Section B

Cards (15)

  • Describe the climate of a tropical rain forest.
    The climate in tropical rain forests is the same all year round with temperatures varying between 20-28 degrees and having over 2000 mm of rainfall per year, it rains everyday.
  • How have plants adapted to the physical conditions?
    Trees compete for sunlight by growing tall, liana vines use tree trunks to climb up to reach the sunlight, large and stable buttress support the tall trees trunks. Plants have a thick, waxy cuticle with pointed drip tips so run off can take place so the weight of the rain doesn't damage the plant and also means there won't be any standing water for bacteria to grow.
  • Describe the location of the Amazon Rainforest. *CASE STUDY*
    The Amazon Rainforest is located in the east of South America and covers over 40% of the continent. It covers 8 countries including: Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Columbia.
  • How have animals adapted to the rain forest?
    Poisoned dart frogs are brightly coloured to warn off any predators and the glass winged butterfly is transparent as camouflage to protect themselves from predators.
  • what is an ecosystem?
    a community of plants and animals that interact with each other and their physical environment
  • what is the nutrient cycle?

    a set of processes where organisms extract nutrients necessary for growth from soil or water before passing them on through the food chain
  • what is a producer?
    an organism or plant that is able to absorb energy from the sun through photosynthesis
  • what is a consumer?
    creatures that eat herbivores and/or plant matter, they get energy from what they eat
  • what is a decomposer?

    an organism such as bacterium or fungus that breaks down dead tissue which recycles the nutrients back to the environment
  • what are the causes of deforestation?
    • commercial farming
    • road building
    • mineral extraction
    • logging
    • hydro-electric power
    • subsistence farming
  • commercial farming
    • a large scale removal of land for cattle farming and crops
    • responsible for 80% of the amazon rainforest deforestation
    • increases carbon emissions
    • soil erosion increasing and impacts on the nutrient cycle
  • mineral extraction
    • precious minerals are found
    • areas mined can experience soil erosion and water contamination
    • trees near the mines and quarries are removed
  • road building
    • the 4000km long trans-amazonia highway built in the 1970s
    • opened up the rainforest but allowed loggers in
    • BR163 created access but damaging the ecosystem
  • logging
    • cutting down trees and transporting logs to sawmills
    • mahogany and teak are worth the most
    • timber is harvest to create items like furniture
  • subsistence farming
    • a small scale method of farming producing food and material fo only the farmer and his family
    • often slash and burn