Forests Under Threat Flashcards
(67 cards)
1
Q
Where are tropical rainforests found?
A
near equator
2
Q
Describe TR climate
A
warm and wet because close to equator so higher conc of suns radiation
3
Q
Name the layers in the rainforest highest to lowest
A
- Emergent layer
- Canopy Layer
- Under Canopy
- Forest floor
4
Q
Emergent layer
A
- sparsely populated
- birds and butterflies
- seeds are often winged so they can spread by the wind
- eagles, bats, monkeys
- 100m trees
5
Q
Canopy layer
A
- Tall and straight trees, 20-40m
- leaves have pointed tips for rain to drip off
- large leaves - abosrb lots of light
- 90% organisms live here
6
Q
Under Canopy
A
- 10-20m
- young trees that fight for sunlight
- sloths, howler monkeys
- plants have a difficult time with pollination because of lack of air movement
- vines and creepers and lianas hitch up a lift to sunlight on tree trunks
7
Q
What are lianas adaptations?
A
- vines that climb up trees to get sunlight
- pulls nutrients out of tree - death
- start from base, humus layer, means they absorb more nutrient becayse humus is nutrient rich
- also get water from bottom
8
Q
Forest floor
A
- 2% of sunlight
- steamy, damp and humid
- rapid decomoposition
- 0-10m high
- jaguars, alligators, insects (earthworms and beetles)
- little rainfall reaching plants here so nearly none grow here
- buttress roots
9
Q
What are buttress roots adaptations?
A
- smooth bark so lianas cant attach
- wide base to stabalise tree so tree doesnt fall, large SA, grow taller to reach sunlight
- shallow roots because humus layer is where leaves decompose - rich in nutrients
10
Q
Humus layer
A
- found on forest floor
- layer of dead decaying plants and animals
- lots of nutrients at surface of soil
- improves soil structure and moisture
11
Q
Describe the nutrient cycle of a TR
A
- Large biomass
- Small litter
- Medium soil
12
Q
Why is there a high biomass in TR
A
- TR is hot and wet, therefore vegetation grows better due to rapid decomposition
- high rainfall
- high biodiversity,
13
Q
Why is there small litter in TR?
A
- Fast decomposition of organic matter due to warm and humid conditions
- nutrient poor soil - constant cycle of FD = nutrients are locked in the biomass itself instead of soil, so forest floor is free of organic matter
14
Q
Why is soil nutrient poor in TR?
A
- Leaching caused by heavy rainfall - nutrients washed away from soil, loss of minerals and nutrients for plants to grow in
- nutrients mainly in living plants rather the in soil
- rapid decomposition - nutrients released by it are absorbed by plants so little organic matte rin soil
15
Q
Why is soil medium sized in nutrient cycle?
A
- stores some nutrients but not as many as plants
- due to leaching - rainfall washes minerals away
- nutrients taken up quickly by plants due to rapid decomposition
- so soil doesnt store a lot nutrients
16
Q
Drip tips adaptations
A
- smooth glossy outer layer - traps moisture, stops it drying out
- drip tips - rainwater flow off quickly - prevents fungus and pathogens to grow
- fan shape - directs water through main channel
- wax - prevents water loss
17
Q
Adaptations of sloths
A
- long curved claws to hook on tree branches - remain attached for long, out of reach of predators
- camouflage greenish fur - avoid predators
- fur grows away from feet so rain drips off - algae gives greenish tint
18
Q
Adaptations of macaw
A
- strong beak - open nuts
- colourful feathers - communication, blend in
- large wings - long flights
19
Q
TR Direct Threats
A
- urbanisation
- mining
- fires
- climate change
- farmland - cattleranching - 60%
- deforestation - logs
- illegal activities
20
Q
detrivore
A
eats dead animals and faeces
21
Q
Indirect threats to TR
A
- Clmate change
- Pollution
- Global trade
- Mining
- Unsustainable tourism
- Gov regulations
22
Q
How does climate threat TR
A
- High temp and rainfall patterns
- droughts and flooding + storms
- stress organisms, harder to survive
23
Q
How does global trade TR
A
- high demand for palm oil and timber - high deforestation to make space for plantations
- destroys habitats, bad biodiversity
24
Q
How does pollution TR
A
- chemicals from agriculture pollute soil and water
- reduces health
25
How does tourism TR
* trampling vegetation or waste
* disturb
26
How does government policies threat TR
* corrupt - encourage deforestation through lack of regulation
* less trees
27
How does fires threat TR
* to clear land for farming
* air pollution + climate change
28
How does illegal activities threat TR
* poaching- more deforestation, harm wildlife
29
How does transpiration threat TR
* more water loss
* herbivores haveno food
* carnivores have no food
* extinction due to broken food chain
30
Why should we protect TR?
