Tropical Rainforest Flashcards
what is an ecosystem?
An ecosystem is a system in which organisms interact with each other and with their environment
Abiotic
These are non-living, such as air, water, heat, rock
Biotic
These are living, such as plants, insects, and animals
Biotic - flora and fauna
flora - is a plant life occurring in a particular region or time
fauna - is all animal life of any particular region or time
food chains
explain the basic principles behind ecosystems, they show only one species at a particular level from where energy is transferred up to the next.
nutrient cycle
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.
litter
the surface layer of vegetation, which over time breaks down to become humus.
Biomass
The total mass of living organisms per unit area.
Biomes
A biome is a large geographical area of plant and animal group, which are adapted to the particular environment.
distribution of tropical rainforests
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.
rainforest nutrient cycle
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.
climate of tropical rainforests
- 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
layers of the rainforest
emergent - 50m
canopy - most life
under canopy - 20m
forest floor - small trees
convectional rainfall
- 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
rainforest soil profile
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.
tropical rainforest
- centred along equator
- hot all year 25-30
- very high rainfall 200mm
- tall trees
- large biomass
tropical grassland
- 5-30 north and south of equator
- warm all year 20-30
- wet and dry season
- widely spaced trees
- carnivores dominate
hot desert
- along the tropic of cancer and Capricorn
- hot day cool night
- low rainfall
- lack of plants/species
tundra
- 65 north and south of the equator
- cold winter cool summer
- low rainfall
- small plants in summer
- low species
temperate forest
- 40-60 north of equator
- warm summers, mild winters
- variable rainfall
- deciduous trees
- animals adapt to colder climate
adaptations to rainforest
sloths - camouflage to forest environment
drip tips - allows heavy rain to run off leaves easily
logging
- most destruction to biodiversity
- timber harvested to create commercial items
- violent confrontation of indigenous tribes and logging companies
agriculture
- 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
tourism
- mass tourism results in building of hotels in vulnerable areas
- negative relationship between government and tribes
- exposed wildlife to human disease
benefits - raw materials
timber and rubber found in TRF
benefits - water
prevents floods and droughts
benefits - health
25% of modern medicines are sourced from TRF ingredients.
benefits - energy
large dams generate 2/3 of Brazil’s energy needs through HEP.
benefits - climate
acts as carbon sinks by storing 15% of carbon emissions.
