Forest as a Resource

Question 1

How do plants adapt to the physical environment? (1-2pt, optional)

Answer 1

The bio-community would adapt to the prevailing climate and physical environment of their habitats in order to survive.

• Adaptations = The physical or behavioural characteristic of an organism that helps an organism to survive better in the surrounding environment (or habitat that they live in).

Question 2

Where can Tropical Rainforests be found at? (8 places est. optional)

Answer 2

• Tropical Rainforests can be found in Central and South America, Western and Central Africa, Western India, Southeast Asia, the island of New Guinea and Australia.
• e.g. Amazon Rainforest

Question 3

Where can Tropical Monsoon Rainforests be found at? (5 places est., optional)

Answer 3

• Tropical Monsoon Rainforests can be found in India, Myanmar, Vietnam, Southwest Africa and smaller areas in South and Central America.
• e.g. Chittagong, Bangldesh

Question 4

Similarities between Tropical Rainforests and Tropical Monsoon Rainforests

• Location
  1 main zone, 1 main pt, 8 subpts - 4 general, 1 TR, 3 TMR

Answer 4

• Location – Tropical Climate Zon
  e
• Both are found in the tropical climate zone, between the Tropic of Cancer (23½°N) and Tropic of Capricorn (23½°S), and are characterized by:

1. High mean annual temperature of about 28°C (MAT)
2. Heavy rainfall of more than 2000mm of total annual precipitation (TAP)
3. Dense and luxuriant vegetation as the hot and wet climate encourages rapid plant growth
4. Great species diversity

TR
5. Small annual temp range of 2°C (ATR)

TMR
6. Distinct wet and dry seasons
7. Wet season from April to October with monthly ppt more than 100 mm
8. Dry season from November to Feb with monthly ppt less than 60mm

Question 5

Similarities between Tropical Rainforests and Tropical Monsoon Rainforests

• Leaves
  4 characteristics, 4 pts (1 for each)

Answer 5

• Leaves – Thick and leathery, broad, waxy leaves with drip tips

1. To provide maximum surface area to capture the sunlight needed for photosynthesis (i.e food production) (broad)
2. to reduce transpiration (waxy)
3. to allow rainwater to run off the leaves easily, preventing leaf decay. (drip tips)
4. to withstand heat and reduce moisture loss (thick and leathery)

Question 6

Similarities between Tropical Rainforests and Tropical Monsoon Rainforests

• Produce
  2 characteristics, 1 pt

Answer 6

• Produce – Colourful Flowers and Sweet-Smelling Fruits
• to attract insects, birds and animals to aid in pollination.

Question 7

Similarities between Tropical Rainforests and Tropical Monsoon Rainforests

• Soil
  1 characteristics, 2 pts, 1 subpt - one point for TMR

Answer 7

• Soil – Nutrient Poor
• Nutrient-poor because nutrients are not stored in them for very long
  → The heavy rains that occur in rainforests wash away organic material from the soil.
• Since there is a dry season in tropical monsoon rainforests, more nutrients can stay in place as compared to tropical rainforests

Question 8

Differences between Tropical Rainforest and Tropical Monsoon Rainforests: Main Difference?

no clues because you better know this HEHE

Answer 8

• Main difference between Tropical Rainforest and Tropical Monsoon Forests
• Tropical Rainforests goes through the wet season throughout the whole year (therefore forest is evergreen = do not shed leaves) while Tropical Monsoon Rainforests have distinct wet and dry seasons (forest is deciduous = trees shed their leaves during the dry season to minimise loss of water through transpiration)

Question 9

defining features of TR and TMR? (optional?) - basically main diff.
2pts, 1 subpt

Answer 9

• Every forest has defining features adapted to the particular climate.
• Tropical rainforests are evergreen, dense and luxuriant mainly due to the heavy precipitation.
• On the other hand, tropical monsoon rainforests are deciduous and experience a dry period each year (seasonality).
  → It has led to the evolution of trees that shed leaves during the dry period.

