© boardworks ltd 2001 the amazon rainforest an example of a large ecosystem (biome)

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The Amazon Rainforest

An example of a large ecosystem (biome).

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Where is the Amazon?

Amazon

Internet Link –Amazon Interactive www.eduweb.com/amazon.html

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River Amazon

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The Climate of Amazonia

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Climate Graph – The Amazon

Temperature (ºC)

20222426283032

Rainfall (mm)

Describe the Amazon’s pattern of rainfall and temperature.

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• The temperatures are _____ throughout the year, as this is an area of low _________, - close to the equator.The average temperature is 27.5°C (with a range of __ °C.

• Monthly rainfall is usually very ____. Total annual rainfall is ______mm compared to less than 600mm in some southern parts of Brasil.

• The climate is _________ and ideal for the growth of rainforests.

The Climate of Manaus (Amazonia)

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Why does it rain so much in the rainforest?

Rainforests, such as the Amazon, lie on the Equator. This means that the sun’s rays are more concentrated in these regions and this produces convectional rain.

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Convectional Rain

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1

2

3

4

5

1) The sun heats the earth.2) The earth heats the air above it.3) Hot air rises because it is less

dense.4) As the air rises, the water vapour

in the air cools and condenses into water droplets.

5) A collection of these minute water droplets is known as a cloud. These minute water droplets join together, become heavy and fall as rain.

Convectional rain

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Emergent trees

Canopy

Small trees

Shrubs

Undergrowth

50m

0m

Layers of the rainforest

liana saprophytesbuttress roots

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Simplified Food chain in the Amazon

Who eats whom in the rainforest?

Leaves

Fruit

Nuts

Porcupine

Parrots

Termites

Jaguar

Flowers

Berries

Decay

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The red, tropical soil is naturally infertile.

SOIL

How does so much vegetation grow if the soil is infertile?

BUT…

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Nutrient cycle

Twigs and leaves fall to the ground and become ‘litter’

Decomposition (breaking down) of litter by termites, fungi and bacteria

Nutrients enter the soil

Soil is fertile

Dense vegetation

So what happens if we cut down the trees?

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Broken Nutrient cycle

Deforestation

Less vegetation

Fill in the gaps