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GCSE Geography > Topic 8: Forests under Threat > Flashcards

Topic 8: Forests under Threat Flashcards

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1
Q

What type of ecosystem is a Tropical Rainforest?

A

Interdependent - biotic and abiotic components are closely related, if one changes, the others are affected too. Eg:

  • warm/wet climate means plants grow quickly
  • dense leaf cover protects forest floor from wind & heavy rainfall
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2
Q

Describe the structure of Tropical rainforests

A

Stratified - affects how much sunlight can reach different levels of vegetation

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3
Q

Layers of the Tropical rainforest

A

______________ 40m

Emergents
______________ 30m

Main canopy
______________ 20m

Undercanopy
______________ 10m

Shrub layer
______________

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4
Q

Features of the Shrub layer

A
  • Nearest to the ground where its quite dark
  • Shrubs have large, broad leaves to absorb as much of the available light as they can
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5
Q

Features of the Undercanopy

A
  • Made up of younger trees that are yet to reach their full height
  • Can only survive where there are breaks in the canopy to let some light through
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6
Q

Features of the Main canopy

A
  • Continuous layer of trees
  • Like emrgents, they only have leaves at the top
  • Dense layer of leaves shades the rest of the forest
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7
Q

Features of the Emergents

A
  • Tallest trees, which poke out of the main canopy layer
  • They have straight trunks & only have branches & leaves at the top where they can get light
  • Also have big, wide roots called buttress roots to support trunks
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8
Q

Other adaptations of plants

A
  • Plants have pointed tips (drip-tips) that channel the water to a point so it runs off, that way the weight of the water doesnt damage the plant, and theres no water for fungi & bacteria to grow in.
  • Plants have thick, waxy leaves - waxy coating to repel rain
  • Many trees have smooth, thin bark as no need to protect the trunk from cold temperatures - smoothness allows water to run off easily
  • Climbing plants, such as lianas, use the tree trunks to climb up to sunlight
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9
Q

How are animals adapted to conditions in Tropical rainforests?

A
  • Some have strong limbs so they can spend all day climbing & leaping from tree to tree
  • Some are camouflaged to hide from predators
  • Many are nocturnal
  • Adapted to low light levels on forest floor (enhanced senses)
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10
Q

3 ways nutrients are stored in the Tropical rainforests

A
  • Living organisms (biomass)
  • Dead organic material (litter)
  • Soil
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11
Q

Why do nutrients transfer rapidly in Tropical rainforests

A
  • Trees are evergreen, so dead leaves & other material fall all year round
  • Warm, moist climate means fungi & bacteria decompose dead organic matter quickly. Nutrients released are soluble and soaked up by soil
  • Dense vegetation & rapid plant growth means nutrients are rapidly taken up by plants’ roots
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12
Q

What is biodiversity?

A

The variety of organisms (biotic & abiotic) living in a particular area

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13
Q

What is the biodiversity like in Tropical rainforests?

A

Extremely high - they contain 50% of the world’s plant, animal & insect species, & may contain ariund half of all life on Earth

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14
Q

Why do Tropical rainforests have high biodiversity?

A
  • The biome has been around for a very long time without the climate changing very much, so theres been lots of time for plants & animal to evolve to form new species
  • Layered structure provides lots of different habitats, plants/animals able to adapt so lots of species develop
  • Rainforests are stable environments - hot & wet all year round
  • They are very productive due to high rate of nutrient cycling
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15
Q

Why are food webs in Tropical rainforests complex?

A
  • There are so many different types of species so lots of links
  • Some animals can be both primary & secondary consumers
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16
Q

Describe how food chains work

A

Always start with a PRODUCER (producers make their own food using energy from the sun)
–>
Producers eaten by PRIMARY CONSUMERS (eg. bats, insects)
–>
Primary consumers eaten by SECONDARY CONSUMERS (eg. snakes)
–>
Secondary consumers eaten by TERTIARY CONSUMERS (eg. crocodiles, jaguars)

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17
Q

Reasons for deforestation in Tropical rainforests (7)

