Question on Natural Vegetation: Mangrove

Apologies for the small photo.Just click on the picture to see a larger version.

Photos A to C show different features of the mangrove forest.
Describe and explain how each feature adapts to its environment. [6]

Photo A :
Feature: Colourful flowers with bright colours
Adaptations: Flowers are generally colourful and bright to attract insects to carry out pollination.

Photo B
Feature: Elongated fruits/elongated shape with sharp tips
Adaptation: Allows fruits to drop directly into the soft muddy soil and take root

Photo C
Feature: Stilt or prop roots/roots that protrude out of the soil
Adaptation: The roots anchors the trees firmly to the soft muddy soil of the mangrove vegetation

Question on Natural Vegetation:Mangrove

With the help of Fig. 1, describe the distribution of this type of natural
vegetation and the climate in which they are found.[5]

1. Temperature is uniform and high through out the year
2. highest mean monthy is 27 and lowest is 25
3. Therefore annual temp range is very small – 2
4. mean annual rainfall---high 2850mm
5. rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year
6. tropical rainforests is found bet tropical/ equatorial region-10 north and south
7. most of south east Asia- Indonesia, Malaysia,Africa-congo/Zaire basin
   Central America, South America- Brazil
   

Show how mangrove adapts to the saline and waterlogged conditions in the
environment in which they are found. [5]

1. efficient salt glands in the leaves to secrete excess salt
2. old leaves that store excess salt so that when the older leaves fall, the excess salt is removed too
3. prop roots and buttress roots anchor the mangrove trees firmly to the muddy ground so that the trees are not easily washed away
4. soil lacks oxygen, breathing roots help the trees take in oxygen directly from the atmosphere
   (- Prop roots contain air holes / lenticles)
5. Long Tube-Like Fruits germinate while still on trees when ripen, they fall into the mud, take roots and continue to grow

Question on Natural Vegetation : Biomass

Study the graph below carefully.

(i) Explain the term biomass. (1 mark)

Biomass refers to the combined weight of all organisms, which is measured in terms of kilocalories of stored energy and represents the total amount of food available in an ecosystem.

(ii) Using evidence from the diagram, identify which three ecosystems are able to support more living things and how they are able to do so. (6 marks)

• The three ecosystems which are able to support more living things are:
  o Tropical rainforest
  o Swamp and Marsh
  o Estuary (delta)
• They are able to support more living things because their biomass is very high.
• The vegetation in these ecosystems provides food for animals (herbivores) that feed on them.
• The vegetation also provides nutrients to the soil which allows the vegetation to regenerate.
  

Question on Natural Vegetation :Difference between coniferous forest and tropical rain forest

• 
  1 Study the map which shows the global distribution of coniferous forests below carefully.
  
  (a) Based on the map above, what kind of conditions favour the growth of coniferous forests? [4]
  
  Coniferous forests are found in areas between 60 and 70°N of the Equator.
• These areas experience the cool temperate climate.
• Areas at this latitudes experience four seasons with winters as cold as -40°C and summers averaging 21°C.
• Precipitation at these areas is between 300 to 635 millimetres throughout the year.
  

(b) What are the differences between how coniferous forests and tropical rainforests adapt to their environments? [6]

• Coniferous forests have no distinct layers with tall trees which are generally 20 to 30 metres in height. There is also little undergrowth because of the low amount of sunlight received and low soil nutrient level.
• On the other hand, tropical rainforests have five distinct layers — the undergrowth layer, the shrub layer, the understorey layer, canopy layer and the emergent layer.
• Only a few species of trees grow in the coniferous forests because not many plants can adapt to the low temperatures and precipitation.
• However, a tropical can support many diverse species of flora. 1 hectare of tropical rainforest may contain more than 750 species of trees and 1500 species of plants.
• Tropical rainforests are extremely dense due to high temperatures and rainfall.
• The trees in coniferous forests are not as dense as the low temperatures and precipitation cannot support dense vegetation growth.
  

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.

Question on Natural Vegetation: Impact of deforestation on the environment

With reference to examples, how does the loss of the rainforest impact the
physical environment? [7]

1. Decrease in species of flora and fauna … extinction
2. Upset in nutrient cycle- no decomposition of leaves whi is important
   
3. For formation of humus which makes soil fertily
   • Accelerated soil erosion--
   • Soil erosion-No Vegetation (roots, bind soil, retain moisture) ---
   no protective cover to intercept and break impact of rain)
   ¨ loss in soil fertility/ loss of top soil..deforested … loss of protection, inc rate of surface runoff, reduce infiltration, accel soil erosion. topsoil loses fertility
   
4. Increases flooding downstream …
   • runoff,
   • sediments deposited
   
5. Raises river bed, decreases depth
   • Increase water pollution
6. Disruption to hydrological cycle
   • 50% of O2 ss fr rainforest
7. Decrease in forest leads to global warming as CO2 inc
   • 25% fresh h2o ss from the Amazon Basin
   • Less rainfall … decrease in trees … decrease in transpiration … decrease in moisture /vapour
   

Question on Natural Vegetation : The function and usefulness of tropical rainforest

Evaluate the functions and usefulness of tropical rainforests. (8 marks)



Level 1 (0–2 marks)

• List functions briefly.
• No evaluation of usefulness.

