Forests Under Threat (Edexcel GCSE Geography B)

Study Figure 2.

Figure 2 Climate graph for the taiga in Canada

i)

Identify which of the following best describes the total precipitation.

(1)

ii)

State the number of months when the precipitation is likely to fall as snow.

(1)

................................................ months

iii)

Calculate the temperature range for this area.

You must show your working.

(2)

Study Figure 3.

Figure 3

How coniferous trees can adapt to their environment

The diagram shows how coniferous trees are adapted to their environment.

State how two of these characteristics are adaptations to the environment.

Characteristic 1 ................................................

Characteristic 2 ................................................

Study Figure 2 and Figure 3.

Explain why the taiga forest biome has very low levels of productivity.

Study Figure 2. It shows facts about carbon storage in different biomes.

• Globally, around 1,500 billion tonnes of carbon are stored in three biomes.

• The carbon stored worldwide in the taiga (boreal forest) is equivalent to all emissions from human activity in the last 100 years.

• Frozen soil and ground below the taiga (boreal forest) also store greenhouse gases.

Figure 2

Global carbon storage in different biomes

i)

 Identify Forest biome X.

(1)

ii)

One benefit of forest conservation is that carbon is stored in vegetation.

Using Figure 2, explain one other benefit of forest conservation.

(2)

Study Figures 1, 2 and 3 in the Resource Booklet.

Figure 3

Conventional and unconventional oil and gas fields in Russia

Explain two reasons why the development of oil and gas may threaten parts of Russia’s taiga (boreal forest).

Study Figure 3.

Figure 3

A simplified taiga (boreal) forest food web for northwest Europe

i)

Identify which of the following is most likely to be species Y.

(1)

ii)

State one adaptation that helps many taiga animals to survive.

(1)

Define what is meant by the term abiotic.

Study Figure 4.

Figure 4

Projected temperature change (2100) and its possible impacts on Norway’s environment

Explain two reasons why temperature changes shown in Figure 4 may threaten the biodiversity of Norway’s taiga forest.