Water - Land use changes

Question 1

Which region contains the world’s largest continuous tropical forest and savannah ecosystems?

Answer 1

Tropical South America

Question 2

Why is the Tropical South American region so important?

Answer 2

Because of its high biodiversity and traditional ecological measures.
It also generates more than a quarter of the world’s river discharge.

Question 3

What percentage of the Tropical South American region has been converted to cattle pasture and agriculture?

Answer 3

10%

Question 4

What had caused a general increase in deforestation in the last 50 years?

Answer 4

As international and national demand for cattle feed (mostly soy) beef and sugar cane for ethanol has increased

Question 5

How is the water cycle affected through deforestation?

Answer 5

It results in a complex set of changes to streams of all sizes

Question 6

What happens when new vegetation grows where forests have been removed?

Answer 6

The new vegetation generally has fewer leaves which reduces interception and shallower roots which increases infiltration.

Question 7

What happens if deforestation does not cause decreased rainfall via atmospheric feedbacks?

Answer 7

Discharge will likely be significantly increased.

Question 8

What happens if rainfall decreases via atmospheric feedbacks?

Answer 8

The resulting decrease in river discharge may be greater than the changes without feedbacks.

Question 9

What happens when changes in water resources caused by atmospheric feedbacks