A

Local demand for fuel wood - locals cut down trees to use for fuel to cook, etc
Mineral resource - gold, copper, iron ore found in TRF. Mining methods are destructive
HEP - many TRF’s have large rivers, building dams for HEP floods areas behind dams
Commercial hardwood logging - trees are felled to make furniture/construction
Commercial farming - forests cleared for space for cattle grazing or huge plantations
Subsistence farming - forests cleared so farmers can grow food for themselves
Demand for biofuels - fuels made from plants, trees cut down to make space for these plants

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18
Q

Environmental impacts of deforestation

A
  • With no trees to hold soil together, heavy rainfall washes it away (soil erosion) - can lead to landslides & flooding
  • Wihout tree canopy to intercept rainfall & tree roots to absorb it, more water reaches soil - reduces soil fertility as nutrients in soil are washed away, out of reach of plants
  • Trees remove CO2 from atmosphere. Also, burning trees produces CO2 - adds to greenhouse effect
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19
Q

What are direct threats?

A

Involves deliberate, explicit actions that cause damage (eg. deforestation)

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20
Q

What are indirect threats?

A

Factors that dont involve deliberately cutting down trees but still leads to damage to environment. (eg. climate change)

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21
Q

How is climate change a threat to Tropical rainforests?

A

In some areas, temperature is increasing & rainfall is increasing, which leads to drought:
- plants & animals are adapted to moist conditions, so many species die in dry weather. Frequent or long periods of drought can lead to extinction of some species
- droughts can also lead to forest fires, destroying large areas of forest

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22
Q

Why are deforestation rates rising in some areas?

A

Poverty - population growth & poverty mean there are many more small-scale subsistence farmers

Foreign debt - there is a huge market for goods from TRFs, so its an easy way for poor countries to make money to pay back debts to richer countries

Economic development - road & rail projects to promote development open up areas of TRF to logging, mining, farming.

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23
Q

Why are some countries reducing deforestation?

A

Government policies - some governments are investing in ecotourism & pay landowners to reforest areas leading to forest cover increasing

International condemnation - puts pressure on companies by naming & shaming those involved in deforestation

Monitoring systems - systems provide satellite data to track forest loss, meaning authorities can act more quickly to stop illegal logging, etc.

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24
Q

Name 2 global actions that protect Tropical rainforests

A
  • REDD
  • CITES
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25
Q

What is REDD?

A

Reduced Emissions from Deforestation & forest Degradation is a scheme that aims to reward owners in poorer countries for keeping forests instead of cutting them down

26
Q

Advantages of REDD

A
  • Deals with the cause of climate change as well as direct impacts of deforestation
  • Forest is protected so remains a habitat for species - biodiversity is not lost
  • Everyone benefits from reducing emissions & its a relatively cheap option for doing so
27
Q

Disadvantages of REDD

A
  • Deforestation may continue in another area
  • Aspects of REDD are not clear, meaning it may be possible to cut down rainforests, but still recieve the rewards if they are replaced with other types of forest
  • Preventing activities, eg. agriculture & mining, may affect local communities who depend on income from them
28
Q

What is CITES?

A

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna & Flora is an agreement to tightly control trade in wild animals & plants

29
Q

Advantages of CITES

A
  • The issue is tackled at a global level - trade of endangered species is controlled worldwide
  • Encourages sharing of info about wildlife trade between countries, raising awareness of threats to biodiversity
  • Helps different sectors work together
30
Q

Disadvantages of CITES

A
  • Although individual species are protected from poaching, it doesnt protect their habitat - could still go extinct
  • Some rules unclear, eg. trade of ivory
  • Not all countries are members - some countries even promote trade of materials from endangered species
31
Q

What is sustainable forest management?

A

When a forest is used in a way that prevents long-term damage, whilst allowing people to benefit from the resources it provides in the present & future

32
Q

What techniques are included in sustainable forest management?

