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geography > forest under threat - paper 3 > Flashcards

forest under threat - paper 3 Flashcards

1
Q

abiotic components

A

Non-living environmental factors that have influence over the ecosystem

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2
Q

acid rain

A

Rain with a pH of around 4, formed when chemicals from industrial processes react
with water in clouds to form acids.

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3
Q

adaptation

A

An evolved trait of an animal or plant that helps them to cope with environmental
stresses.

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4
Q

biodiversity

A

A large variety of animal and plant life living in the same ecosystem.

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5
Q

biofuels

A

Fuels produced from biomass

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6
Q

biomass

A

Total mass of organisms in a set area.

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7
Q

biome

A

Also known as a global-scale ecosystem; a large, distinct region of the Earth with similar
climate, soil, plants and animals.

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8
Q

biotic components

A

Living organisms that interact with the environment and other organisms
within an ecosystem.

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9
Q

buttress roots

A

Large, thick tree roots that grow above the ground in tropical rainforests.

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10
Q

camouflage

A

An animal adaptation where animals purposefully look like their surroundings to
hide from predators.

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11
Q

canopy

A

The layer of a tropical rainforest where the tops of trees touch, forming a dense area of
vegetation.

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12
Q

carbon sink

A

Something that absorbs more carbon dioxide than it emits, causing a net loss of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere

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13
Q

cattle ranching

A

The rearing of cows on large areas of land, usually to produce meat to sell for a
profit.

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14
Q

CITES

A

(The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna & Flora)

an international agreement that works to protect threatened wildlife from exploitation.

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15
Q

climate change

A

A distinct change in global or regional patterns of climate, such as changes in temperature or precipitation patterns.

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16
Q

commercial farming

A

Agriculture that is intended to create surplus produce to sell for a profit.

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17
Q

conifers

A

Cone-bearing trees that are usually evergreen and have needle-shaped leaves, native to colder environments

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18
Q

conservation

A

Taking action to ensure a resource or environment is not depleted and over-exploited.

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19
Q

consumers

A

Organisms that receive energy from consuming (i.e.eating) living organisms.

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20
Q

debt-for-nature swaps

A

Agreements where one country reduces the amount of debt owed by
another country in return for the owing country putting efforts into environmental conservation.

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21
Q

decomposer

A

Organisms that break down organic material and release the nutrients back into
the ecosystem.

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22
Q

deforestation

A

The permanent (and usually large-scale) removal of trees.

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23
Q

drip tip

A

An adaptation of a leaf where the end of the leaf is tapered, allowing rainwater to drip off.

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24
Q

drought

A

A sustained period of abnormally dry weather.

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25
Q

ecosystem

A

A natural system in which a community of plants and animals interact with each other
and their physical environment.

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26
Q

ecotourism

A

Tourism that aims to have reduced environmental impact and supports conservation
efforts, making it sustainable.

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27
Q

epiphytes

A

Plants that live on the surface of other plants, receiving nutrients from these plants.

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28
Q

food web

A

A representation of the interactions between multiple producers and consumers within
a specific ecosystem, shown through a series of different food webs.

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29
Q

fossil fuels

A

Fuels made up of the remains of organic material, such as oil, coal and gas.

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30
Q

growing season

A

The time of the year when temperatures and precipitation levels are high
enough that plants can grow.

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31
Q

hibernation

A

An adaptation where animals sleep through the entire winter by entering a state of
extremely reduced activity to conserve energy.

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32
Q

hydroelectric power (HEP)

A

Energy harnessed from the movement of water.

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33
Q

indigenous people

A

The earliest known settlers in an area.

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34
Q

interdependence

A

The concept of multiple things depending on each other for survival.

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35
Q

leaching

A

A process in soils where minerals are washed away by water (usually rainfall).

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36
Q

lianas

A

Woody vines found in tropical rainforests; their roots grow on the forest floor, but the vines
stretch high into the canopy.

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37
Q

litter

A

Organic matter that falls onto a forest floor.

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38
Q

logging

A

cutting down trees for wood.

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39
Q

migration

A

The seasonal movement of animals.

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40
Q

nutrient cycle

A

The transfer of nutrients through an ecosystem, from the decay of organic
material into the production and energy of living organisms.

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41
Q

nutrients

A

Elements or compounds that support the growth of plants and animals, such as
phosphates, potassium, magnesium, and nitrogen.

42
Q

opencast mining

A

A mining technique where an area is cleared and resources are mined close
to the surface, rather than underground (also called strip mining)

43
Q

plantations

A

Farms where crops are grown in large amounts with the intention to sell for a profit.

