Tropical Rainforests Flashcards
How do epiphytes benefit from growing on other plants?
Receive more sunlight because they are higher up
Receive nutrients from the phorophyte
Describe the biodiversity of tropical rainforests
High biodiversity as they are home to over 50% of all Earth’s species
Describe the climate of tropical rainforests
Temperature remains fairly constant around 27 degrees
Receive up to 2000mm of rainfall annually
Avoid saying no seasons as views from searches vary
Describe the distribution of tropical rainforests
Give 3 points
Where (general)
Largest (specific)
+ a Negative
On or near the equator
Largest is the Amazon found in South America (mainly Brazil)
No tropical rainforests in Europe or Antarctica
Define biodiversity
The variety of plant and animal species living in a particular environment
Define leaf litter
Dead plant matter rapidly decomposing due to the humid conditions
Define stratification
Rainforest layers
Define leaching
Spelt with an ea
Loss of nutrients from the soil by being dissolved and carried away by heavy rainfalll
Name the soil found in tropical rainforests
Latosol
Describe the soil found in tropical rainforests
Infertile and iron rich (making it red in colour)
Name the 4 layers of tropical rainforests from shortest to tallest
Forest Floor
Under Canopy
Canopy
Emergent
Name 3 examples of animals that live in the emergent layer
Monkeys
Bats
Eagles
Describe the emergent layer
50-70m in height
Recieves 100% sunlight
Define adaptation
,The process where an organism becomes better suited to its environment, increasing its chance of survival
What percentage of Earth’s species can be found in tropical rainforests?
over 50%
Name two plants found in tropical rainforests
Lianas and Epiphytes
Name 2 plant adaptations to allow water to flow off leaves
Drip tips and waxy leaves
Why are some plants adapted so water can flow off easily?
So the water doesn’t weigh the leaf down causing it to snap
To prevent water becoming stagnant and causing growth of bacteria and fungi
Why are some rainforest animals brightly coloured?
To attract a mate or warn off predators
Name 3 economic positives of deforestation
Mined minerals, such as gold, have a high economic value
Companies will pay taxes to the government allowing them to invest in the country
Development of land will create jobs directly and indirectly (supply industries)
Name 2 environmental negatives of deforestation
Pollution of water and loss of rainforest habitat could threaten species with extinction
Prevents the absoption of CO2 by trees, exacerbating the greenhouse effect, global warming and thus climate change
Describe the canopy layer
30-50m height
Receives around 95% sunlight
Name an animal found in the canopy layer
Macaws
Describe the height and light of the under-canopy layer
1-30m height
Receives 5% sunlight
Name two animals found in the under-canopy layer
Jaguars
Sloths
Describe the forest floor
First metre layer of rainforest
Darkest and dampest rainforest layer
Only 2% of sunlight reaches it
Describe an adaptation of sloths
Algae camouflage to hide from predators
Describe an adaptation of spider monkeys
Prehensile tail which acts as an extra limb to grasp and swing between trees, allowing them to compete for food