A
  • Selective logging (only certain trees removed rather than large areas)
  • Replanting (trees that have been removed are replaced)
33
Q

Economic challenges of sustainable forest management

A
  • The economic benefits of sustainable management are only seen in long-term - affects poorer countries who need income immediately
  • Sustainable forestry is usually more expensive, so it can be difficult to persuade private companies to adopt these methods
  • Many sustainable forestry schemes are funded by government departments and NGOs. If priorities of these organisations change, funding could stop quickly
34
Q

Environmental challenges of sustainable forest management

A
  • If trees are replanted, the new forest may not resemble the natural forest. Trees are replaced but entire ecosystem may not be restored
  • Trees that are replanted for logging in the future can be very slow growing - companies may chop down natural forest whilst waiting for the new trees to mature
  • Even selective logging can damage lots of trees in the process of removing the target trees
35
Q

Social challenges of sustainable forest managament

A
  • Generally provides fewer jobs for local people than conventional forestry, so many locals wont see the benefits. Some may turn to illegal logging, which is difficult to police
  • If population of a forest area increases, deman for wood & land from forest increases. Sustainable forestry is unlikely to provide enough resources to match increasing demand
36
Q

How is Ecotourism a good alternative for protecting the TRF

A
  • Only a small no. of visitors are allowed into an area at a time. Environmental impacts are minimised such as ensuring waste & litter are disposed of properly to prevent land/water contamination
  • Provides source of income for local people. Can also raide awareness of conservation issues & bring in more money for rainforest conservation
  • If local people employed, they dont need to log or farm to make money, meaning fewer trees are cut down
37
Q

How is Sustainable Farming a good alternative for protecting the TRF

A

Techniques protect the soil socland remains productive - no need to clear new land every few years:

Agro-forestry - trees & crops planted at same time, so that the tree roots bind the soil & leaves protect it from heavy rain

Green manure - plants which add nutrients to soil as they grow planted to maintain soil fertility

Crop rotation - crops are moved between different fields each year with one left empty, so soil has time to recover

38
Q

What type of ecosystem are Taiga forests?

A

Interdependent - all parts of taiga forests are dependent on one another. Eg:

  • Plants gain nutrients from soil, & provide nutrients to animals that eat them. In turn, animals spread seeds through their dung, helping plants reproduce
  • In summer, trees absorb heat from sun & shade the ground below, preventing permafrost from thawing. The permafrost provides water for plants
39
Q

How are trees adapted to survive in Taiga forests?

A
  • Evergreen (dont drop leaves in particular season), so they can make best use of the available light
  • Needles instead of flat leaves - reduces water loss from strong, cold winds as it reduces the SA
  • Cone-shaped, meaning heavy winter snowfall can slide off branches without breaking them
40
Q

How are animals adapted to survive in Taiga forests?

A
  • Many larger mammals (eg. Caribou) are migratory, move long distances through forest to find food
  • Many animals are well-insulated against winter cold (eg. Wolves have thick fur)
  • Some animals hibernate to conserve energy & survive winter
  • Some have white coats in winter to camouflage - helps hide from predators or sneak up on prey
41
Q

Describe nutrient cycling in Taiga forests

A

The cold, dry climate means nutrient cycling is much slower in taiga forests than TRFs.

  • Despite constant leaf fall, low temperatures means it takes a long time for the litter to be decomposed & added to the soil - so soil isnt very fertile
  • The cold climate also means plants grow slowly - rate of transfer of nutrients from soil to plants is low
42
Q

Describe the biodiversity of Taiga forests

A

Much lower biodiversity than TRFs. Many areas of forest cintsin only a single type of tree.

43
Q

Why is the biodiversity of Taiga forests so low?

A
  • The land was much colder & covered by ice until around 15,000yrs ago - species have had little time to adapt to current climate
  • The simple structure means there arent many different habitats - so fewer variety of species
  • Much les productive than TRFs: plants grow slowly, so theres less biomass, nutrients take a long time to be returned to soil due to the cold
  • The growing season is very short - meaning not much food available, so constant struggle for survival
44
Q

Reasons why Taiga forests are exploited (5)

A

Logging for softwood - trees cut down to be made into housing, furniture
Fossil fuels - trees cleared to extract gas & oil from ground. Eg. Tar sands: earth containing a thick, black oil which can be processed into fossil fuels found beneath Taiga forests (eg. Canada). Extraction of tar sands involves open pit mining or strip mining, leading to large-scale deforestation.
Pulp & paper production - felled trees are mashed into a pulp & used to make paper
HEP - dams to generate HEP from rivers in Taiga forests flood large areas of land
Exploitation of minerals - many Taiga forests are rich in minerals (eg. gold, copper, iron ore). Trees cut down for mines & access roads

45
Q

What are 3 causes for loss of biodiversity in Taiga forests?