Question 10

Adaptations of Tropical Rainforest
* Location
1pt

Answer 10

• Location
  Equatorial Zone
• Found near the equator in the equatorial zone and lie between latitudes 10° north and south of the equator.

Question 11

Adaptations of Tropical Rainforest
* Nature
1pt, 1 subpt

Answer 11

• Nature
• Evergreen Forests
  → Maintain their leaves throughout the year; do not need to shed leaves before a dry season (UNLIKE MONSOON RAINFORESTS!!)

Question 12

Adaptations of Tropical Rainforest
* Density
1pt

Answer 12

• Density
• Dense and luxuriant as the spreading branches of the closely-spaced trees are interlocked.

Question 13

Adaptations of Tropical Rainforest
* Biodiversity
1pt, 1 optional subpt with 2 subsubpts with 3 factors

Answer 13

• Biodiversity
• Rich in biodiversity
• i.e. 300 – 400 species in a hectare of land (it covers less than 2% of Earth’s surface, but house more than 50% of all plants and animals found on land)
  1. the hot and wet climate provides a favourable environment for species to thrive; the long growing season and high intensity of sunlight support an abundance of plant and animal species.
  2. the canopy structure provides an abundance of places for plants to grow and animals to live.

Question 14

Adaptations of Tropical Rainforest
* Layered Structure

4pts, 2 2subpts and 2 1subpt

Answer 14

• Layered Structure – 4 Layers
• Emergent Layer
  → Grow 40-50m / trees grow up to 60 m tall
  → Mushroom-shaped crowns
• Canopy Layer
  → 20-30m tall
  → Umbrella-shaped crowns form a continuous canopy
• Understorey Layer
  → 5-15m tall
• Ground Layer (incl. Shrub Layer)
  →has sparse vegetation due to very little sunlight reaching the forest floor
• Evergreen trees reach great heights, up to 60 metres.
• In contrast, there is sparse undergrowth in the forest floor.

Question 15

Adaptations of Tropical Rainforest
* Tree Trunk and Bark
2pts, 1 subpt, 2subpt

Answer 15

• Tree Trunk and Bark
• Tall and Thin
  →to allow trees to reach the sunlight
• Thin, Smooth Bark
  → To allow water to flow down to the roots easily
  → To minimise growth of other plants on their surface

Question 16

Adaptations of Tropical Rainforest
* Leaves
4 characteristics, 5 pts (4 general)

Answer 16

• Leaves – Thick and leathery, broad, waxy leaves with drip tips
• Found at the top one-third of trees to obtain maximum light for photosynthesis

1. To provide maximum surface area to capture the sunlight needed for photosynthesis (i.e food production) (broad)
2. to reduce transpiration (waxy)
3. to allow rainwater to run off the leaves easily, preventing leaf decay. (drip tips)
4. to withstand heat and reduce moisture loss (thick and leathery)

Question 17

Adaptations of Tropical Rainforest
* Flowers and Fruits
1pt, 1subpt

Answer 17

• Flowers and Fruits
• Colourful flowers and sweet-smelling fruits all-year round
  → to attract insects, birds and animals to aid in pollination and seed dispersal in the low-wind environment of the dense forest.

Question 18

Adaptations of Tropical Rainforest
* Roots
2 characteristics, 3 pts

Answer 18

• Roots – Shallow and widespread Buttress Roots
• to transport water
• increase the surface area for nutrient absorption in the thin layer of topsoil, oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange
• to provide support to the large trees

Question 19

Adaptations of Tropical Rainforest
* Climate and Physical Environment (Seasonality)
4pts

Answer 19

• Climate and Physical Environment (Seasonality)
• High mean monthly/annual temperature of about 26 - 28°C (MAT)
• Hot and wet climate with heavy rainfall of more than 2000mm of total annual precipitation (TAP)
• Small annual temp range of 2°C (ATR)
• No distinct seasons (UNLIKE TROPICAL MONSOON RAINFORESTS)

Question 20

Adaptations of Tropical Monsoon Rainforest
* Location
1pt

Answer 20

• Location
• Found in the dry areas north and south of the tropical rainforest belt.