44
Q

producers

A

Organisms that convert energy from the environment (mainly sunlight) into sugars
(glucose).

45
Q

productivity

A

A measure of new plant and animal growth in a given time, usually measured in
grams per square metre per year.

46
Q

pulp/paper production

A

The process of making paper from softwood.

47
Q

REDD

A

(Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation)

a group of United Nations-run schemes with the aim to reduce the environmental impact of poorly managed forests.

48
Q

replanting

A

Planting a tree after cutting down a tree, so that theoretically the environmental
impact of deforestation is reduced.

49
Q

runoff

A

Rainwater that flows over the Earth’s surface.

50
Q

selective logging

A

A form of logging where only certain trees are cut down to reduce the
environmental effects of logging.

51
Q

slash and burn fsrming

A

A farming practice where plants and trees are cut down and then purposefully
burnt to clear the area.

52
Q

subsidence farming

A

Agriculture that is intended to produce only enough food for the farmer and
their family to eat.

53
Q

sustainability

A

The ability to continue with an activity or process far into the future at the same
rate.

54
Q

sustainable forestry

A

Management strategies that work to reduce the environmental impacts of commercial forest use, allowing forestry to continue into the future at the same rate

55
Q

taiga biomes

A

A biome located at high latitudes, characterised by conifer trees and a cold climate.

56
Q

tar sanda

A

An area with natural deposits of oil mixed with sediments and water.

57
Q

tropical rainforest biome

A

A biome located near the equator, characterised by very high
precipitation and sustained warm temperatures.

58
Q

understory

A

The layer of a tropical rainforest that lies beneath the canopy but above the forest
floor.

59
Q

weathering

A

The breakdown of soil and rock through chemical or physical processes.

60
Q

wilderness

A

An area that is untouched by humans, and therefore remains unaffected by human activity

61
Q

what are the similar environmental characteristics in rainforests

A

climate, soil type, plant and animal life

62
Q

what is rainfall like in the rainforest

A

high precipitation - wettest biome - exceeds 2000mm per year - distinct wet season

63
Q

what is temperature like in the rainforest

A

high (26-27°) - consistent - directly by the equator - sun shines down on it

64
Q

what is soil like in the rainforest

A

nutrient deprived and infertile despite all the vegetation - nutrients are washed away very quickly due to high precipitation - leaching

65
Q

how do plants in the rainforest get their nutrients

A

decomposing organic matter

66
Q

what is the nutrient cycle in in tropical rainforests

A

vegetation grows quickly and shed continuously - vegetation decays due to humidity - nutrients enter top soil and are either absorbed or washed away - shallow roots take up nutrients on the forest floor

67
Q

4 layers of the rainforest (top to bottom)

A

emergent layer
canopy
understory
forest floor

68
Q

butteress roots adaptations

A

grow large roots above ground to absorb nutrients, keep the tree stable, makes sure roots have enough air

69
Q

leaf structure adaptions

A

have drip tips, stems which move to find light when blocked by light

70
Q

lianas adaptions

A

roots in the ground to absorb nutrients but vines high up to find light

71
Q

epiphytes adaptions

A

growing on trees high up so they can absorb more sunlight

72
Q

animal adaptions - poisons and venoms

A

saves them from being eaten - paralyse and kill other animals/predators, sting or bite if threatened, poisonous to eat

73
Q

animal adaptions - physical characteristics

A

live in trees to find food, strong claws/sticky pads to help climb trees

primates - long limbs and strong tails to help find food

74
Q

animal adaptions - camouflage

A

hide from predators (gecko)

75
Q

animal adaptions - size

A

smaller size - flows through dense vegetation more quickly (jaguar)

76
Q

taiga biome facts

A

high latitudes 50°-70° in mostly the northern hemisphere

cold long winters with short growing summer seasons, confections trees
e.g. Canada, Russia, Norway

77
Q

taiga climate + temperature characteristics

A

climate: varies a lot in winter and summer months - effects components such as nutrient cycle

winter temperature: below freezing most months -20°, very dry, majority of precipitation is snowfall
summer: short, may rise to 20°, more precipitation, ice melts makes land waterlogged

78
Q

taiga plant and animal characteristics - productivity

A

very low - not much plant or animal growth due to low temps, frozen ground, dry weather which limits plant growth and no net biomass additions which affects animal foods supply

79
Q

taiga plant and animal characteristics - biodiversity

A

low biodiversity due to low productivity

animals - struggle to survive due to reduced food supply - animals tend to migrate away for winter
plants - only highly adapted plants can survive

