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GCSE Geography > 7) Forests Under Threat > Flashcards

7) Forests Under Threat Flashcards

(65 cards)

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1
Q

Why can rainforests support large animal populations?

A

The vegetation is very dense creating lots of food for plant eating animals who become prey for meat eating animals

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2
Q

What effect does deforestation have on the quality of rainforest soil?

A

Soil erosion increases, reducing quality of soil and ability to support large animal populations

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3
Q

Why does deforestation happen quickly in the rainforest?

A

The climate is humid, warm and moist

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4
Q

What does nutrient rich soil mean for plant growth?

A

Plants grow very fast

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5
Q

What are characteristics of the top layer of the rainforest?

A

Emergent layer
Captures most sunlight
Tallest plants live here

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6
Q

What are characteristics of the lower layer of the rainforest?

A

Forest floor

High surface area leaves to absorb sunlight

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7
Q

How have plants adapted to tropical rainforests?

A

Waxy coating prevents leaves being pulled from trees
Smooth layer of thin bark helps rain run off tree
Climbing vines/ plants compete for sunlight by growing up trees’ trunks
Buttress roots spread to cover a wide area deep underground to absorb more nutrients

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8
Q

How are monkeys adapted to the rainforest?

A

Strong limbs and tails to live in trees

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9
Q

How are flying squirrels adapted to the rainforest?

A

‘Wings’ made of skin to glide between trees

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10
Q

How have chameleons adapted to rainforests?

A

Change skin colour to blend in with trees

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11
Q

How have sloths adapted to rainforests?

A

Nocturnal to preserve energy

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12
Q

How have anteaters adapted to the rainforest?

A

Nocturnal to preserve energy

Increased sense of hearing and smell due to low light levels

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13
Q

How have jaguars adapted to the rainforest?

A

Skin camouflages to jungle

Jaguars swim across rivers

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14
Q

What are tropical animals adapted to do?

A

Find food

Escape predators

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15
Q

Where are most nutrients stored in rainforests?

A

Biomass

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16
Q

What factors cause most nutrients in the rainforest to be biomass?

A

Evergreen trees drop leaves year round
Warm, humid, moist climate cause quick decomposition
Large biodiversity and plant life

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17
Q

What is biodiversity?

A

How many different species of plant and animal life are in an ecosystem

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18
Q

What percentage of Earth’s species live in the rainforest?

A

50%

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19
Q

Why is the rainforest a stable ecosystem?

A

Similar climate year round

No extreme weather events such as snow or heatwaves

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20
Q

What are threats to rainforests’ biodiversity?

A

Deforestation
Construction
Economic development

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21
Q

Why do rainforests have complex food webs?

A

There are lots of primary and secondary consumers

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22
Q

What percentage of Earth do tropical rainforests cover?

A

6%

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23
Q

What are boreal forests also called?

A

Taiga forests

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24
Q

What is the most common biome on Earth?

A

The taiga

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25
What plants are found in the taiga?
Evergreen plants Coniferous pines and firs Moss
26
What is the climate of the taiga?
10°C peak in summer -20° C winter Little rainfall
27
What animals are found in the taiga?
Not much biodiversity due to freezing temperatures | Wolves, eagles, black bears
28
What is the soil like in the taiga?
Permafrost Decomposition takes a long time due to lack of enzyme function Soil layers thin Little nutrients
29
What effect does deforestation have in the taiga?
Removed shade for permafrost | Melting frost releases carbon and water creating floods
30
What preserves permafrost year round in the taiga?
Shade from the tree canopy
31
How are plants adapted to the taiga?
Evergreen trees allow year round photosynthesis Cone shaped trees store little heavy snow Pine needles reduce surface area and water loss
32
How are animals adapted to the taiga?
Hibernation to save energy in long winters Small animals for a small surface-area to volume ratio preserving heat loss White camouflage Consumers migrate away in coldest months
33
What is the rate of nutrient cycling in the taiga?
Slow
34
Why is the nutrient cycle slow in the taiga?
Evergreen trees drop leaves year round | Dry and cold climate causes decomposer enzymes to operate slowly
35
Where is the majority of nutrients stored in the taiga?
Dead leaves (litter)
36
What are reasons for the lack of biodiversity in the taiga?
Low temperature and rainfall prevents nutrient rich soil | Made of ice 20,000 years ago
37
Why is deforestation happening so quickly in the rainforest? (5)
``` Farming and agriculture Mining and raw materials Construction of power plants Growing population Commercial logging ```
38
What are reasons for farming and agriculture in tropical rainforests?
Rising population needs more rescources
39
What threats does climate change pose to the rainforest?
Drought and ecosystem stress | Forest fires
40
What is an indirect threat to the rainforest?
Climate change
41
What is a direct threat to the rainforest?
Deforestation
42
What are economic impacts of Amazonian deforestation?
Fuels economic development of poor countries | Creats jobs
43
What are environmental impacts of Amazonian deforestation?
100bn tonnes of carbon stored in wood of trees in Amazon | Trees anchor soil and without them soil fertility would be damaged
44
What are indirect threats to the taiga?
Exploitation of minerals and fossil fuels (tar sands) | HEP
45
What are direct threats to the taiga?
Pulp and paper production | Logging for softwood
46
What are non-human causes of biodiversity loss in the taiga?
Pests and diseases Forest fires and climate change Acid precipitation
47
Why are wildfires common in the taiga in the summer?
Needles and the ground is very dry
48
Why is the taiga suffering from acid rain?
Combustion of fossil fuels can release sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides which reduce soil fertility and kill fish in lakes
49
What are the 2 key methods of rainforest conservation?
REDD | CITES
50
What are advantages of REDD?
Supported by UN so has support of large NGOs Pays countries that reduce their levels of deforestation Helps to increase the number of trees
51
What are disadvantages of REDD?
Countries are only payed if they can prove that their emissions have fallen A country can cut down trees and replace them with palm oil plantations Does not monitor if changes are sustainable
52
What are advantages of CITES?
Protects 5,800 animal species and 29,000 plant species Global treaty so everyone has to abide by it Can limit or control the trade of certain species between countries
53
What are disadvantages of CITES?
Controlled trade of species only regulates transport of life between nations, hutning and selling could occur nationally Not all nations have signed the treaty and not all signed nations abide by it
54
What is the price per ton of carbon dioxide not emitted under REDD?
$5
55
What is the aim of REDD?
Incentivise forest owners in poorer countries to look after their forest
56
What is the aim of CITES?
Strictly control the trade of wild animals and plants
57
What are strategies of sustainably managing the rainforest?
``` Replanting International hardwood agreements Economic development and debt forgiveness Ecotourism Conservation and education Selective logging ```
58
What are challenges to sustainable forest management?
LIC need the economic benefits Replanting trees is not guranateed to have the same impact as not cutting down trees Change is only beneficial long term and people think short term An individual is better off logging
59
What are short term vs long term challenges to sustainable forest management?
Eco tourism is only profitable long term Logging and mining provide higher income short term Deforestation and climate change is felt over decades whereas losing a job is felt today Unemeployment could cause governments to lose short term elections
60
What is the tragedy of the commons?
Every individual has access to forests but the costs are felt by everyone
61
What industries could provide alternative employment than logging?
Ecotourism | Sustainable farming
62
What are the 3 ways of conserving the taiga?
National Parks Wilderness areas Sustainable forestry
63
What are wilderness areas?
Areas humans are not allowed to disturb
64
What is sustainable forestry?
Logging in a sustainable way Selective logging Replanting
65
What are national parks?
Areas which limit certain activities such as logging

GCSE Geography (9 decks)

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