Amazon Rainforest

• Distribution of tropical rainforests

  Rainforests are found inbetween tropics of capricorn and cancer about 25 N and S of equator. Found in Brazil, Congo and Madagascar and South-east asian countries like Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines. There are none europe or north america
• Climate in Tropical rainforests

  • Hot, wet and humid climate
  • Temperatures average around 28 c
  • Annual rainfall exceeds 2500 mm which feeds into huge rivers like the Amazon
• Vegetation in Tropical rainforests

  • Rich vegetation cover
  • Intercept (doesn't reach soil) rainfall
  • Drips and stems have much less force than heavy tropical storms therefore protecting soil from erosion
  • Most rainforest plants have shallow roots as they can take rainwater and dissolved nutrients from decomposing leaf litter
• Layers of Rainforest from lowest to highest

  • Forest floor
  • Shrub layer
  • Under canopy
  • Canopy
  • Emergents
• What is Rapid nutrient recycling

  Warm humid conditions cause litter to decompose very quickly
• Biomass


  All living things in the ecosystem, including plants and animals
• Soil


  Developed by the mixing of dead organic material with wethered bedrock
• Litter


  Dead organic material such as fallen leaves or tree trunks and dead animals
• Why do things decompose easily in rainforests

  Heat + Rain + Abundance of decomposers
• Forest floor

  This layer is very dark and covered in leaf litter. It has many insects and types of fungus. Anything on this layer decaus rapidly
• Shrub layer

  Covers large areas of the forest floor. Little sunshine reaches this area. The plants here have very large, light collecting leaves
• Sub-canopy

  Young trees grow rapidly searching for light. Makes a layer underneath the canopy
• Canopy


  Forms a roof over remaining layers. Home to snakes, toucans, parrots, monkeys and tree frogs
• Emergents


  The tallest trees. Animals that live here are birds, insects and monkeys. Often birds of prey live in these tall trees
• Biodiversity


  Variability among living organisms from all sources
• Buttress Root


  Wide roots which grow out from base of the trunk to stabilise the tree

  
• Why do trees have Buttress roots

  Help to stabilise the tall trees of up to 50 m high. The soil is thin so they are shallow and cover a wide area to collect as many nutrients as possible
• Saprophytes


  Plants that grow on the forest floor where there is very little light

  
• Benefit of Saprophytes

  Gain nutrients from decomposing leaf and plant litter, using it to grow
• Epiphytes


  Plants that can grow right on the tree bark without soil. They take advantage of the light and the moist air

  
• Benefit of epiphytes

  Get most of their nutrients from the air and rainfall and even sometimes from insects and small rodents! They live high up in the canopy and are often called the parasites of the rainforest!
• Drip tip leaves


  Leaves in the rainforest that are pointed at the end. They also have a waxy layer and are angled towards the floor

  
• Why do plants have drip tip leaves

  Plants don't want rain to damage leaves and with this shape the rain just slips off
• Swiss Cheese plant


  Large leaves with holes inside of them

  
• Benefits of Swiss Cheese plants

  Large leaves help to absorb the 2% of sunlight that gets through the canopy. Holes in the leaves stop regular breaks from rainfall, also allow light to leaves underneath them!
• Liana


  Climbing vine which depends on other trees for support. They attach/wind themselves around other trees to get to sunlight faster

  
• Benefit of Lianas

  They can grow higher up into the canopy to get nutrients from the sun and rain. They also need the trees for support because they are very thin and so they would fall and break in the strong winds
• Sloth adaptation


  Uses camoflage and moves very slowly to make it difficult for predators to spot

  
• Spider monkey adaptaion


  Long strong limbs to help it climb through rainforest trees

  
• Flying FrogAdaptations


  Fully webbed hands and feet and a flap of loose skin that stretches between its limbs which allow it to glide from plant to plant

  
• Toucan Adaptation


  Long large bill to allow it to cut and reach fruit from branches that are too weak to support its weight. Large beak can crack harder foods

  
• Why is rainforest soil red


  Rich in iron
• Where is the amazon rainforest


  Inbetween tropic of capricorn and equator in the northern part of south america. It is mainly in Brazil but also occupies a lot of space in southern Venezuela, south east colombia and eastern Peru
• Deforestation

  Natural forests are cleared through logging/burning for alternative land-use or economic gain
• Effects of deforestation

  • Reduces Biodiversity
  • Releases Greenhouse gas emmisions
  • Disrupts the water cycles
  • Increases Soil erosion
• Selective logging


  Cutting out of trees that are mature or inferior to encourage the growth of the remaining trees in a forest wood
• Mineral extraction


  Removal of solid mineral resources from the earth (ores like iron, precious stones like diamonds and solid fuels like coal)
• Commercial farming


  Farming to sell produce for a profit to retailers or food processing companies
• Substinance farming


  Type of agriculture providing food and minerals that only benefit the farmer and their family
• Logging


  Cutting down trees and transporting the logs to sawmills