Tropical Forests Under Threat Flashcards
What are epiphytes
Plants that grow on other plants in the tropical rainforest to get access to light and are dependent on rainfall to provide nutirents and water.
What does it mean that tropical forests are stratified
They have layered strucutre
Different layers of trees levels:
Emergents - (40/30 m) have straight trunks and only have branches and leaves on top. Have big roots called “buttress roots”
Main canopy - (30/20 m) is a continuous layer of trees. Dense layer shades rest of forest.
Undercanopy - (10/20m) made of younger trees not yet reached there fall height.
Shrib layer - (10/0m) nearest ground, shrubs have large, broad leaves to absorb as much sunlight as possible
Plants adaptations in rainforest
- Plants have thick, waxy leaves with pointy tips (drip-tips). It channels water to a point so is runs off so the water weight doesn’t damage the plant. It also helps prevent the build up of mold (no standing fungi or bacteria).
- many trees have smooth, thin bark as there is no need to protect tree from cold temps. The smooth surface allows run off easily.
- climbing plants such as LIANAS use tree trunks to climb
- leaves fall all year round for growth
Animals adpated for canopy
Many animals have strong limbs so that they can spend all day climbing and leaping from trees e.g. howler monkeys. Some have con tails for balance or longs fingers and toes. Some animals even have flaps of skin to glide or sunction cups
Animals adaptation to temps in tropical forest
Many animals are noctonal as the night is much cooler, this helps them save energy. Some animals are adapted to lowlight, such as sharp senses of hearing to detect predators or prey
Animals adpatation to water in tropical forest
Many animals can swim in the rainforest, as well as having large serface area feet so they din’t sink into the muddy ground. Many mamals can also swim
How are nutriesnts stored in the TRF (tropical rainforest)
- biomass (living organims)
- dead organic material
- soil
How do rainforests have complex food chains
There are so many different species that there are loads of links with some animals being both primary and secondary consumers.
Tropical rainforest direct threat of commercial farming
Forest is cleared to make space for cattle grazing, or for huge palm oil or soya plantations
Tropical rainforest direct threat of logging
Trees are felled to make furniture and for constuction. Road building for logging also requires more tree clearence
Tropical rainforest direct threat of subsistence farming
Forest is cleared so farmers can grow food for themselves and their families.
Tropical rainforest direct threat of minerals
Minerals are often found in tropical rainforest. Exlposives are sometimes used to clear earth or deep pits are dug to reach the deposits.
Tropical rainforest direct threat of biofuels
Fules from plants requires large amounts of land (trees being cut down) to grow
Tropical rainforest direct threat of HEP
Many tropical rainforests have large rivers. Building dams to generate hpe floods large areas of forest
