1
Q
What is a Tropical Rainforest?
A
A forest occurring in tropical areas of heavy rainfall
Tropical rainforests are characterized by high biodiversity and a constant warm temperature.
2
Q
What is the temperature range of Tropical Rainforests?
A
Between 25 and 30⁰C
3
Q
What percentage of the Earth’s surface do rainforests cover?
A
About 5%
4
Q
What percentage of all life forms do rainforests house?
A
50 to 70%
5
Q
Where are Tropical Rainforests primarily located?
A
In a band around the equator, between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn
6
Q
What is the average annual rainfall in Tropical Rainforests?
A
400 – 1000 cm
7
Q
Which countries contain the largest rainforests?
A
- Brazil (South America)
- Zaire (Africa)
- Indonesia (South East Asia)
8
Q
What are the main concentrations of tropical rainforests?
A
- The Congo Basin
- The Amazon
- Southeast Asia
- Madagascar
- Northeast Australia
- Southern India and Sri Lanka
- Central America
9
Q
What is the sunlight duration in Tropical Rainforests?
A
12 hours throughout the year
10
Q
What type of rainfall occurs in Tropical Rainforests?
A
Violent thunderstorms in the late afternoons
11
Q
What are emergents in the rainforest?
A
The tallest trees, usually over 50 metres tall
12
Q
What is the canopy in a rainforest?
A
A sea of leaves blocking out the sun from the lower layers, containing over 50% of rainforest wildlife
13
Q
What does the under canopy mainly consist of?
A
Bare tree trunks and lianas
14
Q
What layer has the densest plant growth in a rainforest?
A
The shrub layer
15
Q
What is found on the forest floor of a rainforest?
A
A layer of rotting leaves and dead animals called litter
16
Q
How quickly does litter decompose in the rainforest?
A
Within 6 weeks
17
Q
What are the ideal conditions for vegetation growth in the rainforest?
A
High rainfall and year-round high temperatures
Leads to biodiversity - wide range of plants and animals
18
Q
What adaptations do trees in the rainforest have for sunlight competition?
A
Wide buttress roots and flexible leaf stems
19
Q
What is the role of lianas in the rainforest?
A
They climb around trees to reach sunlight
20
Q
What adaptation do many tree leaves have to prevent rot?
A
Waxy leaves with drip tips
21
Q
What is the biodiversity of rainforests compared to the world’s landmass?
A
They could contain up to 50% of the world’s biodiversity
Biodiversity - range of animals (fauna) and vegetation (flora)
22
Q
Why are tropical rainforests referred to as the ‘lungs of the earth’?
A
They convert large amounts of carbon dioxide back into oxygen
23
Q
What percentage of the Earth’s oxygen is produced by the Amazon rainforest?
A
About 20%
24
Q
How do rainforests help with flood control?
A
They provide leaf cover for interception and transpiration
25
What role do root systems play in soil erosion?
They hold the thin soil in place, preventing erosion and landslides
26
What is the source of nutrients to the humus layer in soil?
The topsoil in rainforests is very thin and relies on the nutrients provided by rotting plants and animals. There is a constant supply of leaf litter due to the rainforest's climate.
## Footnote
Leaf litter is the layer of dead leaves and organic matter that accumulates on the forest floor.
27
What are some medical remedies derived from rainforests?
Rainforests have provided many drugs, including:
* Hormone contraceptive pill
* Quinine (antimalaria drug)
* Curare (paralyzing drug)
## Footnote
These substances have significant medicinal applications and have led to the development of various pharmaceuticals.
28
What cash crops and agricultural products were first discovered in rainforests?
The following were first discovered in rainforests:
* Yam
* Coffee
* Rubber
* Mango
* Banana
* Sugarcane
* Cocoa
* Avocado
## Footnote
These crops are vital to global agriculture and economies.
29
What is ecotourism and its significance in rainforests?
Ecotourism is increasing as people seek environmentally conscious adventures. It helps protect rainforests and generates income for locals, particularly in countries like Costa Rica and Belize.
## Footnote
Ecotourism promotes conservation and supports sustainable development.
30
How many indigenous people consider the Amazon their home?
There are still over 200,000 indigenous people that consider the Amazon their home despite a decline since colonization.
## Footnote
Indigenous groups have a deep cultural and historical connection to rainforest ecosystems.
31
What is a major problem caused by humans in the tropical rainforest?
Deforestation (cutting down trees) is a major problem. Between 1990 and 2016, the world lost 1.3 million square kilometers of forest.
## Footnote
This loss is larger than the area of South Africa and poses significant environmental challenges.
32
What is one reason for deforestation related to cattle ranching?
The demand for meat is increasing due to a growing and wealthier population, leading to the clearing of rainforests for cattle pastures.
## Footnote
Cattle ranching is a significant driver of deforestation in tropical regions.
33
What is subsistence farming and its impact on rainforests?
Subsistence farming is widespread among poor populations in tropical areas, often using slash and burn methods, which can lead to widespread deforestation.
## Footnote
This method quickly depletes soil fertility, necessitating further clearing of forested areas.
34
How does Hydro-Electric Power (HEP) impact rainforests?
Building dams for HEP causes damage during construction and floods large areas of rainforest.
## Footnote
HEP projects can disrupt local ecosystems and displace communities.
35
What are the environmental impacts of mining in rainforests?
Mining leads to deforestation and pollution, particularly from gold mining, which uses mercury that contaminates rivers.
## Footnote
Rainforests are rich in natural resources, making them targets for extraction activities.
36
How does road building contribute to deforestation?
Building new roads, like the Trans Amazon highway, causes deforestation directly and opens up new areas to urbanization, mining, and farming.