Level 2 (3–5 marks)

• Describe functions briefly.
• Brief evaluation of usefulness.

Level 3 (6–8 marks)

• Explain functions in detail.
• Detailed evaluation of usefulness.
  

1. Rainforests are important to people because they make good water catchment areas.
   - They maintain the quantity of the water supply by playing a significant role in the water cycle through releasing water vapour into the atmosphere, thus encouraging cloud formation and rain.
   - The trees and leaves intercept water and protect the soil surface, thus allowing water to seep into the ground to be stored as groundwater.
   - They also support natural processes of filtering water which make water suitable for drinking and supporting life.
2. Rainforests are important to people because they maintain the quality of air.
   - The trees and plants replenish oxygen and remove carbon dioxide during photosynthesis and also help to regulate the temperature of the Earth.
3. Rainforests are important to people because they are a source of useful materials such as timber and chemicals for medicine.
4. Rainforests prevent floods that would have destroyed the environment.
   - They maintain soil nutrients because the roots of vegetation hold the soil particles together preventing them from being washed away by rain.
   - As the vegetation allows water to seep into the ground, they prevent soil erosion. This prevents rivers from being filled with sediment and overflowing, thus preventing floods.
5. Rainforests are important to the Earth’s ecosystem and the environment.
   - They form the habitat of the world’s flora and fauna. Without the rainforest ecosystem, many plants and animals are not able to survive.
6. Therefore, rainforests are very important in the following ways:
   • Maintaining the water supply
   • Maintaining nutrients in the soil
   • Replenishing oxygen and removing carbon dioxide
   • Habitat for flora and fauna
   • Protecting the coast
   • Natural treatment of waste water
   • Habitat
   • Recreation
   • Research and education
   
   Conclusion: Destruction of rainforests will eventually destroy the balanced ecosystem, with the loss of biomass, loss of biodiversity, casing changes in the nutrient cycle, quantity and quality of water and eventually destroying the habitat man is depending on for food, habitat and other research and educational values.
   
   (Pupils with this conclusion will be able to get 8 marks, if not only 7 marks will be awarded, when no evaluation is seen)

Question on Natural Vegetation : Reason for Deforestation

“The current rate of deforestation is 1.3 million hectares per year.”
With references to studies you have made suggest reasons why this is so in Kalimantan.


1. Logging
a. Kalimantan has been rapidly deforested for the past 30 years due to logging. In West Kalimantan, an average of 1656 km2 of forest is lost annually through logging.
b. This is due to timber companies speeding up the pace of logging to ensure their wood processing facilities are fully utilized.

2. Mining
c. A number of minerals, such as gold, silver and copper are found in the ground underneath the Kalimantan
Rainforests.
d. When a mining company discovers the minerals in the ground and wish to extract it, it must first clear the vegetation to expose the ground underneath to mine the minerals.

3. Growing Housing demand
e. Indonesians who were resettled into Kalimantan by the Transmigration Programme.
f. Majority of the migrants cleared the forests to establish their homes and farms.
g. Some of the migrants move to the city, resulting in the city having to expand into nearby forests to meet the increase in housing demand.

h. Example: Balikpapan, East Kalimantan
1. Major city, a business centre for logging, mining and oil extraction companies 2. Next to protected area, Sungei Wain Rainforest
3. Protected area reduced from 98.7km2 to 35 km2 between 1997 and 1998
4. Due to the urbanization of Balikpapan to meet growing housing demands.

4. Transport Network
i. Transport networks, like roads and railway tracks, are constructed to link settlements in Kalimantan.
j. Such networks cut through previously remote forested areas in Kalimantan, allowing easier access to the forest.
k. The improve in accessibility has made it easier for people

1. Example: Trans-Kalimantan Highway 230 km long links Banjarmasin and Balikpapan

5. Forest Fire
l. Forests fires in Kalimantan are usually deliberately set by people.

m. The method of burning the forest to clear the land has several advantages.
1. Cheaper than employing labourers to clear the forest.
2. Fertilizes the soil in the forests

n. However, unlike the native Dayaks, these people do not know how to control the fire, resulting in large-scale destruction of the forest.
o. Forest fires occur more frequently at logged areas, as the vegetation debris left behind catch fire easily.
p. More than 23 750 km2 of rainforest in Kalimantan has been destroyed by forest fires between 1997 and 1998 alone.


