Topic 8 - Forests Under Threat Flashcards
What are the 3 stores in a nutrient cycle?
- Soil (S)
- Litter (L)
- Biomass (B)
Where is the TRF located?
- Located in a zone 20 degrees north/south of the equator.
How do size and amount of nutrients transferred differ?
- Size of stores and nutrients transferred from store to store differs according to the ecosystem.
Explain an adaptation of a rainforest trees’ leaf.
‘Drip - Tip’ leaves. Water runs off them quickly to prevent moss and algae growth, which would block off the sunlight.
Explain another adaptation of rainforest trees.
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.
Explain an adaptation for any animal in the TRF.
Monkeys have strong hand and feet grip. Long prehensile tails for balance.
Explain an adaptation for an eagle.
Powerful legs and clawed talons to grab monkeys.
Explain the distribution of the taiga biome.
- Stretches from 50 - 70 degrees north.
- Climate is the subarctic climate.
- Stretches across north of Asia and America.
Explain the flow of nutrients in the nutrient cycle of the taiga.
- Litter store is the biggest store.
- Biomass and soil stores are low.
- Little transfers of nutrients between stores.
Explain a plant adaptation in the taiga.
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.
Explain an animal adaptation in the taiga.
- 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.
Describe 2 ways in which food webs in the TRF and Taiga are different [4]
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]
Give 5 causes of deforestation in the TRF [5]
- Land for farming
- Demand
- Corruption
- Clearing areas for mining
- People in Poverty
Explain 3 reasons why there has been an increase in deforestation [6]
- A high demand means more money is earned for wood [1], therefore more is harvested to earn more money [1]
- Food demand may increase in local areas [1] therefore trees are cut to clear farmland. [1]
- More ores may be needed for industrialisation [1], therefore trees are cut to make space for mining [1]
Explain 2 reasons why climate change will affect the TRF [4]
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]
Give an example of a direct and indirect threat to the taiga [2]
Explain how these are direct or indirect threats [2]
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]
State 3 other threats to taiga biodiversity [3]
Acid rain [1]
Forest fires [1]
Pests and diseases [1]
Assess the severity of the threats to the Taiga biome [8]
Answer in bulletpoints only. Remember Least - Medium - Most severity.
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]
Give an advantage and disadvantage of the work of CITES and REDD [4]
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]
Explain 1 challenge of rainforest management [2]
If large funds are not provided to the organization, [1] this means they will not be able to enforce management effectively [1]
State and describe 3 challenges facing protected areas of the taiga [3]
- Migration, as migrating species cannot be protected [1]
- Money, as oil and gas are extracted for profits by other countries [1]
- Pollution, as the taiga is easily damaged by pollution [1]
Give and describe 2 conflicting views on how the taiga should be used [4]
Forestry [1] by logging for timber for construction [1].
Mining [1] by clearing forests and making money from ores. [1]
