Nutrient Cycling in Tropical Rainforests
Geography: KS3, topic 15.2.2
Nutrient Cycling in Tropical Rainforests
Nutrient cycling is one type of interdependent system. Most nutrients in rainforests are stored as biomass and the transfer of nutrients between the different stores is rapid. The reasons for these characteristics are:
Evergreen trees
- Because the trees in a rainforest are evergreen, leaves are dropped gradually and consistently throughout the year.
Warm, humid, and moist climate
- Decomposers operate very efficiently in warm, humid and moist conditions. Because of this, any organic matter like leaves is broken down (decomposed) very quickly.
- The rainfall mixes with the nutrients from decomposition and the nutrients are then absorbed back into the soil.
Biodiversity and plant life
- There are so many plants and so much biodiversity that any nutrients in the soil are quickly absorbed by vegetation or by tall trees through their buttress roots.
Test yourself on Nutrient Cycling in Tropical Rainforests
Why does decomposition happen quickly in tropical rainforests?
What is the main store of nutrients in tropical rainforests?