What is an Ecosystem? Tropical Rainforest Biome
An ecosystem is a system in which organisms interact with each other and Convectional rainfall
with their environment. Distribution of Tropical Rainforests
The roots of plants take up water from the
Tropical rainforests are centred along the Equator 1 ground and the rain is intercepted as it falls.
Ecosystem’s Components between the Tropic of Cancer and Capricorn.
Rainforests can be found in South America, central
Abiotic These are non-living, such as air, water, heat, rock. Africa and South-East Asia. The Amazon is the world’s As the rainforest heats up, the water evaporates
2 into the atmosphere.
largest rainforest and takes up the majority of
Biotic These are living, such as plants, insects, and animals. northern South America, encompassing countries
such as Brazil and Peru. Finally, the water condenses and forms clouds to
3 make the next day's rain.
Flora Plant life occurring in a particular region or time.
Fauna Animal life of any particular region or time. Rainforest nutrient cycle Climate of Tropical Rainforests
Food Chains The hot, damp conditions on the forest floor allow for the rapid • Evening temperatures rarely fall below 22°C
decomposition of dead plant material. This provides plentiful • Due to the presence of clouds, temperatures rarely
nutrients that are easily absorbed by plant roots. However, as these rise above 32°C
Food chains are useful in explaining nutrients are in high demand from the many fast-growing plants,
they do not remain in the soil for long and stay close to the surface. • Most afternoons have heavy showers
the basic principles behind At night with no clouds insulating, temperature drops
ecosystems. They show only one If vegetation is removed, the soils quickly become infertile •
species at a particular level from
where energy is transferred up to
the next. Topic 4 Interdependence in the rainforest
Nutrient cycle
Plants take in those nutrients where they are
Sustaining Ecosystems A rainforest works through interdependence. This is where the
plants and animals depend on each other for survival.
built into new organic matter. Nutrients are Layers of the Rainforest Rainforest soil profile
taken up when animals eat plants and then
returned to the soil when animals die and the Emergent Highest layer with tree reaching 50 metres. Leaf Litter Thin litter layer rapidly decomposes in heat.
body is broken down by decomposers.
Canopy Most life is found here as It receives high Shallow topsoil is a mixture of decomposed
Top Soil
level of rainfall and sunlight. organic matter and minerals.
Litter This is the surface layer of
vegetation, which over time
breaks down to become humus. U-Canopy Consists of trees that reach 20 metres high. Sub Soil The sub-soil is deep due to weathering of rocks
below.
Biomass The total mass of living Shrub Lowest layer with small trees that have
organisms per unit area. Layer adapted to living in the shade. Underlying rock weathers quickly at high
Rock
temperatures to form sub-soil.
Biomes Biome’s climate and plants
A biome is a large geographical area of distinctive plant and animal groups, Biome Location Temperature Rainfall Flora Fauna
which are adapted to that particular environment. The climate and geography
of a region determines what type of biome can exist in that region.
Tropical Centred along the Hot all year (25-30°C) Very high (over Tall trees forming a canopy; wide Greatest range of different animal
Equator. 200mm/year) variety of species. species. Most live in canopy layer
Coniferous rainforest
forest
Tropical Between latitudes 5°- 30° Warm all year (20-30°C) Wet + dry season Grasslands with widely spaced Large hoofed herbivores and
Deciduous grasslands north & south of Equator. (500-1500mm/year) trees. carnivores dominate.
forest
Hot desert Found along the tropics Hot by day (over 30°C) Very low (below Lack of plants and few species; Many animals are small and
Tropical of Cancer and Capricorn. Cold by night 300mm/year) adapted to drought. nocturnal: except for the camel.
rainforests
Tundra Between latitudes 40°-60° Warm summers + mild Variable rainfall (500- Mainly deciduous trees; a variety Animals adapt to colder and
Temperate
forest north of Equator. winters (5-20°C) 1500m /year) of species. warmer climates. Some migrate.
Temperate
grasslands Tundra Far Latitudes of 65° north Cold winter + cool Low rainfall (below Small plants grow close to the Low number of species. Most
and south of Equator summers (below 10°C) 500mm/ year) ground and only in summer. animals found along coast.
Tropical
grasslands
Found within 30° north – Warm water all year Wet + dry seasons. Small range of plant life which Dominated by polyps and a
The most productive biomes – which have the greatest south of Equator in round with temperatures Rainfall varies greatly includes algae and sea grasses that diverse range of fish species.
Coral Reefs
biomass- grow in climates that are hot and wet. Hot deserts. tropical waters. of 18°C due to location. shelters reef animals.