A
  • Acid precipitation
  • Pests & diseases
  • Forest fires
46
Q

How does acid precipitation cause loss of biodiversity in Taiga forests?

A

Burning fossil fuels releases gases ( such as sulfure dioxide & nitrogen oxides). These dissolve in water in the atmosphere to form acids that are deposited on plants & soils when it rains/snows

  • Damages plants’ leaves & makes it harder for them to cope with cold.
  • Can make soils too acidic to support growth
  • Kills organisms in lakes & streams
47
Q

How do Pests & diseases cause loss of biodiversity?

A
  • Many pests & diseases are specific to one species. As there is often a single tree species in a particular area in Taiga forests, its easy for the pests & diseases to spread & multiply, causing lots of damage
  • Its thought that warming caused by climate change is making it easier for pests & disease-causing pathogens to survive - new pests & diseases are arriving increasinf frequency of attack
48
Q

How do forest fires cause loss of biodiversity?

A

Wildfires are a natural part of the ecosystem - allow new growth & regenerate the forest. However, climate change leads to warmer, drier conditions in Taiga forests, increasing frequency of fires

  • Can destroy huge areas of trees & may change distribution of species as some species are better at recolonising burnt areas
  • May also break up forests into smaller sections, making it hard for migratory animals that need lots of space to find enough food
49
Q

How can Taiga forests be conserved? (3)

A
  • Creating a Wilderness area
  • Creating a National park
  • Sustainable forestry
50
Q

How does creating a Wilderness area conserve Taiga forests?

A

Creating an area that is undisturbed by human activity that is managed with the aim of protecting landscape

51
Q

Advantages of creating a Wilderness area for conserving Taiga forests

A
  • Has highest level of protection - most human activity is banned so area is kept as pristine as possible
  • Usually covers a large area so large-scale processes can still take place eg. Animal migration
52
Q

Disadvantages of creating a Wilderness area for conserving Taiga forests

A
  • The large, remote areas are hard to police
  • There is economic pressure on governments from logging, mining & energy companies who want to use the resources
  • Pressure from companies & tourists to build roads to allow greater access
53
Q

How does creating a National park conserve Taiga forests?

A

Creating an area that is mostly in its natural state that is managed to protect biodiversity & promote recreation

54
Q

Advantages of creating a National park for conserving Taiga forests

A
  • Can protect particular endangered species
  • Covers large area
  • Unsustainable human acitivity such as logging & mining is not permitted
  • Good access for tourists & recreational users
55
Q

Disadvantages of creating a National park for conserving Taiga forests

A
  • Must take into account the needs of idigenous communities, who may use the land for hunting
  • Tourism may be required to pay for conservation, but access roads, infrastructure & pollution from tourists can harm ecosystem
56
Q

How does Sustainable forestry conserve Taiga forests?

A

Creating ways of harvesting the timber from forests without damaging it in the long-term

57
Q

Advantages of Sustainable forestry for conserving Taiga forests

A
  • Limits can be placed on no. of trees felled or size of clear-cut areas to allow forests to regenerate
  • Companies may be required to regenerate the area after logging
  • Selective logging means some trees remain to become part of the new forest
58
Q

Disadvantages of Sustainable forestry for conserving Taiga forests

A
  • Some countries struggle to enforce the restrictions eg. Russia, lots of illegal logging takes place
  • There may be lack of clear management or info about the ecosystem
  • Different groups may not agree with the rules & restrictions eg. Indigenous people, loggers, environmentalists.
59
Q

Reasons why Taiga forests should be protected

A
  • Taiga forests store lots of carbon - deforestation releases this as CO2 causing global warming
  • Some species are only found in Taiga forests. Because they are adapted to the conditions, destruction of the habitat could lead to their extinction
  • Many indigenous people depend on the forest for their traditional way of life
60
Q

Reasons why Taiga forests should be exploited

A
  • Demand for resources is increasing - people need the wood, fuel & minerals it provides
  • Forest industries (eg. Logging & mining) provide lots of jobs (eg. Forestry & logging employ 25,000 people in Canada)
  • Exploitation of the forest generates lots of wealth for countries involved (eg. Forest industry in Sweden is worth $15 billion each year)

GCSE Geography (10 decks)

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