Tropical Rainforest

Question 1

what is an ecosystem?

Answer 1

An ecosystem is a system in which organisms interact with each other and with their environment

Question 2

Abiotic

Answer 2

These are non-living, such as air, water, heat, rock

Question 3

Biotic

Answer 3

These are living, such as plants, insects, and animals

Question 4

Biotic - flora and fauna

Answer 4

flora - is a plant life occurring in a particular region or time
fauna - is all animal life of any particular region or time

Question 5

food chains

Answer 5

explain the basic principles behind ecosystems, they show only one species at a particular level from where energy is transferred up to the next.

Question 6

nutrient cycle

Answer 6

Plants take in those nutrients where they are built into new organic matter.
Nutrients are taken up when animals eat plants and then return to the soil when animals die and the body is broken down by decomposers.

Question 7

litter

Answer 7

the surface layer of vegetation, which over time breaks down to become humus.

Question 8

Biomass

Answer 8

The total mass of living organisms per unit area.

Question 9

Biomes

Answer 9

A biome is a large geographical area of plant and animal group, which are adapted to the particular environment.

Question 10

distribution of tropical rainforests

Answer 10

centred along the Equator between the tropic of cancer and Capricorn. Found in South America, Africa and South-East Asia. Amazon is the worlds largest rainforest.

Question 11

rainforest nutrient cycle

Answer 11

The hot, damp conditions on the forest floor allow rapid decomposition of dead plant material. Provides nutrients that are absorbed by plant roots. High demand for nutrients by plants so nutrients stay close to the soils surface.

Question 12

climate of tropical rainforests

Answer 12

• evening temp don’t fall below 22 degree
• temps rarely rise above 32 degrees
• afternoons have heavy rainfalls
• temp drops at night with no clouds insulating

Question 13

layers of the rainforest

Answer 13

emergent - 50m
canopy - most life
under canopy - 20m
forest floor - small trees

Question 14

convectional rainfall

Answer 14

• roots of plants take up water from ground and the rain is intercepted as it falls
• rainforest heats up and water evaporates into atmosphere
• the water condenses and forms clouds to make rain

Question 15

rainforest soil profile

Answer 15

litter - decomposes in heat
top soil - decomposed organic matter and minerals
sub soil - deep due to weathering rock below
rock - weathers quickly at high temps.

Question 16

tropical rainforest

Answer 16

• centred along equator
• hot all year 25-30
• very high rainfall 200mm
• tall trees
• large biomass

Question 17

tropical grassland

Answer 17

• 5-30 north and south of equator
• warm all year 20-30
• wet and dry season
• widely spaced trees
• carnivores dominate

Question 18

hot desert

Answer 18

• along the tropic of cancer and Capricorn
• hot day cool night
• low rainfall
• lack of plants/species

Question 19

tundra

Answer 19

• 65 north and south of the equator
• cold winter cool summer
• low rainfall
• small plants in summer
• low species

Question 20

temperate forest

Answer 20

• 40-60 north of equator
• warm summers, mild winters
• variable rainfall
• deciduous trees
• animals adapt to colder climate

Question 21

adaptations to rainforest

Answer 21

sloths - camouflage to forest environment
drip tips - allows heavy rain to run off leaves easily

Question 22

logging

Answer 22

• most destruction to biodiversity
• timber harvested to create commercial items
• violent confrontation of indigenous tribes and logging companies

Question 23

agriculture

Answer 23

• large scale slash and burn of land for ranches and palm oil
• increases co2 emissions
  -river saltation and soil erosion due to exposed land
• soils infertile

Question 24

tourism

Answer 24

• mass tourism results in building of hotels in vulnerable areas
• negative relationship between government and tribes
• exposed wildlife to human disease

Question 25

benefits - raw materials

Answer 25

timber and rubber found in TRF

Question 26

benefits - water

Answer 26

prevents floods and droughts

Question 27

benefits - health

Answer 27

25% of modern medicines are sourced from TRF ingredients.

Question 28

benefits - energy

Answer 28

large dams generate 2/3 of Brazil’s energy needs through HEP.

Question 29

benefits - climate

Answer 29

acts as carbon sinks by storing 15% of carbon emissions.