* indigenous tribes
* habitat for animals
* resources
* balanced with urbanisation
* carbon sink - reduces pollution, stores co2 like ocean
31
What are global actions?
internation organisation tried to create int agreements to protect TR
Mmeber countries receive aid when they singn up
32
CITES
* monitors int trade in endangered species to ensure it doesnt endanger
* ensure trade in wild organisms is sutainble and legal
| stops animal trade
33
Adv of CITES
* Success in reducing ivory trade and stopping decline of african elephant
* many countries signed up + co operate on trade of animals
34
disad of CITES
* relies on countries setting up, monitoring and funding project - developing countries cant afford
* protect species, not ecosystems therefore doesnt prevent deforestation
* species need to be under threat before action taken, butmight be too late to make a diff that point
35
G20 Green Climate Fund
* helps developing countries build renewable energy sources and ensure forest conservation
36
disad of G20 fund
* lengthy waiting periods for financial aid
* lots of commmunication needed and money
37
adv of G20 Green Climate Fund
* financial assitance to countries
* sustainable development and solutions to climate change
38
How much did Brazil receive for reduing deforestation?
96.5m dollars
better policing, laws
39
ecotourism
tousim that beneefits local ppl and does little harm to environment
40
agroforestry
a sustainable form of farming where crops are grown between trees
41
selective logging
allowing some trees to grow
42
REDD
* stop deforestation
* afforestation
* reduce their own co2 emissions
* Provides funding which results in forest being protected
43
advan of REDD
* countries more likely to take direct actionsbecause they are getting a financial reward, rather than simply doing it for environmental benefit
* they're monitorying and reporting to ensure countries are doing smth. Means action must be taken to earn money
44
disad of REDD
* scheme fousses on low income countries - may shift blame towards them rather than developed countries who deforest more
* criticised for putting an economic value on forests
45
Kilum-Ljim (cameroon africa)
* conserve forest so future gen can use it rather than destroying it
* mountainous area
* biodiversity hotspot
* endangered species
* deforestation
* managed by local communities and NGOS
* benefit from ecoturism
46
Climate of taiga
* 2 seasons - winter and cummer
* harsh winters
* 20 to -20
47
plant adaptation in taiga
* needle shaped leaves - reduced water loss, minimising transpiration, snow shedding - prevent braches from breaking under heavy snow, wax coated = prevents water loss
48
diff between taiga and TR
* Taiga - plants have deep roots, not shallow
* colder in taiga
* lower biodiversity in taiga
* nutrient poor and acidic soil in taiga, TR = rich in iron and Al
* coniferous trees, sparse vegetation in taiga but dense broadleaf evergreen trees in TR
49
One animal adaptation in taiga
* Bears hibernate = store fat, live unerground in caves = warmer.
* strong paws and claws for digging and piercing fish and moving around terrain
50
Pine Tree adaptations
* seeds protected by woody cones
* tree roots are shallow but wide to support tree
* cone shape allows it to shed snow
* thick layer of pine needles on forest floor, they're acidic - prevents other plants from growing
* branches are flexible and bend downward to shed winter snow and not break
* evergreen - photosynthesis in short growing season as tem prises
51
Boreal
type of forest in high nothern latitudes also called taiga
52
Coniferous
Having needles instead of leaves; most trees have cones and are evergreen
53
Subartic climate
climate zone that runs around the northern hemis. just south of the Arctic, plants from growing taiga
54
Tundra
cold,treeless biome found in highest latitudes Arctic and Antarctic or tops of mountains, low precipitation
55
Taiga
A forest ecosystem in the subsarctic regions of canada, russia and alaska
56
How has the moose adapted in the taiga?
* largest animal in the taiga
* eats aquatic plants + grass
* eat pine needles and spruce needles by thick lips
* Thick coat keeps warm
* long legs to walk in snow
57
How is the Great Horned Owl adapted in the taiga?
* sharp, big talons to grasp prey
* thick plumage to trap air for warmth
* large beak to kill
* "silent flight" - catch prey quietly
58
Nutrient cycle in the taiga
* slow
* largest = litter = decomposes slowly due to coil and acidic soil
* soil - small because snow covers it
59
Threats to the taiga
* logging for soft wood
* paper and pulp production (deforestation)
* tar sand oil mining
60
Direct threat to taiga - logging for soft wood
* mills built in taiga
* trees cut down and logs transported to sawmills where they are cut for timber
* long term - disrupt carbon stroage, fire vulnerability, degrade biodiversity, irreversible changes in ecosystem
* no efforts to replant trees
61
Direct threat to taiga - paper and pulp production
* logs send to paper mills where trees --> pulp
* logging releases lots of stored carbon = climate change
* degrades critical wildlife habitats
* LT = causes carbon storage capacity to decrease, loss f biodiversisity
62
Strip mining
involves digging large holes in the ground to es + minerals
63
Indirect threat to taiga - Tar sands/ oil and gas (ff)
* clcearing lots of land to reach oil rich sand deposits
* wastewater from tar sand extraction - leakage to ecosystem + affects water quality
* clicmate change by ghg
* habitat fragmentation, loss of biodiversity, deforestation
64
# conif tree
Forest fire in taiga - what increases its chance
* coniferous trees have sticky resin that burn easily
* summers = hot and dry
* summer storms = lighting strikes
* thick carpet of pine needlelitter = can start a fire
65
Protecting taiga project
Wood Buffalo National Park,Canada
* to protect mountain bison from hunting
* mix of taiga + wetland, important for migratory birds
* UNESCO WHS due to rarity of bison
* tourism
* canadian gov not doing enough to protect it
66
2 global actions which help protect the rainforest + explain
* REDD - Provides funding - protects rainforest
* CITIES - stops animal trade - helps endangered animals
67
biodiversity
diversity of animals and plants
