23 Worksheet 23.

1
1. Re-arrange the letters in the anagrams to find c) The under-storey layer of sapling trees is at
four ways in which the vegetation is adapted about 30 metres.
to the climate. d) Lianas climb up the trunks of the trees to
a) prid pit flea reach sunlight.
b) darob valese
c) gtishart ltal ksutrn a) The nutrient cycle is interrupted when
d) ont lassaeno trees are felled.
b) The forest soil contains many nutrients.
2. a) Re-arrange the following to show the c) The roots of rain forest trees grow deep
structure of the tropical forest from the into the soils
ground surface to the top: d) Forests absorb less solar radiation than
crops do.
Canopy layer, ground layer, emergent layer,
shrub layer, under-canopy.
a) Trees transpire through their roots.
b) Which layer has each of the following
b) Rain forest destruction will lead to
shaped crowns (branching area at the top
enhanced global warming.
of the tree)?
c) Forests have no influence on the water
i) round
quality of rivers flowing through them.
ii) long and narrow
d) Rainforest destruction will lead to
iii) large and wide
increased rainfall.
3. Explain the following.
a) Tropical rainforest can grow where the
a) Soils in Equatorial climates are very deep. annual rainfall is at least 1000 mm.
b) Tropical rain forests appear evergreen but b) The leaves are drip-tip to catch as much
the trees are deciduous. sunlight for photosynthesis as possible.
c) Tropical rain forests grow all the way
4. Which one statement in each of the following across Africa and South America along the
groups is correct? Equator.
a) Rain forests have a lush undergrowth. d) Tropical rain forests need a minimum mean
b) The canopy layer is the highest layer in the annual temperature of 24ºC.
forest structure.

5. Match the terms with their definitions.

Term Definition
A Habitat 1 A major division of the world’s vegetation that is adapted to a particular climate.
B Biome 2 A series of food chains which link with each other.
C Carbon sink 3 A natural store for carbon and carbon dioxide.
D Food web 4 The process by which plants lose water by evaporation to water vapour through the
pores in their leaves.
E Emergents 5 A bush. It has several stems but no trunk and is low in height.
F Ecosystem 6 Minerals that are plant foods. They are released from rocks by weathering.
G Structure 7 An area where animals can live.
H Nutrients 8 The inter-relationships between living plants and animals and their non-living environment.
I Transpiration 9 Distinct layers of vegetation with differing heights from the ground.
J Leaching 10 The tallest trees in the tropical rainforests.
K Shrub 11 The downward removal of minerals in solution from the soil.

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