Tropical Rainforest

• Why are tropical rainforests called "tropical"?

  They are located between the Tropic of Cancer and Capricorn
• What is the average temperature of tropical rainforests?

  27 degrees Celsius
• How much rainfall do tropical rainforests receive annually?

  2,500 millimeters per year
• What is the Hadley cell's role in tropical rainforests?

  It causes rising warm air and daily rainfall
• What are the four levels of vegetation in a rainforest?

  • Forest floor (shrub layer)
  • Under canopy
  • Canopy
  • Emergent layer
• What is the sunlight availability like at the forest floor?

  Only 2% sunlight reaches the forest floor
• What characterizes the canopy layer of the rainforest?

  It appears as a dense blanket of trees
• How tall can the emergent layer trees grow?

  Over 40 meters high
• What are buttress roots and why are they important?

  They stabilize tall trees in shallow soil
• Why do rainforest trees have shallow roots?

  Soil is infertile and lacks nutrients
• What is a Liana?

  A vine that climbs trees for sunlight
• What is a parasitic plant in the rainforest called?

  An epiphyte
• What is the function of drip tips on rainforest leaves?

  To allow water to drip off easily
• How do leaves contribute to the forest floor ecosystem?

  They decompose and provide nutrients
• What is the average temperature in tropical rainforests?

  27 degrees Celsius
• What are the two seasons in the rainforest?

  Wet season and slightly drier season
• What adaptations do howler monkeys have for survival?

  Long limbs and a prehensile tail
• How does the three-toed sloth avoid predation?

  By moving slowly and being camouflaged
• What are the main reasons for deforestation in the Amazon rainforest?

  • Logging for economic gain
  • Road construction for development
  • Agriculture expansion
• What is the primary economic reason for deforestation in the Amazon?

  Logging for timber and resources
• What is one of the main uses of roads in the Amazon rainforest?

  Facilitating logging and development
• What animal is known for being camouflaged in the forest?

  Three-toed sloth
• Why is the three-toed sloth hard to spot?

  It moves slowly and has moss on its back
• What is one of the main reasons for deforestation in the Amazon rainforest?

  Logging
• What is the economic reason behind deforestation in the Amazon rainforest?

  To generate money through resources
• What type of mining is prevalent under the Amazon rainforest?

  Gold mining
• What is opencast mining?

  Mining that spreads over a wide area
• What is the primary agricultural activity contributing to deforestation?

  Cattle farming
• Why does cattle farming lead to soil infertility?

  It requires space and removes tree cover
• What is leaching in the context of deforestation?

  Nutrients washed out by rainfall
• How does deforestation affect the soil?

  It makes the soil infertile
• What are the social impacts of deforestation on native people?

  They are often displaced and face diseases
• What is a significant environmental impact of deforestation?

  Increased CO2 emissions
• What happens to biodiversity when trees are cut down?

  It decreases significantly
• What is one of the goods provided by tropical rainforests?

  Prescription medicines
• How do trees help in fighting climate change?

  They trap CO2 in their biomass
• What are the three main management strategies for the rainforest?

  1. Debt reduction
  2. Eco-tourism
  3. Selective logging
• What is debt reduction in the context of rainforest management?

  Canceling debt in exchange for conservation
• What is eco-tourism?

  Educational travel that supports conservation
• Why is selective logging often misunderstood?

  It damages more trees than it saves