1

What are the 3 stores in a nutrient cycle?

Answer 1

• Soil (S)
• Litter (L)
• Biomass (B)

Question 2

Where is the TRF located?

Answer 2

• Located in a zone 20 degrees north/south of the equator.

Question 3

How do size and amount of nutrients transferred differ?

Answer 3

• Size of stores and nutrients transferred from store to store differs according to the ecosystem.

Question 4

Explain an adaptation of a rainforest trees’ leaf.

Answer 4

‘Drip - Tip’ leaves. Water runs off them quickly to prevent moss and algae growth, which would block off the sunlight.

Question 5

Explain another adaptation of rainforest trees.

Answer 5

Buttress roots. As nutrients are concentrated on the top level of the soil, these trees only need shallow roots. A buttress root keeps the trunk upright.

Question 6

Explain an adaptation for any animal in the TRF.

Answer 6

Monkeys have strong hand and feet grip. Long prehensile tails for balance.

Question 7

Explain an adaptation for an eagle.

Answer 7

Powerful legs and clawed talons to grab monkeys.

Question 8

Explain the distribution of the taiga biome.

Answer 8

• Stretches from 50 - 70 degrees north.
• Climate is the subarctic climate.
• Stretches across north of Asia and America.

Question 9

Explain the flow of nutrients in the nutrient cycle of the taiga.

Answer 9

• Litter store is the biggest store.
• Biomass and soil stores are low.
• Little transfers of nutrients between stores.

Question 10

Explain a plant adaptation in the taiga.

Answer 10

Taiga trees have needle-shaped leaves.

• Small surface area, so less water is lost.
• Dark green to absorb sunlight.
• Little sap so they can operate in cold conditions.

Question 10

Explain an animal adaptation in the taiga.

Answer 10

• Thick fur coats for insulation.
• Hibernation. Building up fat reserves and entering a sleep state.
• Winter camouflage to stay hidden from predators in the white snow.

Question 11

Describe 2 ways in which food webs in the TRF and Taiga are different [4]

Answer 11

TRF:
1. They have complex food webs due to high biodiversity [1]
2. TRF’s have different layers, (e.g. canopy layer). Each act as an ecosystem [1]

Taiga
1. Food webs are simpler than the TRF’s due to less biodiversity [1]
2. Taiga forest do not have layers of forest due to little tree growth [1]

Question 12

Give 5 causes of deforestation in the TRF [5]

Answer 12

1. Land for farming
2. Demand
3. Corruption
4. Clearing areas for mining
5. People in Poverty

Question 13

Explain 3 reasons why there has been an increase in deforestation [6]

Answer 13

1. A high demand means more money is earned for wood [1], therefore more is harvested to earn more money [1]
2. Food demand may increase in local areas [1] therefore trees are cut to clear farmland. [1]
3. More ores may be needed for industrialisation [1], therefore trees are cut to make space for mining [1]

Question 14

Explain 2 reasons why climate change will affect the TRF [4]

Answer 14

Drier conditions can cause plants to die out [1] therefore placing stress on TRF ecosystems [1]

New bacteria/diseases are introduced due to increase in temp. [1] therefore killing and destroying TRF ecosystems [1]

Question 15

Give an example of a direct and indirect threat to the taiga [2]

Explain how these are direct or indirect threats [2]

Answer 15

Direct - Logging of forests [1] as it removes trees, affecting ecosystems [1]
Indirect - Oil and gas extraction [1] as damage can occur via side effects, such as oil spills [1]

Question 16

State 3 other threats to taiga biodiversity [3]

Answer 16

Acid rain [1]
Forest fires [1]
Pests and diseases [1]

Question 17

Assess the severity of the threats to the Taiga biome [8]

Answer in bulletpoints only. Remember Least - Medium - Most severity.

Answer 17

Least severity
* Pests and diseases [1]
* as these can spread quite quickly to other plants, therefore quickly killing them [1].
* However, can easily be prevent by maintainance of taiga biomes and using pest spray [1]

Medium severity
* Acid rain [1]
* Acid rain can damage soils by killing microbes, preventing nutrients getting to the soil [1]
* However this can be reduced by reducing greenhouse gas emissions [1]

Most severity
* Forest fires [1]
* These are becoming more frequent, therefore not allowing trees to regrow after they are burnt [1]
* However the ashes of trees provide good nutrients for soils/plants [1]

Question 18

Give an advantage and disadvantage of the work of CITES and REDD [4]

Answer 18

CITES:
1. Very large international influence (180 countries) [1]
2. CITES cannot effectively monitor all 180 countries [1]

REDD:
1. Provides expertise to tackle deforestation [1]
2. Deforestation still rapid in Asia for REDD countries [1]

Question 19

Explain 1 challenge of rainforest management [2]

Answer 19

If large funds are not provided to the organization, [1] this means they will not be able to enforce management effectively [1]

Question 20

State and describe 3 challenges facing protected areas of the taiga [3]

Answer 20

1. Migration, as migrating species cannot be protected [1]
2. Money, as oil and gas are extracted for profits by other countries [1]
3. Pollution, as the taiga is easily damaged by pollution [1]

Question 21

Give and describe 2 conflicting views on how the taiga should be used [4]

Answer 21

Forestry [1] by logging for timber for construction [1].
Mining [1] by clearing forests and making money from ores. [1]