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Tropical Rainforest - Ecosystem

Distribution
1. Spread evenly around the equator
2. Tend to be between the tropics
3. Main areas
  1. Amazon in Brazil
  2. Congo in Central Africa
Climate
1. Hot and wet
  1. low latitude
  2. low pressure
  3. convectional rain
2. Always above 25 degrees C
3. 4000mm of rain falls annually
  1. More between June and October
Animals
1. Biodiverse - 15 million different species of plants and animals
2. Herbivores
  1. Insects
  2. Fruit bats
  3. Macaws
  4. Butterflies
3. Omnivores
  1. Howler monkeys
  2. Chimps
  3. Lemars
4. Carnivores
  1. Jaguars
  2. Pythons
Nutrient Cycle
1. Most nutrients are stored in the biomass
  1. living trees
  2. Vegetation
2. The soil isnt fertile and doesnt have many nutrients
3. Decomposition occurs quickly
  1. Few nutrients in leaf litter
Importance
1. Safe environment for fish to spawn ,breed and maintain stock levels.
2. Tourism businesses for the locals
3. Soaks up rainwater to prevent flooding downstream
4. Helps regulate greenhouse gasses
  1. Takes in CO2
Human activities
1. Road and rail development
  1. Deforestation
2. Logging for furniture
3. Ranching
  1. overgrazing
4. Hydroelectric power
5. Mining
  1. diamonds
  2. gold
6. Settlements
7. Food production
  1. bannanas
Impacts of deforestation on the water cycle
1. Less interception
2. Less transpiration
3. Increase in run-off
4. Causes drought and desertification
Sustainable managment
1. Wildlife corridor
  1. Strips of forest planted so wildlife can breed and move safely
2. Debt-For-Nature
  1. Central American countries spend money on conserving wildlife so Western Governments reduce their debt
  2. Costa Rica spent $27 million on conservation projects with the USA
3. Eco-tourism
  1. Creates local jobs
  2. People find out about the rainforests
  3. Costa Rica
    1. $45 to climb canopy walkways
    2. 70% of tourists visit protected environments
4. Virunga National Park in Africa
  1. Biodiverse -700 bird species and 200 mammal
  2. Home to 220 mountain gorillas - critically endangered
    1. 40,000 saplings planted to create buffer zone (to breed)
  3. 60,000 jobs created
  4. Electric fences used
  5. Dogs to track poachers
  6. Eco-tourism - Mikeno Luzury Lodge

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Tropical Rainforest - Ecosystem

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	Created by Alex Connaughton about 7 years ago