Rainforest

• What is the climate of tropical rainforests like?

  Hot and wet all year round
• Why is the temperature in tropical rainforests consistent throughout the year?

  Because the sun is overhead all year
• How much rainfall do tropical rainforests receive annually?

  About 2000 mm per year
• What effect does heavy rainfall have on rainforest soil?

  It washes nutrients away, making soil poor
• What type of trees dominate tropical rainforests?

  Evergreen trees
• Why do many trees in tropical rainforests grow tall?

  To reach sunlight in dense vegetation
• What are epiphytes?

  Plants that grow on other living plants
• Why are many rainforest animals brightly colored?

  To attract mates or warn predators
• What do many rainforest people rely on for their livelihood?

  Hunting, fishing, and gathering
• How are the components of the rainforest ecosystem interdependent?

  • Climate supports plant growth
  • Plants provide food and habitat for animals
  • Animals help with pollination and seed dispersal
  • Changes in one component affect the entire ecosystem
• How does the warm and wet climate affect plant growth in rainforests?

  It allows for quick growth and dense cover
• What role do agouti play in the rainforest ecosystem?

  They help disperse Brazil nut seeds
• What do epiphytes depend on for nutrients?

  Rainfall for water and nutrients
• What are the consequences of deforestation in rainforests?

  Increased CO₂ levels and climate change
• What is the nutrient cycle in tropical rainforests?

  Nutrients move through living organisms, litter, and soil
• Why are nutrients cycled quickly in tropical rainforests?

  Due to rapid decomposition and evergreen trees
• What is the primary reason rainforest soils are nutrient-poor?

  Heavy rainfall leaches nutrients away
• How does chemical weathering affect rainforest soil?

  It creates a deep layer of soil
• What is humus in rainforest soil?

  Decomposed organic matter mixed with soil
• How do plants adapt to compete for sunlight in rainforests?

  By growing tall with large roots
• What adaptations do rainforest plants have to manage water?

  Waxy leaves with drip-tips
• Why do many rainforest animals have strong limbs?

  To climb and leap between trees
• What is biodiversity?

  The variety of organisms in an area
• Why do rainforests have high biodiversity?

  Stable environment allows for species evolution
• What products are sourced from tropical rainforests?

  Rubber, coffee, chocolate, and medicines
• How do rainforests impact the global climate?

  By absorbing CO₂ and regulating water cycles
• What is the main threat to tropical rainforests?

  Deforestation
• What causes population pressure in rainforest areas?

  Increasing population leads to land clearing
• What mineral resources are often found in tropical rainforests?

  Gold, copper, and iron ore
• How does energy development threaten rainforests?

  By flooding areas for hydroelectric power
• What is commercial hardwood logging?

  Felling trees for furniture and construction
• How does road building for logging affect rainforests?

  It requires clearing more trees
• What role do rainforests play in the global water cycle?

  They store and release water into the atmosphere
• Why is deforestation considered the main threat to tropical rainforests?

  It leads to habitat loss and ecosystem disruption
• What is one reason for clearing trees in tropical rainforests?

  Population pressure for new settlements
• How are mineral resources related to deforestation?

  Minerals are extracted, requiring tree removal
• What impact does energy development have on tropical rainforests?

  Building dams floods large areas of forest
• What is one use of trees in commercial hardwood logging?

  To make furniture and for construction
• Why is commercial farming a threat to tropical rainforests?

  It clears forest for cattle grazing and plantations
• What is subsistence farming?

  Growing food for personal consumption