Unit 5: Spatial Distribution of Tropical Rainforests & Mangroves

Which of the following describes CLIMATE?

• Weather patterns over a long period of time (30years)

• Changes in atmospheric conditions in a short period of time

Which of the following are characteristics of a TROPICAL CLIMATE?

• Constant amount of sunlight

• Large amount of rainfall (2000mm a year)

• Some months with no rainfall

Which of the following are characteristics of TROPICAL RAINFORESTS?

• Largest variety of plant species of all ecosystems worldwide.

• The leaves are evergreen (no shedding of leaves)

• Distinct horizontal structure

• Extremely dense forest

Which of the following are characteristics of MANGROVE FORESTS?

• Less plant species variety (60-70) and less dense than rainforests.

• Found along or near the coasts that could be freshwater and/or seawater

• Distinct horizontal zonation

• Extremely dense forest

Which is NOT a characteristic of the CANOPY LAYER of the VERTICAL FOREST STRUCTURE?

• Is 20-30m in height

• Their crowns interlock to form a canopy

• They block out 50% of sunlight from reaching the forest floor

Which is NOT a characteristic of the UNDERGROWTH LAYER of the VERTICAL FOREST STRUCTURE?

• Is up to 10m in height

• Vegetation is dense here

• Some grow on taller trees to get more sunlight while some grow in the gaps of sunlight

Which of the following is NOT an adaptation of tropical rainforest plants?

• Buttress roots, and shallow & extended roots

• Drip tips

• Narrow leaves

• Waxy leaves

Which of the following is NOT an adaptation of MANGROVE FORESTS?

• Aerial roots to get oxygen directly from the air during low tide

• Aerial roots to help anchor the plant more firmly into the soil

• Sugar-secreting leaves

• Salt-excluding roots

What temperature will mangrove forests NOT thrive in?

• 25^oC

• 20^oC

• 15^oC

Mangroves grow better where salinity of the water is higher.

• True

• False