Question 21

Adaptations of Tropical Monsoon Rainforest
* Nature
1pt, 1 subpt

Answer 21

• Nature
• Deciduous forests
  → The trees are deciduous as they shed their leaves during the dry season (seasonally) to minimise loss of water through transpiration but the leaves will grow again quickly during the rainy season. (UNLIKE TROPICAL RAINFORESTS!!!)

Question 22

Adaptations of Tropical Monsoon Rainforest
* Density
1pt

Answer 22

• Density
• Open (or less dense) and less luxuriant as the trees do not grow close together. (therefore sunlight still can reach the ground layer).

Question 23

Adaptations of Tropical Monsoon Rainforest
* Biodiversity
1pt

Answer 23

• Biodiversity
• Moderate in diversity (i.e. 30– 40 species in a hectare of land) as the tropical monsoon climate with its dry season provides a less ideal environment for plants and animals to thrive.

Question 24

Adaptations of Tropical Monsoon Rainforest
* Layered Structure

3 main pts, 2 subpt, 1subpt, 3subpt, 1 point

Answer 24

• Layered Structure – 3 Layers
• Canopy Layer
  → 25 - 30m tall
  → Shorter trees than the trees in tropical rainforest due to the lack of water supply during the dry season.
• Understorey Layer
  → 6 to 15m tall
• Ground Layer (incl. shrub layer)
  →dense layer of shrubs due to sunlight being able to reach the ground layer (forest floor), esp when trees shed their leaves
  → Forest is not as dense (diff from point above) as tropical rainforest due to lower rainfall
  → Shorter trees (up to 35m) due to lack of water supply during dry season
• Absence of the emergent layer as the seasonality does not support the growth of tall trees.

Question 25

Adaptations of Tropical Monsoon Rainforest * Tree Trunk and Bark 2pts, 1 subpt

Answer 25

- Thick and Coarse Bark → protects the trunk from heat and dryness and limits moisture loss during the dry season. - The branches of the trees are located around the middle of the trunks, instead of near the top.

Question 25

Adaptations of Tropical Monsoon Rainforest * Leaves 5 characteristics, 4 pts, 1 point

Answer 25

* Leaves – Thin and Lightweight, Leathery, broad, waxy leaves with drip tips 1. To provide maximum surface area to capture the sunlight needed for photosynthesis (i.e food production) (broad) 2. to reduce transpiration (waxy) 3. to allow rainwater to run off the leaves easily, preventing leaf decay. (drip tips) 4. to withstand heat and reduce moisture loss (leathery) - The trees in a monsoon forest usually shed their leaves during the dry season and come into leaf at the start of the rainy season.

Question 25

Adaptations of Tropical Monsoon Rainforest * Flowers and Fruits 2 characteristics, 3 subpts

Answer 25

* Flowers and Fruits - Colourful flowers and sweet-smelling fruits during the dry season → produce flowers and fruits during the dry season while leafless → to attract insects, birds and animals to aid in pollination and seed dispersal → when rainy season arrives, seeds will germinate & seedling grow rapidly

Question 26

Adaptations of Tropical Monsoon Rainforest * Roots 1pt, 1subpt

Answer 26

* Roots – Deep Tap Roots - Deep, tap roots to tap into underground water especially during the dry season (because rainfall is not available throughout the year due to seasonality) → roots are spread across forest floor that absorb groundwater during dry seasons

Question 27

Adaptations of Tropical Monsoon Rainforest * Climate and Physical Environment (not seasonality) 3pt, 2subpt

Answer 27

* Climate and Physical Environment (Seasonality) - Distinct wet and dry seasons - Monthly mean temperatures above 18° C (MAT) - Rainfall received is in the range between 700 mm – 2000 mm. (TAP) → Wet season from April to October with monthly ppt more than 100 mm → Dry season from November to Feb with monthly ppt less than 60mm