1. The Tropical Rainforest IB SL

2. Location

3. Introduction... They are the world's most productive ecosystems in terms of NPP and biomass. They are complex ecosystems with variations in climate, temperatures, and vegetation, within individual forests. Temperatures are often thought to be permanently high, but they are highest on the forest edge where vegetation is more limited. The climate changes on a daily basis within the forest, and the idea of the forest being difficult to penetrate is only true at the edges where the sunlight allows rapid growth of vegetation.

4. Development Their development relies on... Insolation And Temperatures High temps. Allow All Year Growth Of Vegetation. Moisture Varies throughout the year, and true TRFs are said to have rainfall in excess of 2000mm and a dry season of no longer than 2 months. Nutrients Scarce, but are rapidly recycled and transferred. Phosphorus and nitrogen are the nutrients needed most.

5. Structure Layer:Characteristics: Top (Euphatic) Most productive (NPP, animal life and biomass). Tress over 25m. 25% of available energy absorbed. Middle (Oligotrophic)Trees are 10 - 25m. Bottom Smaller trees and some young saplings between 5 and 10m in height. Shrub Smaller seedlings and some pygmy trees of 5 to 10m. HerbTree seedlings, and ferns in existence. Top Root Roots that penetrate to a depth of 5cm (majority). Middle rootFewer roots to a depth of 5 - 50cm. Bottom root Minimal numbers of roots in this layer, below 50cm.

6. Structure

7. Climate Small annual temperature range (2 - 4 degrees). Regular insolation, result of location near equator. Daily temperature range in excess of annual range (8 - 10 degrees), with daytime temperatures up to 32 degrees. High levels of convectional rainfall, often with a minimum in July/August/September. Extremely high humidity levels. Light winds. Quick evapotranspiration. Year long growing season (but not all plants in the forest grow all year).

8. Vegetation Decay of leaf litter is rapid, and nutrient recycling. Photosynthesis occurs all year. Extremely large variety of vegetation, trees appear to be evergreen but are deciduous. Vegetation adapts to the climate. For example, buttress roots to support tall trees, drip tips to help remove excess moisture. Tallest trees can be over 50m high and are known as emergence. Where forests are near the coast Mangrove swamps may be found.

9. Soils May appear to be fertile but the tropical latosols are not. The humus layer is extremely thin, as is the amount of litter. Leaching occurs as a result of the high precipitation and is increased greatly by deforestation. Minerals such as Calcium and magnesium are lost. Bedrock is weathered quickly. The characteristic red colour of the soil is due to iron and aluminium accumulating.

10. Carbon Cycle

11. Nutrient Cycle

12. Activity Using Chapter 3 of AS Level Geography P102- 103, answer the following questions... 1.Where in the world are Tropical Rainforests mainly located? 2.What are the main vegetation types and how have they adapted to the environment? 3.How does the nutrient cycle work? 4.What impacts do humans have on these areas?