Tropical rainforests Flashcards
How are tropical rainforests interdpenedand?
Warm and wet climate helps bacteria to decmpose dead material rapidly. The soil can now be high in nutrients, meaning plants grow easily
Agouti are one of the onky animals that can crack the hard seed pod of the brazil nut. uf they become extinct, brazil nut tree numbers decline
How are humans interfering with these ecosystems?
Defofrestaion can contribute to climate change. With fewer trees, soil would have less protection from heavy rainfall, meaning nutrients would wash away, making plants struggle to grow
What order is the four layers of plants
Emergeny trees
MAin canopy
Under canopy
Shrub layer
HOw have plants adapter to physical conditions
PLangts have thick waxy leaves with pointed drip tips, encouragig runoff so the water doesnt damage plant
LArge stable buttress roots support tall trees trunks
HOw are animals adapted to rainforests
Sloths are nocturnal, they feed at nightbwhen its cooler this helps them to save energy
Leaf tailed geckos are camoflauged so they can hide from predators
WHy is the amazon being cut down?
Commercial farming - Forest is clear for cattle grazing or fro huge plantations. IN brazil, theyre around 200 million cattle on about 450,000 km of pasture
Subsitence Farming- Forest is cleared by people who need land to grow food for their families
Commercial logging - AMazon is full of valuable mahogany which make it tempting to both illgeal and legal businesses
Mineral extraction- gold and copper are mined and exported to boost country dveleopment
Population gorwth- Brazil offers land in rainforest to poor people nfrom overcrowded cities, putting more pressure in the amazon
What are the economic and environmental impacts of the amazon?
Climate change- Deforestation releases CO2 in air, up to 75% of Brazil’s CO2 emission comes from deforestation
Soil erosion- With less tree canopy to intercept rainfall, more water reaches rhe soil (which lowers soil fertiltiuy) meaning nutrients are washed away. THis may leasd to landlsides and floding in the future
Economic- FArming bring money, e.g. BRazil exported &600 million of beef.
Logging can destgroy resources that countries dpeend on e.g. timber and it can reduce attrivtiveess for tourists
How can tropical rainforests be sustainably managed
Replanting- THis is when new trees are planted to replace ones that are cut dpown
Selective logging- ONly some trees e.eg. old ones are felled, this means the canopy remains and soil isnt exposed, allowing foresyt to regenerate
Ecotoruism - If a country’s economy relies on ecotourism theres an incentive to conserve the environment, since less trees are cut down, it helpsw economically because more people get jobs. e.g. Ecotourism is the largest sourc eof income for the country
Education- educating people about impact of deforestation can lower damage tpo rainforests. you can teach them alternative ways to make money so theu dont stick to unsustainable ways
