tropical rainforests

Question 1

biomes definition

Answer 1

area of the planet with similar climate and landscape where similar plants and animals live

Question 2

biodiversity definition

Answer 2

measure of the variety of living organisms within a particular habitat, ecosystem, biome or all over earth

Question 3

3 characteristics of tropical rainforests

Answer 3

found along the equator between tropics of cancer and capricorn
wet and hot conditions all year round causing rapid nutrient cycling
temps between 27-30 degrees and high rainfall

Question 4

what is the emergent layer

Answer 4

tallest trees above the canopy who maximises amount of sunlight but have to withstand high temperatures, low humidity and high wind speeds

Question 5

what is the canopy layer

Answer 5

dense trees with lots of branches and leaves who block most of the sunlight

Question 6

what is the understory?

Answer 6

lots of smaller trees and lots plants who only receive 5% of sunlight

Question 7

what is the shrub layer

Answer 7

where only 2% of sunlight is received so only plants adapted to low light can grow
also warm and humid conditions promotes rapid decay

Question 8

plants adaptations (3)

Answer 8

think waxy leaves to protect against heat
large buttressed roots support trees as they grow very tall
drip tips allow water to be channelled to the end of the plant without damaging it

Question 9

animal adaptations (5)

Answer 9

camouflage (geckos), strong curved claws (sloths), prehensile tail and long strong limbs (monkeys), bright colours (poison dart frog),

Question 10

3 threats to biodiversity

Answer 10

deforestation - habitat loss
climate change - alters temps/rainfall
hunting - species extinction

Question 11

how can commercial farming lead to deforestation

Answer 11

as land is cleared for cattle farming or large plantations such as soybeans

Question 12

how can subsistence farming lead to deforestation

Answer 12

as small scale farmers need land to grow food for themselves and family and slash and burn techniques are used which can cause infertile soil

Question 13

how can logging lead to deforestation

Answer 13

as valuable hardwood trees are felled (cut down and used) for timber or paper

Question 14

how does mining lead to deforestation

Answer 14

as forests are cleared for mines and deep pits which can lead to soil erosion, minerals such as copper, gold and iron can be mined and sold to make money

Question 15

what’s the largest ore mine in the world

Answer 15

carajas mine in brazil

Question 16

how can energy development lead to deforestation and example

Answer 16

building HEP dams flood large areas of the forest
balbina dam flooded 2500km2 of forest

Question 17

how can road building lead to deforestation and example

Answer 17

construction of roads for access for farmers, miners and loggers destroys most of the forest
e.g trans amazonian highway is over 4000km long

Question 18

how can population growth lead to deforestation

Answer 18

as more land is cleared for houses, infrastructure and resources

Question 19

3 impacts of deforestation
1 positive, 2 negative

Answer 19

economic developments, soil erosion and climate change

Question 20

how can deforestation lead to economic developments (3) and example

Answer 20

1) job opportunities in mining, farming and logging
2) better transport allow new area to be used for industrial development
2) businesses pay taxes which improve public services eg schools and hospitals
eg brazil is the 2nd worlds biggest exporter for soybeans

Question 21

how can deforestation lead to soil erosion and what natural disasters (2)

Answer 21

as the soil is exposed to rainfall, the topsoil is removed so there are no more roots to hold the soil together so it’s rapidly eroded leading to landslides (also less vegetation growth)
can also contribute to flooding as the soil gets washed into river beds, making them shallower

Question 22

how can deforestation lead to climate change (2)

Answer 22

as when trees are cut down, less leaves are left for photosynthesis which absorb CO2
burning vegetation also releases CO2, enhancing greenhouse effect

Question 23

how are tropical rainforests valuable to humans (4)

Answer 23

medicine - contains 1/4 of worlds medicine
water - important source of clean water
resources - valuable hardwood and fruits and nuts
climate - reduces climate change as trees absorb CO2

Question 24

how are tropical rainforests valuable to the environment (4)

Answer 24

contains 1/2 of worlds species which are at risk of extinction
acts as a global carbon sinks
valuable for water and nutrient cycling
protection from soil erosion

Question 25

how can selective logging make managing rainforests more sustainable (3)

Answer 25

Only felling trees that are fully grown and letting younger trees grow. Protects ground from erosion and protects the ecosystem. Loggers remove dead trees, so vegetation is mostly preserved.

Question 26

how can education and conservation make managing rainforests more sustainable (3)

Answer 26

Making ecology/environmental studies compulsory in schools. Encourage people to buy products from sustainable sources and reduce damage to rainforests. Nature reserves in rainforests can restrict damaging activities and protect biodiversity.

Question 27

how can ecotourism make managing rainforests more sustainable (4)

Answer 27

1) Protects the environment whilst supporting local communities. 2) Small-scale tourism that uses local resources to avoid imports of non-renewables from abroad. 3) Generates income for locals (tour guides etc.) and brings money for rainforest conservation. 4) Raises awareness about conservation issues and biodiversity e.g. endangered species.

Question 28

how can international agreements make managing rainforests more sustainable (2)

Answer 28

(ITTA) ensures that wood from tropical areas is legally sourced. (FSC) marks products from sustainably managed forests with their label and aims to reduce demand for rare hardwood trees.

Question 29

how can debt reductoon make managing rainforests more sustainable (2)

Answer 29

Some HICs agree to cancel the debts of LICs in return for protecting their rainforests. This guarantees that money is spent on conservation (e.g. USA relieved some of Brazil’s debt).

Question 30

features of deciduous forests

Answer 30

o 4 distinct seasons (warm summers and cool winters). o Rain all year round o Trees shed their leaves because of lower temperatures in winter. o Fertile soils due to leaf litter decomposition. o Animals such as foxes, squirrels, and birds.

Question 31

features of coniferous forests

Answer 31

o Cold winters and short, mild summers. o Low annual rainfall and lots of snow. o Trees have needle-like leaves and are adapted to the cold. o Thin, acidic soils and slow decomposition. o Animals such as bears, wolves, and deer.

Question 32

features of tundra forests

Answer 32

o Very cold all year and low precipitation o No trees (just shrubs and mosses) and short growing season. o Frozen soil and poor drainage. o Animals such as polar bears, arctic foxes, and reindeers.

Question 33

features of savanna forests

Answer 33

o Hot all year with distinct wet and dry seasons o Tall grasses, few trees, and drought-resistant plants. o Infertile soil with fast drainage (rain can cause leaching). o Animals such as lions, elephants, and giraffes.

Question 34

plant adaptations

Answer 34

o Thick, waxy leaves protect against heat. o Drip-tip leaves allow water to be channelled to the end without damaging the plant. o Large, buttressed roots support the trees as they grow very tall. Lianas climb up trees to reach sunlight for photosynthesis.

Question 35

what are global carbon sinks

Answer 35

natural systems that absorb more carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere than they release.