80
Q

plant adaptations for the taiga

A

cone shaped - allow snow to fall off
branches are flexible - take weight of snow
needle shaped - reduces water loss
roots - wide but shallow to stop them from reaching the frozen subsoil

81
Q

animal adaptations

A

migration and hibernation

physical:
thick oily fur - retain body heat
large feet - stay stable on frozen ground
camouflage in winter coat

82
Q

nutrient cycle in the taiga

A

small biomass due to limited vegetation and low biodiversity
soil is nutrient deprived
decay is slow - litter is high
plant uptake is low
low precipitation

83
Q

direct threats to the tropical rainforest (6)

A

subsistence farming - for themselves to survive - slash and burn

commercial farming - make profit - cattle ranches 80% of deforestation due to this - palm oil plantations

logging - huge environmental problems

biofuels - substitute for fossil fuels

mineral extraction - large areas of land cleared

energy development - HEP - large areas need to be flooded

84
Q

direct threats to the taiga

A

logging - deforestation

pulp and paper production - global demand and supply

85
Q

what is an indirect threat to the rainforest

A

climate change - alter ecosystems, temperature, precipitation patterns, flowering patterns may alter, aquatic habits, droughts

86
Q

indirect threats to the taiga

A

mineral sources - 7000 abandoned mines - harmful waste washed in water nearby
extraction of fossil fuels - tar sands - produces toxic waste
development of HEP - have to flood land

87
Q

threats to taiga biodiversity

A

acid precipitation - weakens trees, reacts with soils, rain forms chemicals when burning fossil fuels and turns into clouds, indirect

pests and diseases- reduce biodiversity, once there hard to get rid of
mountain pine beetle - destroyed 16 million hectares of taiga forest

forest fires - cuts off food supply as well as killing animals

88
Q

lists of animals/plants under protection from CITES

A

38,700 species of animals - ring tailed lemur
32,800 species of plants

89
Q

CITES advantages

A
  • many countries are part of the agreement
  • successes in their conservations
  • meetings, research and reports spread awareness to country leaders and decision makers to allow them to take action
90
Q

CITES disadvantages

A
  • each party control their own management - could break rules with no consequences
  • low income countries - may be their only source of income to profit off - difficult to ban
  • focuses on species not habitats which are also destroyed
91
Q

what does REDD off

A

financial incentives to developing countries to conserve their forests and assists them

92
Q

REDD advantages

A
  • more likely to take action if offered financial rewards
  • monitoring in place to makes sure countries do their part
  • helps communities - creates jobs
93
Q

REDD disadvantages

A
  • putting economic value on forests rather than people realising the value of their community
  • focuses on LIC - shifts blame to developed countries who drive deforestation
  • may not actually read ur emissions
94
Q

reasons for rising rates of deforestation in rainforests

A
  • urban poverty forces people to move to rural areas where job opportunities are are limited - often involves forest degradation
  • conflict and war limit protection efforts
  • LIC do not have enough money to invest in protection
  • high demand still
95
Q

reasons for falling rates of deforestation in rainforests

A
  • forest protection laws (financial rewards for protection)
  • growing urban population means more people rely on tropical rainforest activities
  • increasing national park protection
  • education and public awareness - people support forest protection
96
Q

4 ways to sustainability manage tropical rainforests

A

selective logging and replanting - replants what’s cut down
ecotourism - provide income for people
international agreements
conservation and education - teaching the public

97
Q

protection of the taiga wilderness (2)

A

wilderness areas and national parks - protect from human activities
- ban motorised vehicles
- restrictions of recreational activities
- bans on logging, mining, resource extraction and round building

sustainable forestry
- limits on trees which can be cut down
- selective logging
- tree replanting

98
Q

example of sustainable forestry in taiga

A

forest certification scheme - businesses prove their practises

99
Q

problems with protecting the taiga

A
  • massive area to monitor
  • can cause conflicts
  • replanting is slow - takes a while for trees to grow back
  • money and resources are needed for conservation
100
Q

people in favour of protecting the taiga

A

indigenous people - rely on land to live
environmental groups - protect wilderness and endangered species - vulnerable ecosystem
tourists - people want to visit the beauty
climate scientists - benefits the world

101
Q

people in favour of exploiting the rainforest

A
  • oil companies - economic opportunity
  • logging companies - only effects a small area?
  • HEP companies - economic benefits
  • mining companies - important income source

geography (9 decks)

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