GCSE Geography revision for ecosystems

1. Lets go to the rainforest and find out what its like, the types of vegetation & its soil

2. Equatorial Ecosystem Hot all year Wet all year High annual rainfall over 2000mm Wide biodiversity Plants love the heat & humidity Trees are evergreen Trees have thin barks – no need for protection against the cold

3. Characteristics of vegetation in the rainforest Tall straight trunks no side branches Aerial roots of epiphytes absorb moisture from the air Shallow spreading root system Buttress roots Thick, waxy surface of leaves protects against hot sun, heavy rain, and strong winds

4. A Discontinuous Canopy of tree Crowns of the Tallest trees 40 – 50m ( Emergent) B 25 – 40m Continuous layer of Main canopy C 10 -25m Discontinuous under Canopy of D Layer of shrubs & Young trees E Herb layer with Ferns 6m+ high 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

5. Latosol Soil Characteristics Precipitation > evapotranspiration Rapid leaching Soil colour – red or yellowish red colour Organic materials and minerals are washed downwards

8. Amazon Rainforest Groups of people against forest removal Groups of people in favour of forest removal Hunters & collectors Shifting cultivators Rubber tappers Logging companies Miners Cattle ranchers Farmers from the east Collectors of forest products