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Geography > Topic 8 - Forests Under Threat > Flashcards

Topic 8 - Forests Under Threat Flashcards

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1
Q

Where are Tropical Rainforests located?

A

Around the equator
Low pressure - rises - ccc - rain
But also hot due to the the sun straight overhead

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2
Q

Tropical rainforest structure

A 
Shrub layer
- forest floor
- few plants
Under canopy
- densest layer
Canopy
- tree reaches 35m 
- uneven
Emergents
- individual trees
- 50m high
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3
Q

Plant adaptations

A

Drip tip leaves:
Thick, waxy leaves with drip tips
Shed water quickly to prevent leaves rotting

Butteress roots:
Tall slender trunks
No branches
Triangular roots
Support enormous weight of the trees
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4
Q

Animal adaptations:

A

Sloths:
Huge claws to hang from branches
Camouflage
Fur grows away from feet to help shield rain
Big cats:
Camouflaged fur
Dark and light fur patches blend with shade and sunlight on the floor

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5
Q

Nutrient cycle has 3 stores

A

Soil
Litter
Biomass
Rapid because of the hot, damp weather

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6
Q

Two ways nutrients can enter the soil

A

Decomposition

Rock weathering

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7
Q

Which are the two smaller stores and why

A

Litter and soil

Because they have 2 ways the nutrients can be lost

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8
Q

Consumer

A

Something that eats something

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9
Q

Producer

A

Plants

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10
Q

Herbivores

A

Plant eaters

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11
Q

Carnivores

A

Meat eaters

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12
Q

Decomposer

A

Dead things

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13
Q

Tropical rainforests have complex web systems - why?

A

Because most animals are quite selective about what they eat

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14
Q

Deforestation

A

The deliberate cutting down of forests to exploit forest resources

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15
Q

Forest lost causes

Direct threats

A

Poverty, resource demand, debt, economic development

Mineral exploitation’s, HEP, biofuels

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16
Q

Forest lost causes

Indirect threats

A

Climate change causing temperatures to rise

Climate change causing climate stress (extreme droughts)

17
Q

Why we should manage the rainforest

A

Manage CO2 levels
Cash crops
To get medicine ingredients
Climate stress

18
Q

How to preserve the tropical rainforest

A

Forest regeneration - preserve older trees
Scientists - monitor areas
Ecotourism - know all materials are local
Shifting cultivation - slash and burn
Selective Logging

19
Q

CITES

A

The convention on international trade in endangered species is an international treaty
Positives: many countries have signed up
Wide variety of protected species
Negatives: species have to be under threat to get ‘on the list’
Protects species not ecosystems- does not prevent deforestation

20
Q

REDD

A

Purpose is to stop deforestation
Positives: sustainable management of forests
Negatives: offsetting is an easy way for developed countries to appear to reduce their CO2 pollution, without actually reducing it

21
Q

Local scale sustainability of rainforests

A

Costa Rica
Small scale farming and forestry
Positives: tourist attraction - income
Negatives: only small scale

22
Q

Taiga biome

A 
North of the Tropic of Cancer
Climate is cool and dry
Short summers = 10°
Long winters = -20°
Snow
Few animals
Evergreen coniferous trees
23
Q

Animal and plant adaptations in the taiga biome

A

Coniferous forest
Cone shaped - helps shed winter snow
Needles - prevented by a waxy coating which prevents damage by frost and limits water loss during dry periods
Tree roots are shallow - to avoid the frozen ground below
Branches - flexible and bend downwards to shed winter snow and not break

24
Q

Yellow rumpled warbler

A

During winter - disperse in loose flocks

Sing from the high canopy of trees

25
Q

Arctic ground squirrel

A

Huddled in an underground burrow for 7 to 8 months

Body temperature drops and all metabolic functions slow way down

26
Q

Difference between the nutrient stores in the taiga and rainforest biome

A

Taiga Rainforest
•slow nutrient cycle •fast nutrient cycle
•big litter store •small litter store
•small biomes •large biomes

27
Q

Wildfire

A

Uncontrolled burning through a forest, gras,lands or scrub
Thick carpet of pine needles is perfect to help start a fire
Summer storms generate lightening strikes
Coniferous trees contains sticky resin, which burns easily
Positives of fire: allows forest to regenerate
Negatives of fire: fire tolerant species begin to dominate reducing biodiversity

28
Q

Pests

A

A plant, animal or disease introduced from one area to another which causes ecosystem damage
Negatives: reduce commercial value of the forest
Change the landscape from more dense trees to fewer trees
Example: white pine blister rust
A fungal disease that attacks white pine trees

29
Q

Acid rain

A

Negatives: makes lakes and wetlands so acidic gah Trisha and aquatic planets die
Damages needles and their ability to photosynthesise
Damaged souls contain less calcium and magnesium (these are essential plant nutrients)

30
Q

Future for fires, pests and acid rain

A

Fires - global warming will mean drier and warmer conditions and therefore the frequency of fires will increase
Pests - warming by climate change is making it easier for pests and disease to attack
Acid rain - more fossil fuels = more burning = more acid rain

31
Q

Conserving taiga biomes

For

A

Environmentalist, many indigenous groups, many scientists

  • taiga is one of the last untouched biomes
  • the forests are vital global carbon sinks to help combat global warming
  • culturally important
  • exploitation causes deforestation, degradation and pollution
32
Q

Conserving taiga biomes

Against

A

Businesses, government, local and some residents

  • Brings jobs and income
  • resources can be exported, boosting national GDP
  • exploitation affects only a tiny fraction of the vast biome
  • some exploitation is renewable e.g. HEP
33
Q

RAMSAR sites and work heritage sites

A

Give areas of global importance to give them an extra level of protection
However protecting them from threats of global warming and illegal deforestation, mining and hunting is difficult

34
Q

National parks

A

These areas prevent commercial development of the taiga within their boundaries
Aim to preserve the taiga ecosystems and biodiversity

Often parks and protected wilderness areas are not big enough

35
Q

Sustainable forestry

A

Trees that are cut down are replanted with native taiga species
The whole forest is carefully managed so that biodiversity is not damaged
Allow the migration of animals

Very expensive
Only for large companies
Long term planning

36
Q

Selective logging

A

Only removes large, vulnerable trees and leaves some of the forest intact

Geography (7 decks)

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