2.2.1

Rainforests

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Overview of Tropical Rainforests

Tropical rainforests have the following general characteristics:

What is the climate (abiotic) in tropical rainforests?

What is the climate (abiotic) in tropical rainforests?

  • There aren't really seasons in tropical rainforests.
  • All year, the temperature is in the range of 21°C and 30°C.
  • There is lots of rain/precipitation in tropical rainforests. For example, there's roughly 80 inches (2,000mm) of rainfall each year in the Amazon rainforest.
What's the soil (abiotic) like in tropical rainforests?

What's the soil (abiotic) like in tropical rainforests?

  • Rainforests have up to 80 inches of rainfall each year.
  • This heavy rain washes away minerals and nutrients from the soil.
  • This means that the soil left behind is infertile (bad for crop growth).
  • One layer of soil on the rainforest floor is fertile and nutrient-rich, but this does not extend deep into the soil further underground.
What're the plants (biotic) like in tropical rainforests?

What're the plants (biotic) like in tropical rainforests?

  • The climate is almost the same in all months, so plants grow all year. Most plants in rainforests are evergreen (and don't shed their leaves in winter).
  • There is a battle for sunlight because trees put each other in the shade (and trees need sunlight to grow). Because of this, trees grow to be very tall (up to 46 metres high).
  • There is interdependence between the vegetation living on the forest floor. For example, plants called epiphytes (vegetation or plants that live off and grow on other plants) are common.
What animals (biotic) live in tropical rainforests?

What animals (biotic) live in tropical rainforests?

  • Rainforests are full of biodiversity.
  • Mammals like Gorillas (in the Congo), Jaguars (in the Amazon rainforest) and Sloths (in Central America) live in rainforests.
  • Reptiles and amphibians like frogs, snakes, lizards, and crocodiles inhabit tropical rainforests.
  • There are diverse insect and bird species in rainforests.
  • Many of these animals have adapted by evolution & natural selection to survive in the tropical rainforest biome.
What is life (biotic) like in tropical rainforests?

What is life (biotic) like in tropical rainforests?

  • The Uncontacted Indians are a tribe living in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil.
  • They survive by hunting animals, eating the fish, vegetables, pulses, and berries that grow in the rainforest.
Water (abiotic)

Water (abiotic)

  • There is a high level of annual rainfall in tropical rainforests. This means that soil can be easily washed into rivers.
  • The wet conditions help plants that are suited to this environment grow well.
  • Some of the world's biggest rivers are found in rainforests (e.g. the Amazon) and are fed by many smaller tributaries.
    • These waterways support rich freshwater ecosystems.
Jump to other topics
1

Physical Geography

1.1

River Environments

1.1.1Weathering1.1.2Mass Movement1.1.3Erosion1.1.4Transportation1.1.5Deposition1.1.6River Landforms: Waterfalls & Gorges1.1.7River Landforms: Interlocking Spurs1.1.8River Landforms: Flood Plains1.1.9River Landforms: Point Bars1.1.10River Landforms: Levees1.1.11River Landforms: Meanders1.1.12River Landforms: Oxbow Lakes1.1.13River Landscape Changes: Long Profile1.1.14River Landscape Changes: Cross Profile1.1.15Vertical & Lateral Erosion1.1.16Flood Risk Factors1.1.17Human Activities on Rivers1.1.18River Management: Hard Engineering1.1.19River Management: Soft Engineering1.1.20Case Study: The River Eden - Landforms1.1.21Case Study: The River Eden - Climate1.1.22Case Study: The River Eden - Geology1.1.23Case Study: The River Eden - Management1.1.24Case Study: The River Eden - Human Activity1.1.25End of Topic Test - River Environments
1.2

