Rainforest

Question 1

Physical characteristics of rainforests

Answer 1

Close to the equator, high temperatures, high levels of rainfall, and large levels of biodiversity

Question 2

Adaptions in plants and animals in the rainforest

Answer 2

Plants: Trees develop buttress roots which stableize the tree and also allow for more gas exchange to occur through them.
Animal: Animals such as the sloth use camouflage and move very slowly to make them more difficult to spot

Question 3

Problems and issues with changing biodiversity

Answer 3

If we were to change the biodiversity we may throw off the intricate food web and mess with the interdependence within the rainforest

Question 4

Deforestation

Answer 4

The rates for deforestation are increasing in the AMAZON rainforest as country’s that are lic or nee need the forest and use it as a reliable source of income

Question 5

Subsistence and a Commercial farming

Answer 5

Subsistence farming is farming for food for the farmers whereas commercial farming is farming to sell and make money.
These cause deforestation as they need someone to clear out the forest for the room for farming and the soil is not too high quality and needs to be replaced all the time and more trees need to be cut.

Question 6

Logging

Answer 6

This is causing deforestation as trees are cut down for sale as firewood or for burning for heat or energy

Question 7

Road building

Answer 7

Roads being constructed involves cutting down trees but it also allows equipment to be brought in and used for cutting down trees deeper into the rainforest

Question 8

Mineral extraction

Answer 8

In the Amazon the main mineral being mined for is gold and large amounts of forest are cleared for this mining

Question 9

Energy development

Answer 9

Hydro electric power stations are being built due to a near unlimited source of of water. Trees are cut down to make room for flooding to allow the station work

Question 10

Settlement

Answer 10

Due to an increasing population, more housing is going to be needed and therefore people are resorting to clearing areas of land for housing

Question 11

Economic development

Answer 11

Countries such as Brasil have been able to economically develop using the rainforest as a resource

Question 12

Soil erosion

Answer 12

The top layer of soil is the most nutrient and with no trees blocking the way it will easily wash away with a little rainfall

Question 13

Contribution to climate change

Answer 13

Trees are a large carbon store and therefore when burned they release high levels of carbon dioxide, there fore contributing to climate change

Question 14

Selective logging and replanting

Answer 14

This involves only chopping down a certain type of tree and then replanting them

Question 15

Conservation and education

Answer 15

By education the people around about the rainforest and the need for biodiversity they will feel the need to keep it

Question 16

Ecotourism

Answer 16

This is encouraged sustainable tourism to which will create jobs for locals as well as keeping the rainforest safe

Question 17

International agreements

Answer 17

The itto is an international organisation which focuses on the conservation of rainforests

Question 18

Debt reduction

Answer 18

Poorer countries which have some of the rainforest can swap this to reduce any debt they owe to richer countries