Question on Natural Vegetation : Differences between Tropical rain forest and Coniferous forest

Fig.1a Forest, North West Territories Canada
















Fig.1b Amazon forest, Brazil.

Mean Temperature: 27.0oC
Annual Precipitation: 2275mm



Fig.1a and Fig.1b show pictures of two types of natural vegetations
Using these two photographs,

i. Identify the natural vegetation found in Fig.1a and Fig 1b.
Fig. 1a shows a coniferous forest while Fig. 1b shows a tropical rainforest. (1m)


ii. Describe two differences between the two types of natural vegetation you have identified in (a) i.
The coniferous forest has less variety of trees compared to the tropical rainforest which have a larger variety of trees, shrubs and bushes.

Because the forest in Fig. 1a is located in Canada, I can infer that the growing season for this forest is short while the growing season in Fig. 1b is all year round as the forest is located in Brazil. (2m)

b. Fig.1c shows the climate graph of a particular climatic region.

i. Determined whether the climate graph represents the climate found in Fig. 1a or Fig. 1b?Explain how this climate affects the forest identified in (b) i.

This climate graph show the climate for the forest found in Fig.1b.

• High Temperatures (27°) and Rainfall (2275mm)
• Able to support a great variety of plants (High Biodiversity), 1 hectare – 400 species of trees
• Trees are able to grow to a great height
• Leaves that fall to the ground rots quickly and easily.
• High, almost continuous rainfall throughout the year
• No need for plants to shed leaves
• Trees are largely broadleaved evergreens.
• Nutrients are leached away easily due to high rainfall so forest soil lack nutrients.

• Note Students must use information from the graph (information underline) to explain who this will affect the forest to get full marks.