1. Systems Module Geography Lessons Lesson 2 Rainforest Ecosystems Aim- Why is the rainforest the most productive ecosystem on Earth?

4. Tropical Rainforests

5. Where is the Amazon? Amazon Do you know a) which continent the Amazon is on? and b) which hemisphere is it in? Complete your answers in Word

6. River Amazon

7. Why does it rain so much in the rainforest?

8. Convectional rain

10. Emergent trees Canopy Under Canopy Shrubs Undergrowth 50m 0m Layers of the rainforest liana buttress roots

11. LITTER THIN HUMUS RED SOIL BEDROCK Rainforest Soil Profile

12. Images from Malaysian Rainforest August 2004

17. Nutrient Cycle Twigs and leaves fall to the ground and become ‘litter’ Decomposition (breaking down) of litter by termites, fungi and bacteria Nutrients enter the soil Soil is fertile Dense vegetation

18. Leaching washes out soil nutrients

19. Less vegetation Broken Nutrient Cycle Deforestation Fill in the gaps in word worksheet

24. Main Activity Cont. The grid below shows you what information you need to research about your Rainforest. Any effects your Rainforest has on the outside world. Conservation groups linked to your Rainforest . Dangers facing your Rainforest. Why your Rainforest is important. Zones of the Rainforest. (Canopy etc.) Any endangered species living there. People that live there. Any medical remedies grown there. Climate of your Rainforest Type & Location of your Rainforest Animals that live there. Vegetation

29. Plenary Cont. Your bar-chart should be similar to the one below: