Tropical Rainforests (8) Flashcards
Examples of how TRFs are Interdependent ecosystems?
-Warm and wet climate means that plants grow quickly
-Lack of wind near the forest floor means that many plants rely on bees for pollination
-There are many epiphytes - they get access to light by growing on trees, but rely on the rainfall to provide water and nutrients
What type of Structure to TRFs have?
Stratified/Layered
How are plants adapted to TRFs?
-Plants have thick, waxy leaves with drip-tips - allows water to run off (prevents fungi growth)
-Trees have smooth, thin bark to allow water to easily run off
-Lianas use tree trunks to climb up to the sunlight
-Plants are evergreen - can grow and drop leaves all year round
How are animals adapted to TRFs?
-Strong limbs - allows them to spend all day climbing and swinging in trees
-Camouflaged - hide from predators / sneak up on prey
-Nocturnal species - allows them to conserve energy as they feed at night when it is cooler
-Can swim - allows them to cross river channels
-Adapted to the low light levels on the forest floor - sharp sense of smell and hearing
How are nutrients cycled in TRFs?
-The largest store is Biomass - optimum conditions for decomposition mean that nutrients are cycled quickly and are quickly taken up by plants
-The smallest store is the litter (despite losing leaves all year round)
Why do TRFs have high biodiversity?
-Biome has been around for a long time (10s of millions of years) - species can adapt
-Layered structure provides many habitats - become specialised to their environment (niche)
-Stable and productive - lots of biomass and plenty of food available
Direct threats to TRFs (7)
Fuel wood (demand)
Mineral resources
HEP
Commercial hardwood
Commercial farming
Subsistence farming
Demand for Biofuels
How is the indirect threat of climate change affecting TRFs?
-Temperature increases, Rainfall decreases - leading to drought in some areas
-Droughts lead to ecosystem threats - frequent droughts could lead to extinction as some animals are adapted to the moist conditions
-Drought can lead to forest fires, destroying large areas of forest
Name the 2 Global actions to protect TRFs
REDD
CITES
What is REDD?
Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation
-Aims to reward forest owners in poorer countries for preserving them, not cutting them down
What is CITES?
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (of wild flora and fauna)
-An agreement to tightly control trade of wild animals and plants
Advantages and Disadvantages of REDD (3, 3)
ADVANTAGES:
-Deals with the direct cause of climate change and deforestation
-Forest is protected - remains a habitat for animals - biodiversity is preserved
-Everyone benefits from reduced emissions
DISADVANTAGES:
-Deforestation may continue in another area
-Aspects of REDD are not clear (could cut down, replant and still claim rewards)
-Preventing activities (eg. agriculture, mining) may affect local communities who depend on income from them
Advantages and Disadvantages of CITES (2, 3)
ADVANTAGES:
-Issue is tackled at a global scale
-Raises awareness of threats to biodiversity through education
DISADVANTAGES:
-Individual species are protected, but their habitat is not - could still go extinct
-Some rules are unclear (eg. trade of ivory)
-Not all countries are members - some countries promote the trade of endangered species
Alternate Livelihoods that are more sustainable for forests (2)
Ecotourism
Sustainable Farming
What is Ecotourism? + benefits
-Tourism that minimises damage to the environment and benefits local people
-Only a small number of visitors are allowed into an area at a time - environmental impacts are minimised (waste and litter are disposed of properly to prevent contamination)
-Provides a source of income for local people - they act as guides
-Income from Ecotourism means that they don’t have to rely on logging to make money - incentive to conserve the environment
What is Sustainable Farming? + benefits
-Protecting the soil so that the land remains productive
-Agro-Forestry: trees and crops are planted at the same time, tree roots bind soil together
-Green Manure: plants that add nutrients to the soil as they grow are planted to maintain soil fertility
-Crop-Rotation: crops are moved between different fields each year with one left empty, so the soil has time to recover
Explain the Environmental Impacts of Deforestation
- With no tree roots holding the soil together, heavy rain washes it away, leading to landslides
- With no trees to intercept canopy rainfall, more water reaches the soil, leading to leaching
- Trees remove CO2 from the atmosphere. CO2 levels increase, contributing to the greenhouse effect
Social Challenges with achieving Sustainable forest management
- Usually provides fewer jobs for locals
- If the population of a forest area increases, demand for wood increases. Sustainable forestry is unlikely to be able to provide enough resources to match the increasing demand
Economic Challenges with achieving Sustainable Forest Management
- Economic benefits only seen in the long-term. Developing countries may need immediate income
- Usually more expensive method, so can be difficult to persuade private companies to adopt sustainable methods
- Schemes that are usually funded by NGO’s, so funding is unreliable
What is Sustainable Forest Management?
When a forest is used in a way that prevents long-term damage, whilst allowing people to benefit from the resources it provides
