Gcse Geography Tropical Rainforests Flashcards
tropical rainforests
1. close to the equator2. hot and wet all year round
climate of TRFs
1. no definite seasons2. hot (20-28°) - sun is overhead all year round3. rainfall very high (2000mm/year) - rains every day
soil in TRFs
1. isn't very fertile - rain washes nutrients away2. very thin nutrient layer - decay is fast due to conditions
plants in TRFs
1. most trees evergreen2. dense vegetation cover
animals in TRFs
believed to contain more animal species than any other ecosystem
people in TRFs
home to indigenous people who live in tribes
what is an interdependent ecosystem?
all parts of the ecosystem are dependent on one another
biodiversity
variety of organisms living in a particular area
buttress roots
support base of tall trees and help transport water
drip tip
allow heavy rain to drip off the leaf
lianas
climbing plant that uses tree trunks to climb to the sunlight
4 layers of the rainforest
emergents, canopy, undercanopy, shrub layer
ways animals have adapted (4)
1. strong limbs2. birds have short, pointy wings3. camouflage4. nocturnal animals
reasons for deforestation (6)
1. population pressure2. mineral extraction3. energy development4. commercial logging5. commercial farming6. subsistence farming
environmental impacts of deforestation (3)
1. rain washes away soil (soil erosion) - landslides, flooding2. soil fertility reduced - nutrients washed3. produces more CO2 and adds to greenhouse effect
economic impacts of deforestation
1. creates jobs2. improves economy3. can destroy resources in the long run4. livelihoods of local people destroyed
give an example of a tropical rainforest
the amazon rainforest (CASE STUDY)
how big is the amazon rainforest?
8 million km squared
what countries does the amazon cover?
brazil, peru, colombia, venezuela, ecuador, bolivia, guyana, suriname, french guiana
causes of deforestation in the amazon (5)
1. commercial cattle ranching2. subsistence farming3. other commercial farming4. logging5. other activities (e.g. mineral extraction, road building)
environmental impacts of deforestation in the amazon (2)
1. releases CO2 - causes global warming2. brazil is losing 55 million tons of topsoil due to soil erosion
economic impacts of deforestation in the amazon
1. brings wealth to countries2. farming makes a lot of money - brazil made $6.9 billion from cattle (2008)3. mining industry creates jobs - company in peru employs over 3100 people4. logging contributes a hug amount to brazil's economy5. local brasilian rubber tappers have lost their livliehoods
why is it important to protect all rainforests?
to preserve its biodiversity - maintaining the high diversity of plants and animals is important to people and the environment
give 7 examples of sustainable management in the TRF
1. selective logging2. replanting3. ecotourism4. international hardwood agreements5. education6. reducing debt7. conservation
selective logging
only some trees (e.g. older one) are felled, most trees are left standing
ecotourism
tourism that minimises damage to the environment and the benefit the local people