Coastal Environments

1.2.1Weathering1.2.2Mass Movement1.2.3Erosion1.2.4Deposition1.2.5Longshore Drift1.2.6Sediment Transportation1.2.7Wave Action on Coasts1.2.8Other Factors Influencing Coasts1.2.9Coastal Landforms: Wave-cut Platforms & Cliffs1.2.10Coastal Landforms: Headlands & Bays1.2.11Coastal Landforms: Caves, Arches & Stacks1.2.12Coastal Deposition1.2.13Spits, Bars & Sand Dunes1.2.14Human Activity on Coasts1.2.15Coastal Defences: Hard Engineering1.2.16Coastal Defences: Soft Engineering1.2.17Coastal Defences: Managed Retreat1.2.18Case Study: Holderness Coast Overview1.2.19Case Study: Holderness Coast Management1.2.20Case Study: Holderness Coast Defences1.2.21End of Topic Test - Coastal Environments
1.3

Hazardous Environments - Tropical Cyclones

1.3.1Characteristics of a Tropical Cyclone1.3.2Structure of a Tropical Cyclone1.3.3Physical Hazards of Tropical Cyclones1.3.4The Impacts of Tropical Cyclones1.3.5Responses to Tropical Cyclones1.3.6Vulnerability to Tropical Cyclones1.3.7Preparing for Tropical Cyclones1.3.8Case Study: Katrina1.3.9Case Study: Nargis
1.4

Hazardous Environments - Earthquakes & Volcanoes

1.4.1Earthquakes1.4.2Features of an Earthquake1.4.3Types of Earthquake1.4.4Case Study: L'Aquila1.4.5Case Study: Chile1.4.6Case Study: Japan & Pakistan - Planning1.4.7Volcanoes1.4.8Types of Volcanoes1.4.9Volcanic Eruptions
2

Human Geography

2.1

Economic Activity & Energy

2.1.1Increasing Energy Consumption2.1.2Non-Renewable Energy - Nuclear2.1.3Non-Renewable Energy - Fossil Fuels2.1.4Renewable Energy - Solar2.1.5Renewable Energy - Water & Bio2.1.6Renewable Energy - Hydro2.1.7Energy - Statistical Skills
2.2

Rural Environments

2.2.1Rainforests2.2.2Temperate Forests2.2.3Characteristics of a Temperate Forest2.2.4Goods & Services in Temperate Forests2.2.5Deserts2.2.6Tundra
2.3

Urban Environments

2.3.1Urbanisation in Different Countries2.3.2Causes of Urbanisation2.3.3Consequences of Urbanisation2.3.4Sustainable Urbanisation2.3.5Case Study: Rapid Urbanisation in Mexico City2.3.6End of Topic Test - Urbanisation
3

Global Issues

3.1

Fragile Environments & Climate Change

3.1.1Natural Causes of Climate Change3.1.2Effects of Climate Change on the Environment3.1.3Effects of Climate Change on People3.1.4Impacts of Deforestation3.1.5End of Topic Test - Climate Change3.1.6Increasing Water Supply3.1.7Sustainable Rainforest Management
3.2

Globalisation & Migration

3.2.1Globalisation - Transport3.2.2Globalisation - Communication Networks & Banking3.2.3Push & Pull Factors3.2.4TNCs & Globalisation3.2.5Tourism Landscapes3.2.6The Growth of Tourism3.2.7The Economic Benefits of Tourism3.2.8The Social & Cultural Benefits of Tourism3.2.9The Economic Costs of Tourism3.2.10The Social & Cultural Costs of Tourism3.2.11Managing Tourism - Sustainability3.2.12Managing Tourism - Quotas & Tourism Hubs
3.3

Development & Human Welfare

3.3.1Ways of Defining Development3.3.2Different Ways of Measuring Development3.3.3Environmental Factors Causing Uneven Development3.3.4Historical Factors Causing Uneven Development3.3.5Economic Factors Causing Uneven Development3.3.6Patterns of Development3.3.7How Can we Reduce the Global Development Gap?3.3.8Top-Down & Bottom-Up Development

Practice questions on Rainforests

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    Which of the following describes the climate of tropical rainforests?True / false
  2. 2
    Which of the following does NOT describe the conditions in tropical rainforests?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    How would you describe most of the plants found in tropical rainforests?Multiple choice
  4. 4
    How does the consistent climate in tropical rainforests affect plant growth throughout the year?Multiple choice
  5. 5
    What impact does heavy rainfall have on the soil composition in tropical rainforests?Multiple choice
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Energy - Statistical Skills

Temperate Forests