GCSE Ecosystems Unit

1. Consequences of Human Interference in the Tropical Rain Forest Ecosystem
Foliage protects soil
Roots take up water
from effects of heavy
containing nutrients
Before rain
Roots die and soil
is loosened
Roots bind soil together
Trees pump out oxygen
Nutrients are washed Loss of plants with
and absorb carbon
deep into soil because of potential medicinal
dioxide
LEACHING ~ no qualities
replacement so soil
Trees no longer transpire become infertile
water = fewer clouds= less
rainfall over time. Can
After
eventually lead to drought Soil washed into rivers
increasing risk of floods
No protection for
soil from heavy
rainfall by canopy Leaf fall rots down quickly
and adds organic matter to
soil (humus)
Habitats alter – reduced
in size – less breeding =
danger of extinction
Consequences of Human Interference in the Tropical Rain Forest Ecosystem

2. Foliage protects soil
Roots take up water
from effects of heavy
containing nutrients
Before rain
Roots die and soil
is loosened
Roots bind soil together
Trees pump out oxygen
Nutrients are washed Loss of plants with
and absorb carbon
deep into soil because of potential medicinal
dioxide
LEACHING ~ no qualities
replacement so soil
Trees no longer transpire become infertile
water = fewer clouds= less
rainfall over time. Can
After
eventually lead to drought Soil washed into rivers
increasing risk of floods
No protection for
soil from heavy
rainfall by canopy Leaf fall rots down quickly
and adds organic matter to
soil (humus)
Habitats alter – reduced
in size – less breeding =
danger of extinction
Traditional farming in the TRF ~ Shifting Cultivation

3. • Needs a high input of labour + a large area of land to produce food for a small number of people
• Is fairly sustainable unless population pressure causes return to area of forest in under about 30 years
• Crops grown are supplemented by hunting small animals, fishing, and collecting fruit, nuts, honey
• Amazon Indians have suffered through deforestation
• Displaced by logging, mining and ranching companies
• Forced on to reservations
• May migrate to cities and live in favelas