Tropical Rainforests

Question 1

characteristics of TRF’s

Answer 1

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

Question 2

3 examples of TRF’s

Answer 2

Amazon, Indonesian, Congo

Question 3

what is climate like

Answer 3

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

Question 4

what is water supply like

Answer 4

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

Question 5

what is biodiversity like

Answer 5

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

Question 6

what are latosols

Answer 6

tropical red soil

Question 7

are latosols fertile and why

Answer 7

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

Question 8

negative impacts of heavy rainfall

Answer 8

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

Question 9

what makes the soil red

Answer 9

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

Question 10

how have epiphytes adapted

Answer 10

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

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

Question 11

how have leaves adapted

Answer 11

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

Question 12

how have trees and plants adapted

Answer 12

grow towards the sunlight- maximises photosynthesis

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

Question 13

why do many animals eat plants instead of other animals

Answer 13

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

Question 14

how much sunlight is absorbed by the canopy

Answer 14

90%

Question 15

3 reasons why biodiversity is high

Answer 15

humid + wet climate- conditions for rapid plant growth

rapid nutrient cycling- provides food for organisms

primary rainforest- untouched by humans

Question 16

what is nutrient cycling

Answer 16

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

Question 17

social value of TRF’s

Answer 17

-home to indigenous tribes

-provides food for locals

-provides medicine for locals- ensures good health

-local/ small-scale farmers get an income

Question 18

economic value of TRF’s

Answer 18

-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

Question 19

environmental value of TRF’s

Answer 19

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

-home to many animals, high biodiversity

Question 20

define primary forest

Answer 20

forest in its natural state, untouched by humans

Question 21

define deforestation

Answer 21

the clearing of trees to transform a rainforest into cleared land

Question 22

define clear felling

Answer 22

removing every tree from an area

Question 23

define selective logging

Answer 23

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

Question 24

define slash and burn

Answer 24

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

Question 25

6 causes of deforestation

Answer 25

commercial farming HEP urban expansion road construction mining logging

Question 26

effect of commercial farming

Answer 26

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

Question 27

effect of logging

Answer 27

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

Question 28

effect of urban expansion

Answer 28

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

Question 29

effect of hydroelectric power

Answer 29

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

Question 30

effect of mining

Answer 30

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

Question 31

effect of road construction

Answer 31

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

Question 32

social impacts of deforestation

Answer 32

-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

Question 33

economic impacts of deforestation

Answer 33

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

Question 34

environmental impacts of deforestation

Answer 34

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

Question 35

define evapotranspiration

Answer 35

water evaporation into the atmosphere from the soil surface

Question 36

global management strategies

Answer 36

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

Question 37

national management strategies

Answer 37

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 :(

Question 38

local management strategies

Answer 38

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 :(

Question 39

nutrient cycling

Answer 39

biomass -> litter -> soil

Question 40

describe the distribution of TRF's

Answer 40

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

Question 41

what is biomass

Answer 41

plants, animals

Question 42

what is litter

Answer 42

dead material, faeces

Question 43

nutrient cycling biomass -> litter

Answer 43

the plants and animals die, leaves fall (becomes litter) rainfall brings nutrients to the litter :) runoff takes nutrients away from the litter :(

Question 44

nutrient cycling litter -> soil

Answer 44

litter is broken down by decomposers (bacteria and fungi), becomes soil weathering of bedrock brings nutrients to soil :) leaching takes nutrients away from soil :(

Question 45

nutrient cycling soil -> biomass

Answer 45

most rapid transfer as plants and animals take up nutrients quickly biomass is the largest store as there are the most nutrients