Describe the distribution of tropical rainforests.
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Describe the distribution of tropical rainforests.
The distribution of tropical rainforests is dense forest located between the tropical regions near the equator.
Name two areas of the world where tropical rainforests are located.
Tropical rainforest is located in several areas of the world including:
Amazon - Brazil and parts of seven other countries.
Central America - Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama.
Central Africa - Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.
Indo-Malaysia - Malaysia, Indonesia .
What is the average annual precipitation in a tropical rainforest?
The annual precipitation in a tropical rainforest is over 2000mm.
What is the average temperature range in the tropical rainforests?
The range of mean monthly temperatures is 26-28°C in tropical rainforests.
True or False?
The soils of the tropical rainforest are very fertile.
False.
Due to leaching and the rapid uptake of nutrients by plants, the soils are not very fertile.
Define the term latosols.
Latosols are a type of nutrient-poor soil found in tropical rainforests due to leaching and rapid nutrient uptake by plants.
True or False?
Tropical rainforests have high levels of biodiversity.
True.
Tropical rainforests have high levels of biodiversity.
Which is the largest store in the tropical rainforest's nutrient cycle?
The largest store in the tropical rainforest nutrient cycle is the biomass.
Which two processes in the nutrient cycle lead to a loss of nutrients?
The two processes in the nutrient cycle that lead to a loss of nutrients are runoff and leaching.
Define the term epiphyte.
Epiphytes are plants which grow on trunks and branches of trees. They get their nutrients from air, rain or debris accumulating around the plant.
True or False?
Geckos have prehensile tails which help them to climb trees.
False.
Geckos have large, flattened toe pads with sticky scales which allow them to grip the smooth tree trunks.
Name two of the main threats to the tropical rainforest?
There are several threats to the tropical rainforest, including:
Agriculture.
Mining.
Hydroelectric power.
Logging.
Road building and settlements.
Wildfire.
Define the term keystone species.
A keystone species is an organism (plant, animal or fungi) which is key to holding the ecosystem in balance.
Which is the densest layer of the rainforest structure?
The canopy is the densest layer of the tropical rainforest structure.
Define deforestation.
Deforestation is the felling and clearing of trees.
True or False?
Rates of deforestation steadily increased between 2001 and 2016.
True.
Rates of deforestation steadily increased from 2001 to 2016.
What has happened to deforestation since 2016?
Since 2016 there has been a slight decrease in deforestation.
Which countries are experiencing the highest levels of deforestation?
Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Bolivia and Indonesia are experiencing the highest levels of deforestation in the world.
Name the six main human causes of deforestation.
The six main human causes of deforestation are:
Agriculture.
Mining.
Logging.
Road building.
Settlements.
Hydroelectric power.
True or False?
Wildfires are a natural cause of deforestation.
True.
Wildfires are a natural cause of deforestation. Although, some people argue that climate change, caused by humans, is increasing the severity and frequency of wildfires.
Define the term monoculture.
Monoculture is the cultivation of a single crop over a large area.
What is the impact of deforestation on the nutrient cycle?
The impact of deforestation is that it removes the main store of nutrients in the biomass, disrupting the nutrient cycle.
What is the economic impact of deforestation?
The economic impact of deforestation includes more jobs in industries like mining, forestry, and agriculture, and increased income for the country through exports.
What is slash and burn?
Slash and burn is a method of clearing land by cutting down vegetation and burning it.
Give one effect of deforestation on soils.
Some of the effects of deforestation on soils are that they become:
Less fertile.
Drier.
More prone to soil erosion.
Define the term leaching.
Leaching is the process of nutrients being washed out of the soil by water.
Name some of the ways that deforestation affects Indigenous communities.
Some of the ways that deforestation affects Indigenous communities are:
The land they cultivate does not get the opportunity to recover.
Less food is available .
They may give up their way of life, leading to a loss of culture and traditions.
The water sources they use are more likely to be polluted.
True or False?
Deforestation increases the risk of landslides.
True.
Deforestation increases the risk of landslides because the roots of the trees, which hold soil together, are removed and surface runoff increases.
How many hectares of forest, on average, are cleared in Malaysia each year?
Since 2000, an average of over 140 000 hectares of forest have been felled and cleared each year.
How much of the world's palm oil does Malaysia export?
Malaysia exports over 30% of the world's palm oil and is the second largest producer.
What is the impact of deforestation on biodiversity in Malaysia?
The impacts of deforestation on biodiversity in Malaysia are:
Habitats are destroyed, effecting ecosystems, so the variety of plants and animals decrease.
Palm oil plantations lead to a 35% reduction in species.
Name two Indigenous communities in Malaysia that have been forced off their land by deforestation.
Indigenous communities such as the Orang Asli and Temiar have been forced off the land.
What are goods in an ecosystem?
Goods are tangible products that can be taken from the ecosystem, such as building materials, food crops, and medicines.
Define the term services.
Services are the benefits that ecosystems provide that are necessary for life, such as nutrient recycling, climate regulation, and recreation.
True or False?
The rainforest is often referred to as the lungs of the world.
True.
The rainforest is often referred to as the lungs of the world due to its role in gas exchange and oxygen production.
Define the term carbon sink.
A carbon sink is a natural or artificial reservoir that accumulates and stores carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
What is the value of rainforests to Indigenous communities?
Indigenous communities depend on the rainforest for food, materials, fuel, and medicines, as well as their traditional way of life.
Define the term afforestation.
Afforestation is the act of planting new trees to create a forest.
What is agroforestry?
Agroforestry is a land management practice that combines agriculture with forestry by growing trees and crops on the same land.
Define ecotourism.
Ecotourism is a form of tourism that involves responsible travel to natural areas while minimising environmental impact and supporting local communities.
What is a debt-for-nature swap?
A debt-for-nature swap is an agreement where a country's debt is reduced, in exchange for protecting the environment, such as rainforests.
How much of the world's freshwater are tropical rainforests the source of?
Tropical rainforests are the source of about 20% of the world's freshwater.
When was Brazil's DETER satellite launched?
Brazil's DETER satellite was launched in 2004. It has led to an estimated 60% reduction in large scale deforestation.
What is selective logging?
Selective logging is where trees to be felled are selected, felled and removed causing the least possible damage to surrounding trees.