Tropical Rainforests Flashcards
Characteristics of Tropical Rainforests
- low latitude
- annual precipitation over 2000mm
- constant high temperature 26 - 28
- high humidity usually 70%-80%
- many rainforest soil is latasol but is infertile due to leaching and nutrient uptake by plants
- contain highest biodiversity of animal and plants
Humans Activity
- Traditional communities such as the Awa in Brazil and the Huli in Papua New Guinea live in harmony with the rainforest
- Communities survive through hunting and gathering using the rainforest plants and animals in a sustainable way
- Many communities have been forced off the land by commercial activities such as mining, agriculture and logging
Structure of the tropical rainforest
Ground layer (0m)
Shrub layer (3-4m)
Under canopy (15m)
Canopy (30m)
Emergents (45-55m)
Plant Adaptations
- **Waxy leaves with drip tips: **These ensure that rainwater runs off the leaf and does not remain which would encourage mould growth or break the leaf
- Buttress roots: These large roots above the ground which help to support the very tall trees because the roots below the surface are shallow
- **Lianas: **Vines which use the tall trees as support to reach the sunlight
- Epiphytes: These are plants which grow on trunks and branches of trees getting nutrients from air, rain or debris accumulating around the plant
- Straight, smooth trunks: To reduce the number of epiphytes using the tree
Animal Adaptations
- Sloth: Algae grow in the fur of the sloth helping to camouflage it
- Toucan: They have a large bill to reach and cut fruit from the branches of trees
- Primates: They have prehensile tails to help them climb trees
- **Geckos: **They have large, flattened toe pads with sticky scales which allow them to grip the smooth tree trunks
- **Stick Insects: **Their stick and leave shapes help them to be camouflaged
Biodiversity Issues
-
Threats to rainforest biodiversity:
Mining
Hydroelectric power
Logging
Road building and settlements
Wildfires - The interdependence of the rainforest components means that when one element is affected it then impacts all the other components
- Plant and animal species may become extinct - this may happen to some before they are even discovered
- Important medicinal plants may become extinct
- Indigenous communities may be forced to abandon their traditional lifestyle due to the lack of food to hunt and gather
Human Causes of Deforestation
- Logging- trees are felled for timber
- Mining- clearance of land to obtain precious metals
- Settlements- as population grows more area is cleared for mining
- Roads- roads are built to provide further acces to the forest
- Agriculture- huge areas are cleared to graze cattle or plantations such as soy or palm oil
- Hydropower- the building od dams and reservoirs to provide electricity
Social impacts of Deforestation:
- Indigenous communities have less land to sustain their traditional
- Land does not get the opportunity to recover
- Less food available
- Improved quality of life for some people due to increased income and jobs
- Indigenous communities may give up their way of life leading to a loss of culture and traditions
- Increased risk of landslides which can destroy homes and block roads
- Loss of potential medicines
- Increased risk of flooding settlements
Economic Impacts of Deforestation
- More jobs available in mining, forestry, agriculture and HEP
- Increased income for the country through the export of goods from the forest - minerals, timber, crops
- Almost a quarter of Brazil’s GDP comes from activities in the deforested areas of the Amazon
Value of Rainforests
* goods and services
* value to people
* value to environment
Goods & Services
* Building materials
* Wild meat
* Medicines
* Energy
* Soil quality
* Disease and pest control
* Leisure and recreation
* Cultural heritage
Value to people
* Indigenous communities such as the Awá in Brazil depend on the rainforest for food, materials, fuel and medicines
* Sugar
* Nuts
* Rubber
* Perfumes
* Bananas
* modern medicines including 25% of the ingredients in cancer treatment drugs
* employment opportunities:
-Agriculture
-Logging
-Tourism
-Mining
-Construction
Value to the environment
* important source of freshwater - about 20% of the world’s freshwater
* contain 50% of the world’s plants and animals
* controlling the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere so limiting global warming
Sustainable Strategies to Manage Tropical Rainforests
International strategies
* International organisations such as Greenpeace and WWF monitor deforestation
* Trade restrictions on endangered species and timber have been imposed
* The UN Sustainable Development Goals include the sustainable management of forests
National Strategies
* There are 68 National Parks in Brazil. These are protected areas where the aim is to conserve the ecosystem
* Afforestation to plant new trees replacing those which have been felled
* Selective logging is where trees to be felled are selected, felled and removed causing the least possible damage to surrounding trees
Local Strategies
* Education of people involved in the exploitation and management of the rainforest
* Agroforestry combines agriculture with forestry, which means some trees remain, which:
* Decreases deforestation
* Provides shade as well as increases infiltration and interception, which reduces soil erosion
* Provides organic matter from the trees and adds nutrients to the soil
* Increases biodiversity due to the variety of plants grown
