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Geography > Tropical Rainforests > Flashcards

Tropical Rainforests Flashcards

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1
Q

characteristics of TRF’s

A

low latitudes- normally at equator due to high sun insolation, provides high temps for rapid plant growth
high biodiversity
wet, humid climate

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2
Q

3 examples of TRF’s

A

Amazon, Indonesian, Congo

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3
Q

what is climate like

A

humid, high rainfall- provides ideal conditions for plant growth
annual average temp of 27 degrees

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4
Q

what is water supply like

A

high rainfall
average 2000mm a year
distinct wet season- months of heavy rainfall

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5
Q

what is biodiversity like

A

high biodiversity- ideal conditions for plant growth
many available habitats for animals E.g tree trunks for snakes

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6
Q

what are latosols

A

tropical red soil

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7
Q

are latosols fertile and why

A

no they are infertile
heavy rainfall leads to leaching- nutrients are washed away from the soil- making it infertile.

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8
Q

negative impacts of heavy rainfall

A

leaching- washes away nutrients, making soil infertile- less harvest and income for farmers

floods- soil becomes saturated so no more rainfall can infiltrate- leads to surface runoff and floods

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9
Q

what makes the soil red

A

iron, iron is insoluble so it is not leached away by heavy rainfall

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10
Q

how have epiphytes adapted

A

they grow on trees which grow towards the sunlight- maximises photosynthesis

they have aerial roots- absorb minerals and water from the atmosphere

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11
Q

how have leaves adapted

A

they have waxy cuticles and drip tips- removes excess water which prevents the growth of bacteria and fungi on the leaf

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12
Q

how have trees and plants adapted

A

grow towards the sunlight- maximises photosynthesis

buttress roots- hold tree in place, provides a stable base

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13
Q

why do many animals eat plants instead of other animals

A

there is high competition for food, so animals eat plants instead

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14
Q

how much sunlight is absorbed by the canopy

A

90%

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15
Q

3 reasons why biodiversity is high

A

humid + wet climate- conditions for rapid plant growth

rapid nutrient cycling- provides food for organisms

primary rainforest- untouched by humans

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16
Q

what is nutrient cycling

A

a system where energy and matter are transferred between living organisms and non-living parts of the environment.

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17
Q

social value of TRF’s

A

-home to indigenous tribes

-provides food for locals

-provides medicine for locals- ensures good health

-local/ small-scale farmers get an income

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18
Q

economic value of TRF’s

A

-provides industrial products which can be sold globally and locally E.g wood, dyes

-TRF ingredients used to make medicine (25% of western pharmaceuticals use TRF ingredients) can be sold globally and locally

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19
Q

environmental value of TRF’s

A

-act as a carbon sink- absorb CO2 which reduces the enhanced greenhouse effect, reduces global warming

-home to many animals, high biodiversity

20
Q

define primary forest

A

forest in its natural state, untouched by humans

21
Q

define deforestation

A

the clearing of trees to transform a rainforest into cleared land

22
Q

define clear felling

A

removing every tree from an area

23
Q

define selective logging

A

removing a certain species from an area and leaving the rest intact

24
Q

define slash and burn

A

cutting and burning trees in an area and then planting new seeds

25
Q

6 causes of deforestation

A

commercial farming
HEP
urban expansion
road construction
mining
logging

26
Q

effect of commercial farming

A

cattle farming- trees are cleared to make space for cattle and commercial products

trees are cleared to make space for palm oil plantations
high global demand for palm oil, soybeans, beef

27
Q

effect of logging

A

trees cut down for industrial uses- building
E.g mahogany used for furniture

28
Q

effect of urban expansion

A

as population increases, there is a higher demand for homes.
trees are cut down to make space for new homes and cities

29
Q

effect of hydroelectric power

A

used to power homes
trees cut down to create space for dams
dams force indigenous tribes out
dams cause flooding- loss of wildlife habitats

30
Q

effect of mining

A

trees cut down to clear an area for mining
mercury pollutes rivers- poisons fish (less food for locals), causes miscarriages and kidney failure

31
Q

effect of road construction

A

trees cut down to make new roads and create access to mining areas
E.g Trans-Amazonian highway, stretches 4000km across the Amazon

32
Q

social impacts of deforestation

A

-forces indigenous tribes out

-cutting trees for mining- use of mercury- mercury pollutes rivers:
- poisons fish- less food supply for locals, less income to farmers
-health issues E.g kidney failure

33
Q

economic impacts of deforestation

A

lack of vegetation reduces evapotranspiration- drier climate, reduces plant growth- farmers get less harvest and less income
less taxes to government- less economic development

lack of vegetation- soil exposed to heavy rainfall- more leaching- infertile soil- less income to farmers

34
Q

environmental impacts of deforestation

A

less trees to absorb CO2- increased carbon emissions- enhanced greenhouse effect- global warming

lack of vegetation- soil exposed to heavy rainfall- more leaching- infertile soil

35
Q

define evapotranspiration

A

water evaporation into the atmosphere from the soil surface

36
Q

global management strategies

A

hardwood agreements:
- stop cutting and selling hardwood trees- could lead to illegal logging :(

debt reduction:
-HIC’s pay off LIC debts so they can use more money to protect rainforests, buy satellites and drones to monitor illegal logging

37
Q

national management strategies

A

education:
- teach ecology and climate change in schools

nature reserve parks:
-create protected reserve parks- less money spent on improving quality of living (E.g infrastructure) so economic development slows :(

38
Q

local management strategies

A

eco-tourism:
-small-scale tourism, teach tourists about conservation- expensive :(

monitoring illegal logging:
- drones and satellites- hard as there is a large area to cover :(

replanting trees

agroforestry:
- planting crops and trees together- some trees have to be cut down so sunlight can reach crops :(

39
Q

nutrient cycling

A

biomass -> litter -> soil

40
Q

describe the distribution of TRF’s

A

along the equator, central of South America, West Africa, Southeast Asia

41
Q

what is biomass

A

plants, animals

42
Q

what is litter

A

dead material, faeces

43
Q

nutrient cycling
biomass -> litter

A

the plants and animals die, leaves fall (becomes litter)

rainfall brings nutrients to the litter :)
runoff takes nutrients away from the litter :(

44
Q

nutrient cycling
litter -> soil

A

litter is broken down by decomposers (bacteria and fungi), becomes soil

weathering of bedrock brings nutrients to soil :)
leaching takes nutrients away from soil :(

45
Q

nutrient cycling
soil -> biomass

A

most rapid transfer as plants and animals take up nutrients quickly

biomass is the largest store as there are the most nutrients

Geography (15 decks)

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