Tropical Rainforest Ecosystem Flashcards

All 7 cards in this deck

Describe the climate of a tropical rainforest.

Hot and wet all year: around 26–28°C with a small annual temperature range, and over 2000 mm of rain a year with high humidity.

Name the four layers of tropical rainforest vegetation, tallest first.

Emergent layer, canopy, under canopy (understorey), shrub layer/forest floor.

True or false? Most of the nutrients in a tropical rainforest are stored in the plants, not in the soil.

True. Fallen leaves decompose quickly and the nutrients are taken straight back up by plants, while heavy rain leaches the rest, so the soil itself is infertile.

How do drip tips help rainforest plants survive?

The pointed leaf tips let heavy rain run off quickly, so leaves do not rot or grow fungi and algae.

How do buttress roots help rainforest trees survive?

Large roots above the ground support very tall trees that are growing in thin soils, and help absorb surface nutrients.

Give one way animals are adapted to life in the rainforest canopy.

Strong limbs, gripping claws or prehensile tails for climbing and moving between trees, e.g. spider monkeys.

Why do tropical rainforests have such high biodiversity?

Hot, wet conditions all year allow continuous plant growth, and the layered structure provides many different habitats and food sources.