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Geography > Living World > Flashcards

Living World Flashcards

Tropical Rainforests, Hot deserts

1
Q

where are TRF located.. conditions there and why..

A

Between the tropics. Hot and humid conditions, because air is rising and condensing causing high rainfall. Sun is directly overhead so high intensity.

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2
Q

why are temperatures at tropical rainforests consistent throughout the year

A

due to the sun shining directly on the equator throughout the year meaning temperatures are high (around 26-27 degrees) and consistent

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3
Q

Soil characteristics of TRF and why

A
  • extremely nutrient deprived and infertile <– because nutrients are washed away and dissolved very quickly by the continuous rainfall, in a process called leaching
  • Layer of decomposing matter that sits on top of the nutrient poor soil. Dead animals broken down by decomposers <– nutrients released and absorbed by roots.
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4
Q

What is the nutrient cycle like in TRF

A

very fast meaning the nutrients are transported from vegetation, to the soils, back to the vegetation relatively rapidly

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5
Q

layers of a TRF

A

Forest floor
shrub layer
understory
canopy
emergents

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6
Q

How have plants adapted to the conditions of a TRF

A

Buttress roots <– ensure tall trees are kept stable without growing roots into the ground. Grown in the nutrient full surface layer of soil.

Drip tip leaves <– tapered end of a lead that allows excess rainfall to quickly drip of the leaf ensuring the lead doesn’t rot or break

Lianas <– woody vines that grow in the ground but climb up into the canopy by wrapping round trees. meaning they can access the nutrients of the forest floor but also the light in the canopy

Epiphytes <– live on the surface of other plants to receive their nutrients. Adapted to growing on tall trees to receive more sunlight

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7
Q

Animal adaptions in TRF

A
  • Poisons and Venoms <– adapted to the threat of being eaten
  • Monkeys <– have long limbs and strong tails to help swing between trees and avoid predators
  • Camouflage - to hide from predators (e.g leaf-tailed geckos)
  • Size - to ensure they can move through dense vegetation
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8
Q

Difference between and examples of Abiotic and Biotic

A

Abiotic - non living e.g. rainfall
Biotic - living e.g. predators

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9
Q

Malaysia location + how much land is covered by rainforest

A
  • Country in Asia with a tropical rainforest climate
    -67% of Malaysia’s land is covered by rainforest
  • Made up of Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia
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10
Q

Deforestation definition

A

The permanent and usually large-scale cutting down of trees

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11
Q

Causes of deforestation in Malaysia

A
  • subsistence farming
  • commercial farming]
  • logging
  • mineral extraction
  • population pressure
  • energy development
  • building roads
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12
Q

Two types of logging and how they lead to deforestation

A

Clear felling - where all trees are chopped down in an area, leading to total destruction of habitats

Selective Logging - where only full-grown trees are cut down , trees that have important ecological value are left unharmed

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13
Q

What is subsistence farming

A

Subsistence farming - where farmers only produce enough food for themselves and family

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14
Q

What is slash and burn? what farming uses it? And why is it good/bad?

A

Often use ‘slash and burn’ which involves the use of fire to clear land. These fires can create nutrients that help plants grow but also can grow out of control and destroy large areas of forest

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15
Q

What is commercial farming and use in Malaysia

A

commercial farming - agriculture with the direct intention of making a profit from produce
Malaysia is the largest exporter of palm oil. During the 1970’s large areas of land were converted to palm oil plantations

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16
Q

Why is mineral extraction use in Malaysia? Pros/Cons?

A

Mining for mainly tin and smelting is common in Peninsular Malaysia. Also contains high reserves of bauxite
- large areas have to be cleared for roads and mines causing environmental degradation

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17
Q

Why is road building use in Malaysia? Pros/Cons?

A

Roads are built in TRF to provide access to areas, to transport goods and to allow heavy machinery into areas
Large areas are deforested to make room. Many animals killed on roads and chemicals can be washed away into the TRF ecosystm
- Also roads can run through areas where indigenous communities live, causing tension

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18
Q

What is the name of the Dam in Malaysia? Pros/Cons?

A

Bakun Dam <– flooded over 700km^2 of land.
In 2011 after 5 decades of delays, it started generating electricity
deforest large areas, destroying habitats and displacing indigenous communities

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19
Q

Name the impacts of deforestation in Malaysia

A
  • Soil erosion
  • Loss of biodiversity
  • Contribution to climate change
  • Economic development
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20
Q

How does deforestation in Malaysia contribute to climate change

A
  • Malaysian rainforests are estimated to absorb over 30% of the carbon dioxide produced in the country
  • Felling of trees releases these stores and enhances the greenhouse effect
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21
Q

How does deforestation lead to soil erosion in Malaysia

A

When trees are removed, the heavy, persistent rain quickly washes away the nutrients in the top layer of soil leading the infertile soil exposed.
Without tree roots binding the soils together, they become loose and erode away

22
Q

How does deforestation lead to loss of biodiversity in Malaysia

A

Deforestaion destroys ecosystems and many habitats that exist on the ground and in trees
Malaysia’s rainforests contain over 600 species
There are many undiscovered plants that have medicinal qualities which could provide curers for dieases

