8 - forests under threat

Question 1

tropical rainforest layers

Answer 1

• emergent canopy - broken through dense canopy
• epiphytes - live within canopy - get nutrients from water/air not soil
• canopy - so much food and shelter so dense and many animals
• understory - young trees with large leaves + insects
• forest floor - dark - shade loving ferns with large leaves

Question 2

poor soil in rainforest

Answer 2

• nutrients sucked up quick so not much humus
• nutrients held in biomass

Question 3

butress roots

Answer 3

big triangular roots support the weight of tall trees

Question 4

drip tips

Answer 4

rainforest plants have thick waxy leaves with drip tips so shed water quick to prevent rotting

Question 5

animal adaptations - rainforest

Answer 5

camo
loud calls - easier to find mates
prehensile tails - help balance

Question 6

causes of deforestations

Answer 6

(economic development/ pop growth)
- commercial agriculture
- biofuels
- subsistence agriculture
- commercial logging
- mining

Question 7

impact of climate change on rainforest

Answer 7

• increase temp decrease rainfall - drying - food shortages - forest fires - trees die - no habitat - animals die - loses carbon sink - reduces biodiversity

Question 8

CITES

Answer 8

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
- stopped buying + selling of the most threatened species to stop illegal hunting
- bans cross border trading

Question 9

UN-REDDD

Answer 9

Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation
- conserve and enhance forest carbon stocks
- sustainable management of forests
- funds forest conservation

Question 10

sustainable rainforest management

Answer 10

agroforestry
eco tourism

Question 11

agroforestry

Answer 11

• selective logging - only logging when fully grown
• agroforestry - allowing crops to be grown in controlled cleared areas
• replanting

Question 12

eco tourism

Answer 12

educate visitors and increase understanding of nature and cultures by doing projects to support the area

Question 13

vertical structure of the taiga

Answer 13

• shallower roots
• cone shape
• needles lower down
• seeds in cones

Question 14

animal adaptations - taiga

Answer 14

• warm thick fur
• sharp teeth
• camo
• claws to dig for food

Question 15

net primary productivity (NPP)

Answer 15

a measure of how much new animal and plant growth is added each year in g per m^2 per year

Question 16

why plant productivity is low in the taiga

Answer 16

• pine needles are tough to decompose so litter accumulates
• low precipitation / short growing season

Question 17

why does taiga have higher rates of deforestation

Answer 17

less protected
abundance

Question 18

direct/ indirect threats to taiga

Answer 18

direct
- logging
- commercial development
indirect
- river/ lake pollution from industry pollutants
- strip mining
- oil spills
-

Question 19

protecting the taiga

Answer 19

• national parks
• sustainable forestry