1. Tropical Rainforest Biome

2. What: Biomes are unique regions of the world where the climate controls what type of soil forms there, animals life there and plants grow there Where: The tropical Rainforest in Amazon Basin What aspects: Climate, Vegetation, Soils and Animals

3. Climate

5. 3 Largest Rainforsts, South America, Africa, Asia 5 degrees N&S of equator Equatorial Climate Suns angle - 90° to 66° Direct sunlight – avg temp 27° - range 2° Highest temp 35°- lowest 24° due to constant cloud cover Feels hotter due to high humidity – up to 88% Transpiration increase water vapour and high temp increases airs ability to hold water

6. Rainfall always in excess of 2500mm up to 6600mm in sumatra Rain is in short heavy downpours Strong winds shake the canopy Short term flooding but quickly soaks away Amazon Basin – Ecuador, Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia and Brazil Congo Basin, Indonesia, Northern Aus

8. Soil

9. Latsol – Tropical Rainforest Poor nutrients due to leaching by heavy rains Red in colour due to oxidation of Iron Very short nutrient cycle Nutrients found in living plants & decomposing plant litter ( O Horizon) High Humidity and insects, bacteria ad fungi convert to humus quickly Plants absorb instantly – 99% of nutrient held in plant roots

10. 5-8% of sunlight reaches forest floor – undergrowth deprived of energy source Secondary enrichment – creation of small mineral rich deposits –Chemicl weathering and percolating water concentrate amounts of precious metals e.g. Bauxite –Formed by leaching, common elements removed e.g. Calcium, silicon etc. Aluminium extremely insoluble so concentrates at surface as bauxite –Also occurs with Iron, soluble iron is washed down and concentrated as haematite

12. Plant Life (Flora)

14. 4 layers –Emergent, –Canopy, –Understory, –Forest floor

16. Emergent – –80m, –far apart, –umbrella shape above canopy, –smallpointed leaves as exposed to strong wind –Straight smooth branchless trunks –Butress roots (up to 9m) to support height –Hardwoods e.g. Teak & Mahogany

17. Canopy –20-40m –Thick lianas and epiphytes like mosses and orchids –Orchids get inorganic nutrients from air and rainfall and live perched on branch joints –Plant have leaves that can gather water in downpours but have drip trips to discard it before it becomes stagnant –Some leaves can turn towards sun to absorb maximum sunlight

20. Understory –Less than 3% of light reaches –Dark environment –Limited growth –Short, leafy, non flowering shrubs, ferns and vines –Adapted to filtered light and poor soil

21. Forest Floor –Such limited light –less than 1% of light- little growth –Poor thin soils –Dense vegetation where gap in canopy – trees have fallen –Lianas cling to branches of young plants –Only most vigorous plants survive

22. Large fleshy fruits develop on trunk rather than branch tips so animals can reach them Epiphytes are plants that live on stronger plants – depend on air to bring them moisture and inorganic nutrients e.g. Orchids Lianas – wood vines, start as small shrubs and grow up tree trunks – make up 40% of canopy leaves

23. Fauna (Animal Life)

24. Highly diverse Chameleon, jaguar, gorilla, macaw, sloth, forest elephant

25. 100 species per hectare 6km2 – –1500 plant species –750 tree species –400 bird species –250 butterfly species –100 reptile sepcies Larget Animals on ground floor e.g. Gorillas, Anteaters, wild boars Insects, spiders, birds, monkeys, reptiles and amphibians life canopy

31. Adaptations: Birds have big beaks to break nuts and tough shells e.g. Toucan & Parrot Ability to live in trees 27% of worlds bird species live there Bright colour deflect heat and attract mates during mating season Loud vocalisation- easy to communicate in dense vegetation Diets heavy on fruit

32. Camouflage – one adaptation of animals E.g. Like a leaf Moths and insects look dead or like leaves to hide in foliage Abundant insects that in danger from predators e.g. Stick insects and tree frogs Animals use colour to warn predators but some are bluffing Poison arrow frog and snakes – bright colour means danger

36. Body structure: Flying foxes – flap between front and back legs that allow it to glide long distances Tail can wrap around trees for support (prehensil tail) e.g. Lemur Sloths are covered in green algae that make them very hard to see

40. Tree trunk environment –Woodpeckers drill holes in dead trees – easy and soft –Holes used as nests –Living trees also used as the sap acts as irritant for snakes trying to reach nest –Monkeys and birds also use these holes Pollination –Plants use nectar to attract insects to aid pollination –Kapok have fluffy tops that are dispersed by the wind – (Kapok is an emerger so it needs wide – dispersal to survive)

41. Yanomami Tribe 32,000 in number 9.6m hectares Live in communal houses that sleep up of 400 Men hunt – 10% of food intake Women farm – 60 crops up of 80% of food intake Decisions by consensus – often long debates

42. 1940’s first contact with outsiders –Measles and flu killed many 1970’s miliary govt built road through land – 2 villages wiped out by disease 1980’s – 40,000 gold miner invaded and 20% of Yanomami died in 7yrs Now over 1000 gold miners working illegally Malaria is being spread and mercury is polluting rives Cattle ranchers invading and deforesting in eastern fringe