An ecosystem is a system in which organisms interact with each other and Convectional rainfall
with their environment. Distribution of Tropical Rainforests
The roots of plants take up water from the
Tropical rainforests are centred along the Equator 1 ground and the rain is intercepted as it falls.
Ecosystem’s Components between the Tropic of Cancer and Capricorn.
Rainforests can be found in South America, central
Abiotic These are non-living, such as air, water, heat, rock. Africa and South-East Asia. The Amazon is the world’s As the rainforest heats up, the water evaporates
2 into the atmosphere.
largest rainforest and takes up the majority of
Biotic These are living, such as plants, insects, and animals. northern South America, encompassing countries
such as Brazil and Peru. Finally, the water condenses and forms clouds to
3 make the next day's rain.
Flora Plant life occurring in a particular region or time.
Fauna Animal life of any particular region or time. Rainforest nutrient cycle Climate of Tropical Rainforests
Food Chains The hot, damp conditions on the forest floor allow for the rapid • Evening temperatures rarely fall below 22°C
decomposition of dead plant material. This provides plentiful • Due to the presence of clouds, temperatures rarely
nutrients that are easily absorbed by plant roots. However, as these rise above 32°C
Food chains are useful in explaining nutrients are in high demand from the many fast-growing plants,
they do not remain in the soil for long and stay close to the surface. • Most afternoons have heavy showers
the basic principles behind At night with no clouds insulating, temperature drops
ecosystems. They show only one If vegetation is removed, the soils quickly become infertile •
species at a particular level from
where energy is transferred up to
the next. Topic 4 Interdependence in the rainforest
Nutrient cycle
Plants take in those nutrients where they are
Sustaining Ecosystems A rainforest works through interdependence. This is where the
plants and animals depend on each other for survival.
built into new organic matter. Nutrients are Layers of the Rainforest Rainforest soil profile
taken up when animals eat plants and then
returned to the soil when animals die and the Emergent Highest layer with tree reaching 50 metres. Leaf Litter Thin litter layer rapidly decomposes in heat.
body is broken down by decomposers.
Canopy Most life is found here as It receives high Shallow topsoil is a mixture of decomposed
Top Soil
level of rainfall and sunlight. organic matter and minerals.
Litter This is the surface layer of
vegetation, which over time
breaks down to become humus. U-Canopy Consists of trees that reach 20 metres high. Sub Soil The sub-soil is deep due to weathering of rocks
below.
Biomass The total mass of living Shrub Lowest layer with small trees that have
organisms per unit area. Layer adapted to living in the shade. Underlying rock weathers quickly at high
Rock
temperatures to form sub-soil.
Biomes Biome’s climate and plants
A biome is a large geographical area of distinctive plant and animal groups, Biome Location Temperature Rainfall Flora Fauna
which are adapted to that particular environment. The climate and geography
of a region determines what type of biome can exist in that region.
Tropical Centred along the Hot all year (25-30°C) Very high (over Tall trees forming a canopy; wide Greatest range of different animal
Equator. 200mm/year) variety of species. species. Most live in canopy layer
Coniferous rainforest
forest
Tropical Between latitudes 5°- 30° Warm all year (20-30°C) Wet + dry season Grasslands with widely spaced Large hoofed herbivores and
Deciduous grasslands north & south of Equator. (500-1500mm/year) trees. carnivores dominate.
forest
Hot desert Found along the tropics Hot by day (over 30°C) Very low (below Lack of plants and few species; Many animals are small and
Tropical of Cancer and Capricorn. Cold by night 300mm/year) adapted to drought. nocturnal: except for the camel.
rainforests
Tundra Between latitudes 40°-60° Warm summers + mild Variable rainfall (500- Mainly deciduous trees; a variety Animals adapt to colder and
Temperate
forest north of Equator. winters (5-20°C) 1500m /year) of species. warmer climates. Some migrate.
Temperate
grasslands Tundra Far Latitudes of 65° north Cold winter + cool Low rainfall (below Small plants grow close to the Low number of species. Most
and south of Equator summers (below 10°C) 500mm/ year) ground and only in summer. animals found along coast.
Tropical
grasslands
Found within 30° north – Warm water all year Wet + dry seasons. Small range of plant life which Dominated by polyps and a
The most productive biomes – which have the greatest south of Equator in round with temperatures Rainfall varies greatly includes algae and sea grasses that diverse range of fish species.
Coral Reefs
biomass- grow in climates that are hot and wet. Hot deserts. tropical waters. of 18°C due to location. shelters reef animals.