23
Q

Economic gains of deforestation in Malaysia

A
  • Mining, farming and energy leads to jobs for locals, increasing income
  • products produced (palm oil, rubber ect) can be used to trade
  • Improved transport infrastructure opens up new areas for industrial development and tourism
  • companies will have to pay tax
  • minerals such as gold are very valuable
24
Q

Economic losses of deforestation in Malaysia

A
  • Pollution of water sources could be costly
  • The number of tourists could decrease as areas become less biodiverse
  • Climate change brought on by deforestation could lower produce yields due to hotter, drier climate <– influencing trade + economy
  • Plants that could have brought medicinal benefits could go extinct
25
Q

How can rainforests be sustainably managed

A
  • selective logging and replanting
  • conservation and education
  • eco tourism
  • international agreements
26
Q

How is selective logging sustainable and when was it introduced

A

because it only cuts down fully-grown trees, leaving the ones with economic value
- introduced to Malaysia in 1977

27
Q

How is conservation and education sustainable

A

rainforest can be preserved in conservation areas (e.g. national parks) . These areas can be used for education, research or tourism

28
Q

What is Ecotourism? How is it sustainable

A

Aims to introduce people to the natural world to benefit local communities and protect the environment for the future
Through the income generated, local people and governments benefit from retaining and protecting their rainforest trees

29
Q

What are international agreements? Examples?

A

International agreements are made to help protect rainforests as they are recognised as of global importance. E.g:
- Debt relief - to pay of debt, some countries have raised money from deforestation programmes. Some countries reduce debt in return for no deforestation

30
Q

Where is the Thar Desert

A

Stretches across north-west India and into Pakistan. Covers an area of about 200,000 km^2

31
Q

Opportunities for development in the Thar desert

A
  • Mineral extraction
    -Tourism
  • Energy
  • Farming
32
Q

How does mineral extraction bring benefits to the Thar desert. What are the most important minerals

A

the desert region has valuable reserves of minerals which are used all over India and exported across the world
- Gypsum (used for cement and plaster in construction)
- Feldspar (used to make ceramics)
- Phosphorite (used for fertiliser)
- Kaolin (whitener in paper)

33
Q

What opportunities for tourism is there in the Thar desert & how is it beneficial

A

Tens of thousands visit each year due to its beautiful landscapes
- desert safaris on camels
- annual desert festival <– locals provide food and accommodation and act as guides or look after camels

34
Q

What energy is sourced in the Thar desert and where from

A

Coal - extensive lignite coal deposits and a thermal energy plant constructed in Giral
Oil – large oilfield discovered in Barmer district
Wind - Jaisalmer Wind Park is India’s largest wind park constructed in 2001 - renewable energy
Solar - desert offers ideal conditions for solar power generation

35
Q

How does farming bring benefits to the Thar desert

A
  • most people involved in subsistence farming, grazing animals on grassy areas and cultivating veg and fruit trees
  • commercial farming has been made possible by irrigation
36
Q

Challenges in the Thar desert

A
  • extreme temperatures
  • water supply
  • accessibility
37
Q

What is the irrigation system called in the Thar desert

A

Indira Gandhi Canal

38
Q

What is desertification

A

the process of semi-arid grassland becoming degraded and drier and turning into a desert.

39
Q

What areas are most at risk from desertification

A

areas on the borders of existing deserts

40
Q

What causes desertification

A
  • climate change
  • soil erosion
  • population pressure
  • over-cultivation
41
Q

How does soil erosion lead to desertification

A

when vegetation is destroyed, the soil is exposed to the wind and rain making it vulnerable to erosion

42
Q

How does climate change lead to desertification

A

results in drier conditions and unreliable rainfall

43
Q

How does population pressure lead to desertification

A

leads to overgrazing, when vegetation is destroyed, the land will turn into desert

44
Q

How does over-cultivation lead to desertification

A

the need to produce more food can lead to the soil becoming exhausted, it will turn to dust and become infertile

45
Q

Example of desertification

A

Badia, Jordan
- annual rainfall is less than 150mm and summer temperatures exceed 40 degrees

46
Q

Strategies to reduce desertification

A
  • water and soil management
  • national parks
  • tree planting
  • appropriate technology
47
Q

How does soil and water management reduce desertification

A

Ponding banks - areas of land enclosed by low walls to store water

Contour traps - embankments built along the contours of slopes to precent soil from being washed down during heavy rainfall

48
Q

How do national parks help to reduce desertification

A

hot areas at risk have been protected by making them national parks e.g. Thar desert protects 3000km^2 of land

49
Q

What is appropriate technology and example

A

Appropriate technology - involves using methods and materials that are appropriate to their level of development
e.g. magic stones in West Africa
- low stone walls are created on the contours of slopes meaning that when rain washes down, the walls trap water and soil, increasing crops

50
Q

How does tree planting reduce desertification and benefit the desert in general

A

tree roots bind the soil together

leaves and branches provide shade, grazing for animals and fuelwood

Geography (14 decks)

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