## Footnote
Infrastructure development often leads to increased human activity in previously untouched areas.
37
What is the impact of urban growth on rainforests?
Rapid urban growth in cities like Manaus in Brazil contributes to deforestation as populations increase and demand for land rises.
## Footnote
Urbanization places pressure on surrounding ecosystems as land is cleared for development.
38
How does population growth affect rainforests?
As populations grow in rainforest countries like Brazil and Peru, the demand for land increases for both living space and food production.
## Footnote
This growth often leads to additional deforestation and habitat loss.
39
What role do plantations play in rainforest deforestation?
Plantations for primary products, including biofuels like palm oil, are seen as income sources and lead to widespread deforestation in countries like Malaysia and Indonesia.
## Footnote
The demand for biofuels has increased deforestation rates in tropical regions.
40
What types of timber are in high demand that contribute to deforestation?
Hardwoods like mahogany and teak are in high demand for furniture, and extraction can kill surrounding trees. Normal timber is also sought after, often from unsustainable sources.
## Footnote
The demand for timber drives illegal logging and habitat destruction.
41
Be able to explain how deforestation affects the natural environment
Include:
* water becomes undrinkable
* land becomes infertile
* flooding can occur
42
What happens to flash floods after deforestation?
Flash floods become more common due to less interception and root uptake.
## Footnote
Less vegetation leads to quicker saturation of the ground and increased surface run-off.
43
How does deforestation contribute to landslides?
Deforestation makes soil less stable, increasing the likelihood of landslides when combined with saturated ground.
## Footnote
The removal of trees and vegetation destabilizes the soil structure.
44
What is the estimated number of mammal or bird extinctions due to biodiversity loss from deforestation?
Approximately 23,000 extinctions.
## Footnote
This number is an extrapolation due to the unknown species living in rainforests.
45
What is the effect of reduced photosynthesis caused by deforestation?
It releases more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, contributing to the greenhouse effect.
46
What is silting of rivers, seas, and oceans caused by?
Increased flooding and surface run-off wash more soil and silt into water bodies.
## Footnote
This affects local ecosystems by changing water temperature and clarity.
47
What happens to the nutrient cycle after deforestation?
The breaking of the nutrient cycle occurs as topsoil erodes and nutrients are lost with the removal of trees and animals.
48
What is sandification/desertification in relation to deforestation?
It is the process where deforested soil loses fertility quickly, making it hard to grow vegetation.
## Footnote
This can lead to ecological changes in the area.
49
What impact does deforestation have on indigenous homes?
It destroys the homes of indigenous groups and can spread disease and alter local cultures.
50
How does deforestation affect local rainfall?
It can lead to a reduction in local rainfall due to less water being intercepted and transpired.
## Footnote
Tall trees intercept (trap) the clouds, forcing them to rain.
51
What is the impact of deforestation on rivers and drainage basins?
Increased sedimentation, reduced depth, and velocity of rivers, and greater erosion of topsoil.
52
What type of farming involves hunting wild animals and gathering wild fruits?
Hunter gathering.
53
What is shifting cultivation?
Deforesting an area, growing crops until the land becomes infertile, then moving to a new area.
54
What is slash and burn farming?
Burning down an area of the rainforest to clear land for farming and fertilizing the soil with ash.
55
What is land degradation?
The reduction in the quality and quantity of soil due to lack of fallow periods.
56
What are fallow periods?
Times when land is not used for growing crops to allow it to regain fertility.
57
What percentage of the earth's biodiversity is estimated to live in tropical rainforests?
Up to 50%.
58
Name three large mammals found in tropical rainforests.
* Tigers
* Jaguars
* Leopards
59
What adaptations do rainforest animals have for survival?
Camouflage, specialized diets, and features like strong beaks in parrots.
60
What does the term 'camouflage' refer to in rainforest animals?
The adaptation that helps animals blend into their environment to avoid predators.
61
What are some threats to rainforest animals?
* Habitat loss
* Climate change
* Pollution
* Hunting
* Cross breeding with domestic animals
* Diseases
62
What is the purpose of creating National Parks?
To stop deforestation and loss of biodiversity
## Footnote
National Parks are areas of land protected by government law.
63
What is a potential economic strategy for countries with tropical rainforests?
Selling their rainforests
## Footnote
Guyana is an example of a country hoping to implement this strategy.
64
What is carbon offsetting?
The process where polluters can buy parts of the rainforest to offset some of the pollution they create
65
Define sustainable forestry.
Forestry that does not cause permanent damage to any ecosystem and can be maintained indefinitely
66
What is a method to prevent the destruction of rainforests in sustainable forestry?
Use fast growing trees instead of destroying rainforests
67
What is selective cutting?
A method of deforestation where only specific trees are cut down rather than clear-felling
68
What does the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) do?
Lends its label to products produced sustainably
## Footnote
We have FSC charcoal here in Namibia
69
How can consumer labelling help protect tropical rainforests?
Ensures people only buy wood-based products from sustainable sources
70
What is ecotourism?
The promotion of tourism that gives tropical rainforests and biodiversity economic value
71
What is the incentive for locals to protect rainforests through ecotourism?
If the value of tourism is greater than selling trees and wild animals
72
What should be implemented to protect endangered rainforest products?
Trading bans on products like animal skins and hardwoods
73
What role does education play in rainforest protection?
Improves global awareness on the importance of biodiversity and tropical rainforests
74
What type of global initiatives should include greater protection for tropical rainforests?
Global treaties like Kyoto aimed at reducing climate change
75
Fill in the blank: Recycling, reducing, and _______ can help reduce the need to cut down trees.
Reusing
76
What is the overall goal of the strategies discussed for protecting tropical rainforests?
To reduce deforestation and enhance biodiversity
