Tropical Rainforest

• Found near the Equator. The climate is hot and humid and many different species can be found here.
• Climate:

  • hot and humid atmosphere
  • consistent climate all year round
  • 2000m rainfall per year (very wet)
• Soil:

  • not very fertile
  • red because rich in iron
  • thin layer of fertile soil where dead leaves decompose
• Wildlife:

  • perfect condition for plant growth
  • wild range of plant life that support different animals
  • Species adapted to conditions of rainforest e.g trees have shallow roots for fertile soil
• Structure of rainforest:

  -Emergents: tall trees, 50m tall, 1-2 trees per acre

  -Main canopy: tall trees, vines, hosts 50% of rainforest life, 40-50m tall

  -Under canopy: younger saplings competing for light, 10-12m tall

  -Shrub level: dense and dark with small plants, 1-2m
• Rainforest nutrient cycle

  A) nutrients

  B) decomposes

  
• tropical rainforests uses

  • regulate composition of the atmosphere
  • maintain soil health
  • influence the hydrological cycle
• tropical rainforest goods:

  -food e.g nuts

  -cash crops

  -medicine

  -raw medicines including timber, palm oil making Indonesia $12 billion
• Deforestation occurs due to

  • Pastoral farming
  • Logging: cutting down valuable trees
  • Mining
  • Roads
• Impacts of tropical rainforest loss:

  • Soil erosion: no nutrients so roots can't hold the soil together
  • Loss of biodiversity
  • Climate change
  • Economic development
• Managing tropical rainforests (e.g Costa Rican rainforest):

  • selective logging and replanting
  • educate
  • forest conservation projects
  • creating national parks
  • wildlife corridors