CASE STUDY 8 : ECOSYSTEMS CASE STUDY - AMAZON RAIN FOREST

Question 1

LOCATION

Answer 1

Mainly in Brazil
South America
Also stretches in to Peru and Bolivia

Question 2

BIOMASS DESCRIPTION - 4 LAYERS

Answer 2

4 LAYERS THEREFORE HIGH BIOMASS

1. SHRUB LAYER (DARK, NO LIGHT,FEW PLANTS, SOME SEEDLINGS AND SHOOTS)
2. UNDER CANOPY (DENSEST LAYER,TREES HERE PREVENT LIGHT REACHING FOREST BELOW=ONLY 2% SUNLIGHT CAN PENETRATE THIS LAYER)

3 CANOPY (UNEVEN, ALLOWS LIGHT TO BREAK THROUGH, TREES REACH 35M)

4. EMERGENT (THE FINAL LAYER ) (TALLEST TREES = 50M HIGH) AND EMERGE THROUGHT THE CANOPY

Question 3

LIANAS

Answer 3

VINES THAT CLIMB TO SUNLIGHT

Question 4

BUTTRESS ROOTS

Answer 4

LARGE ROOTS TO SUPPORT EMERGENT

Question 5

DRIP TIPS

Answer 5

DRIP TIPS ON LEAVES TO SHED WATER EFFICIENTLY

Question 6

NUTRIENTS

Answer 6

BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOT

NUTRIENTS ARE MAINLY STORED IN 3 PLACES - THE BIOMASS, LEAF LITTER AND SOIL.
RAPID TRANSFERS TAKE PLACE BETWEEN STORES DUE TO HIGH TEMPERATURES AND MOISTURE

Question 7

FOOD CHAIN

Answer 7

COMPLEX

MANY LINKS BETWEEN BIOTIC COMPONENTS

Question 8

WHY IS THE AMAZON IMPORTANT TO US ? - 7 POINTS

Answer 8

1. REGULATION OF ATMOSPHERE (LUNGS) - FORESTS ABSORB 40% OF CO2 AND PROVIDES 20% OF THE WORLDS OXYGEN
2. WATER STORE AND SUPPLY FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLE eg KAYAPO INDIANS
3. 1.6 BILLION PEOPLE RELY ON FOREST PRODUCTS FOR THEIR LIVELIHOODS EG COFFEE GROWERS
4. PREVENTION OF SOIL EROSION (INTERCEPTION BY CANOPY)
5. PREVENTION OF FLOODS (INTERCEPTION, EVAPORATION AND ABSORPTION OF RAINFALL)
6. HOME TO MANY SPECIES AND FOOD SUPPLIES FOR PEOPLE AND ANIMALS

Question 9

CAUSES OF DEFORESTATION (BY ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES) - 5 POINTS

Answer 9

1. LOGGING AND ROAD BUILDING
2. CATTLE RANCHING
3. HYDRO ELECTRIC DAMS
   4.MINING
   5 CITIES/URBANISATION

Question 10

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE TROPICAL RAINFOREST

Answer 10

1. SUSTAINABLE LOGGING
2. RUBBER TAPPING (SUSTANABLE SMALL SCALE INDUSTRY)
3. ECOTOURISM
4. DEBT FOR NATURE SWAPS

Question 11

SUSTAINABLE LOGGING

Answer 11

1. LIMIT THE NUMBER OF TREES CUT DOWN (ONLY 1 IN 4)
2. REPLANTING A TREE FOR EVERYONE CUT DOWN. THIS ALLOWS THE RAINFOREST TO GROW BACK AND ANIMALS TO CONTINUE TO LIVE THERE

Question 12

RUBBER TAPPING

Answer 12

RUBBER TAPPING (SUSTANABLE SMALL SCALE INDUSTRY)

1. LOCAL PEOPLE CAN CUT THE BARK OF THE TREES TO COLLECT RUBBER TO SELL ON TO MAKE MONEY.
2. LOCAL PEOPLE HARVEST GOODS FROM THE RAINFOREST TO MAKE A PROFIT.
3. THE TREES CAN BE REGULARLY HARVESTED WITHOUT ANY LONG TERM DAMAGE
4. THE ECOSYSTEM REMAINS LARGELY INTACT
5. THE LOCAL PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO STAY IN AN UNCHANGED LANDSCAPE

Question 13

ECOTOURISM - 7 POINTS

Answer 13

1. SMALL SCALE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY CABINS MADE FROM LOCAL MATERIALS
2. EMPLOYS LOCALS - EDUCATION FOR TOURISTS DURING ECO-WALKS
3. CONSERVATION OF SPECIES eg MONKEY ISLAND
4. ECO-FRIENDLY INFRASTRUCTURE SET UP IN A SMALL SECTION OF THE FOREST.
5. VISITING LOCAL POPULATIONS TO LEARN CULTURE MEANS INCOME TO LOCALS
6. CONTROL NUMBERS OF VISITORS TO THE AREA
7. LOCAL PRODUCE USED FOR CATERING

Question 14

DEBT FOR NATURE SWAPS

Answer 14

AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN POORER LEDC NATIONS THAT OWE MONEY TO MEDC’S.

eg THE LEDC (PERU) AGREES TO SPEND MONEY ON CONSERVATION PROJECTS IN EXCHANGE FOR CANCELLING SOME OF THE DEBT THAT IS OWED.

NGO’S WILL HELP SET UP THE CONSERVATION PROJECTS AND ENSURE COMMUNITY IS INVOLVED

Question 15

PROBLEMS

Answer 15

1. MOST TOURISTS FLY IN AND OUT ( NOT ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY)
2. “SOME” DAMAGE WILL BE DONE TO “SECTIONED OFF” AREA OF FOREST.
   3 SOME SPECIES WILL BECOME FRIGHTENED AWAY OR TAME.
3. EROSION OF ORIGINAL CULTURE OF LOCALS eg THE KAYAPO TRIBE

Question 16

BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOT

Answer 16

THEY CONTAIN A RICH VARIETY OF DIFFERENT SPECIES OF WILDLIFE
IF RAINFORESTS NOT PROTECTED WE WOULD LOOSE THIS