Tropical rainforest ecosystems have a range of distinctive characteristics

Question 1

leeching

Answer 1

when very heavy rainfall dissolves and carries away nutrients

Question 2

biodiversity

Answer 2

measure of variation at the genetic, species and ecosystem level

Question 3

why is there so much biodiversity in the rainforest?

Answer 3

the climate provides the ideal conditions

Question 4

liana

Answer 4

woody plant that takes root in soil but is supported by trees so it can grow upright and get sunlight

Question 5

buttress roots

Answer 5

-stabilise the tree, increase surface area for o2 and CO2 exchange

Question 6

what are the vegetation and soils like in the rainforest?

Answer 6

-soils of the rainforest are mainly thin and poor so to get the luxurious vegetation nutrients are recycled

Question 7

how are the nutrients recycled in the rainforest?

Answer 7

-the warm, humid conditions cause the litter to decompose very quickly
-many trees have shallow roots to absorb these nutrients however these are in high demand and they don’t stay in the soil for long and they stay close to the surface
-fungi growing on the roots transfer nutrients straight from the air

Question 8

what colour is the soil and why?

Answer 8

red colour due to high iron and aluminium content and infertile

Question 9

what are the layers of the rainforest from tallest to shortest?

Answer 9

-emergents
-canopy
-under canopy
-shrub layer
-soils

Question 10

how have plants adapted to survive competition for sunlight?

Answer 10

-epiphytes
-driptip leaves
-liana
-buttress roots

Question 11

epiphytes

Answer 11

parasitic plants that take root in trees high in the canopy

Question 12

drip tip leaves

Answer 12

allows excess water to spill off, prevents leaf damage