Peruvian Rainforest

Question 1

What are the main threats to the Peruvian Rainforest

Answer 1

• Illegal Logging
• Extraction of oil and natural gas
• Exploitation in gold mining
• Highway construction
• Agricultural deforestation

Question 2

How does Logging affect biodiversity

Answer 2

• 95% is illegal

- Damages biodiversity through habitat destruction, can disrupt food chain

Question 3

How does Extraction of oil and natural gas affect Biodiversity

Answer 3

• It pollutes the water and can damage habitats, Countries like China invest in this
• 44% of the world’s bird species live here
• 64% of all mammals

Question 4

How does Gold mining damage biodiversity

Answer 4

• The machines which are utilised to exploit the gold, need Mercury
• Mercury can be discharged from these machines into the rivers
• It pollutes and poisons the water
• Kills aquatic life and poisons local tribes who depend on

Question 5

How does Highway construction damage biodiversity

Answer 5

• It encourages deforestation to create space
• in 2015 plans were announced to extend the jungle highway through the Manu national park, harming protected biodiversity

Question 6

How does agriculture affect biodiversity

Answer 6

• Encourages deforestation to create space

- Fire is used to clear land, but can cause forest fire if poorly supervised

Question 7

How are the threats to biodiversity being handled

Answer 7

• Giving ownership to the 60 or so local communities over their own extraction of materials, they have their own sustainable plans
• Since 2000, Management plans are required for forest-related harvesting, emphasised by the FSC (forest Stewardship Council)
• National parks (The Purus-Manu Conservation Corridor: covering 10 million hectares)

Question 8

What are the mean monthly temps

Answer 8

About 26-28 degrees

Question 9

What is the annual rainfall

Answer 9

2000mm

Question 10

Why are afternoons the wettest

Answer 10

The meeting of the trade winds at the ITCZ where warm, moist air is forced to rise rapidly and cool and condense to form frequent rain

Question 11

Where are Tropical Rainforests typically found

Answer 11

Broad belt through the Tropics

Question 12

Describe the Nutrient cycle

Answer 12

• Litter (dead plant material) is decomposes and this provides the soil underneath with lots of nutrients.
• Through plant uptake (by roots) plants then gain nutrients from the soil.
• The Leaves on the plants eventually die and turn into litter.
• Rain water adds nutrients to this cycle.

Question 13

What are the valuable things in the rainforest

Answer 13

• Biodiversity
• Timber
• Minerals
• Hydro-electricity
• Medical plants
• Indigenous tribes
• Archaeology

Question 14

Describe the flora

Answer 14

• lianas
• buttress roots
• epiphytes

Question 15

Describe the fauna

Answer 15

• Toucans
• Monkeys
• Frogs