Y8 geography - Rainforests

• An ecosystem is an environment containing a community of interdependent plants and animals
• A biome is a large-scale ecosystem with common climate characteristics
• Light rays are concentrated towards the equator
• Climate is the overall pattern of weather, usually over an average of 30+ years
• The four layers of the Tropical Rainforest are the emergents, the canopy, the under canopy and the shrub layer
• Under Canopy is where most rainforest species live as it has more light than the lower levels but less than the canopy
• Canopies are the uppermost level of vegetation which receives direct sunlight
• Emergents are trees that rise above the forest canopy
• Shrub Layer is where there are many vines that grow up trees to reach sunlight
• Emergent Trees are the tallest trees which have adapted to be able to survive in the harsh conditions at the top of the forest
• Temperate forests have cooler temperatures compared to tropical rainforests
• Tallest trees are emergents, they are over 40m high
• Rainforests are found between latitudes 23° north and south of the equator
• Rainfall is very heavy in tropical rainforests with an average of 250cm per year
• The climate in tropical rainforests is hot and humid all year round
• Tropical Wet Evergreen Forests are found near the equator where there is no dry season
• The under-canopy contains jaguars, frogs, leopards, shrubs, young trees, palms and plants
• The canopy layer contains toucans, monkeys, vines, lianas, epiphytes and bromeliads
• In the emergents layer, there are eagles, monkeys, bats, butterflies and Hardwood and evergreen trees
• In the shrubs layer, there are elephants, tapir, tigers and jaguar
• In the canopy, there are monkeys, frogs, lizards, birds, snakes, sloths and insects
• Decomposition is when fungi and microorganisms break down dead animals and plants
• In the emergents layer, the leaves are big, thick and waxy to protect them because they get the most sunlight and have to cope with strong winds
• The forest floor is dark and humid due to shade from the canopy's leaves
• Trees in the canopy have smooth, oval leaves that come to a point.
• Emergent trees have long trunks and tall stems so their branches reach above the canopy.
• Shrubs grow on the ground or low down on tree trunks.
• Indigenous means the first people to colonise an area, people who are native to a place, or belonging to a particular race or culture.
• Amazon tribes use the rainforest to:

  • Collect medicines from trees
  • Drink water from vines
  • Catch fish for food
  • Hunt for food
• Deforestation is cutting down trees
• Deforestation is the large-scale removal of trees, either through logging or burning
• The Amazon basin covers over 7 million km2 (1/5th of South America)
• Causes of deforestation are: logging, agriculture, farming, hydroelectric power, cattle ranching, mining, and tourism
• Agriculture is growing crops on land that was once forested
• Farming is raising animals on land that was once forested
• Effects of deforestation are: habitat loss, soil erosion, climate change, flooding, air pollution, extinction of species, and reduced carbon storage
• Hydroelectric power involves building dams across rivers to generate electricity
• Cattle ranching is breeding cows on land that was once forested
• Mining is extracting minerals from the ground
• Logging is the process of cutting down trees for timber or paper products