EcosystemsTropical rainforest

LO: understand the physical characteristics of the tropical rainforest, how this biome is interdependent and why this biome has so much biodiversity.

Resources – www.garsidej.wordpress.com and the textbook (pages 66-69)

The tropical rainforest occupies only seven per cent of the world’s land surface, but it contains many useful resources and is equally important in the regulation of global climate (Climate change)

Watch the following YouTube video and take notes throughout:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uUB7LjJJtM

Physical characteristics of the tropical rainforest:

1 Climate – because they occur close to the Equator the climate is typically Geographic skills

______________________ & _________________________

2 Vegetation – using the image below describe the vegetation found in the tropical rainforest (if you are struggling use pages 66 and 68 to help you)

Using he graph (left) describe the climate of the tropical rainforest. (describe the features of the climate and calculate the mean annual temperature range.)

3 Soil - Latosols

Tropical rainforest soils are shallow and acidic - iron oxides stain the top layers red. The soil is infertile and one of the poorest in the world. Heavy rainfall quickly washes away any nutrients that are not taken up by the trees

Despite the infertile soil the rainforest survives because:

Plant and animal remains soon decay in the warm, humid climate. Shallow rooted trees quickly absorb the nutrients released by decomposition. Few nutrients are lost from the nutrient cycle as the forest literally feeds on itself. Most nutrients are stored in vegetation, when they die they decay and are then absorbed by the trees.

Task 1 - Draw and label the nutrient cycle page 67.

Task 2 - turn to page 67 in the textbook and explain the following: 1. How is the tropical rainforest interdependent? & Why is there so much biodiversity in the tropical rainforest?

Extension – complete the questions from the bottom of page 67 (1, 2 & 3)

Descriptive words (adjectives):