Additional Questions
Read the website on Causes of deforestation
1.Explain the difference between direct causes and underlying causes of deforestation

Question on Natural Vegetation : Consequence of deforestation

“Environmental degradation is the only consequence of deforestation.”
With reference to a case study that you have done, how far do you agree with this statement? (8m)


Level 1 (0–2 marks)
• List degradation only
• No link to deforestation

Level 2 (3–5 marks)
• Explain how environmental degradation is the consequence of deforestation
• But no reference to other kind of consequences like social consequence and economic consequences

Level 3 (6–8 marks)
• Explain environmental degradation in detail with relevant example and
• Appropriate reference to social and economic consequences.



Consequence of deforestation

1. Environmental Degradation
a. Loss of biomass
i. Earth’s biomass has been decreased as the rainforest of Kalimantan form a significant portion of the Earth’s biomass.
ii. Lesser animals higher up the food chain and ecosystem can be supported.

b. Loss in biodiversity
i. Kalimantan rainforests have a very high biodiversity of plants and animals which is diverse and fragile.
ii. When biomass is reduced, it will be able to support less plants and animals leading to a drop in the biodiversity
1. 80% of habitat of Orang Utans has been destroyed by deforestation
2. about 5 000 die every year due to deforestation.

c. Air pollution due to Haze
i. Clearing of forest by burning
ii. Huge forest fire eject huge amount of dust and smoke into the air
iii. Resulting in haze to be experienced in many other areas.


2. Social Consequences
d. Natives of Borneo Island, The Dayaks :Practices slash-and-burn subsistence farming
e. Harvest a variety of plants from the rainforest for day-to-day use.
f. Have the knowledge to control the extent of fires
g. Knows how to grow complementary crops to sustain fertility of the soil and methods to speed up the regeneration of the rainforest.
h. With deforestation less forest available for the Dayaks. Affect the way of life of the Dayaks.


3. Economic Consequences
i. Lost of forest will lead to lost of attraction for eco-tourism
j. Tourist cannot use the forest for camping or observing wild life.
k. Tanjung Puting National Park is a 400,000 hectare forst that have been conserved.


Additional Questions.

1.Go to the website Beheading a Dayak Ritual.
Read the article. Explore other links from that website.

Explain some of the social consequences of deforestation.

Here are some clues to help you.

Transmigration--- to Kalimantan--- Madurese.---- Dayak--- beheading.

2.Go to the website Tanjung Puting National Park A case study
Explain the consequence of illegal logging.

Do post your response so that I can give comments.

Question on Natural Vegetation Approach taken to save the rain forest

With reference to relevant examples or a case study, assess the multipronged
approach undertaken by the local government in saving the rainforests.[8]


L1 0-3
Describes methods adopted by the govt to reduce deforestation


L2 4-6
Describe effectiveness OR ineffectiveness of 1 measure
Describe effectiveness OR ineffectiveness of 2 measures
Assess 3 effectiveness OR 3 ineffectiveness of 3 measures


L3 7-8
Assess all effectiveness AND ineffectiveness of 1 measure and briefly for 2nd .
Assess all effectiveness AND ineffectiveness of 2 measures and briefly for 3rd
structure.
Assess all effectiveness AND ineffectiveness 3 measures


Govt
1 Ministry Of Forest- Involves Govt,local govts, villagers, indigenous people
Laws can be swiftly enforced
BUT in reality…..it is difficult to enforce.
Corruption is rife.. Area too big to police

2 Controlled logging
Through -law enforcement, education, research programme
Laws-fines & imprisonment for illegal logging
Selective logging-cut only the commercially
valuable trees vs clear cutting
Selective cutting allows forests to regrow
BUT
Diff to enforce laws-monitoring illegal logging- huge areas, very remote,
inaccessible
Corruption…
Selective logging – as damaging as clear cutting

3 Aforestation-plant trees in areas not originally covered with forest
• Reforestation-plant trees in abandoned agricultural land, of areas that have
been logged.
• Forests and Land Restoration-involve local people, timber company
• Grow teak-commercially valuable-found to grow well in rainforest
• Grow fast-5 years vs 20 years
• Allows teak to be logged at a sustainable rate
But
• Rate of trees logged faster than reforestation
• Incentives not good enough for mass participation to occur
• Only teak grown-loss of biodiversity-can’t support the original Flora & Fauna of rainforest
• No different from plantations

4 Conservation-protection of forest from destruction
• Nature reserve-encourage ecotourism
• Success
• Betung Kerihun nature Reserve [1992]-home to many species of Flora & Fauna[honey bear, gibbons, Orang Utangs]
• But
• Illegal logging still persist in conserved forest –diff to monitor

5 Implementation of policy that makes clearance of forest by fire illegal
• Scheme called-Integrated Forest Fires Protection System
• National Fire Management Plan
• Edn of pple-on dangers of setting forest on fire
• But
• Plantation Cos-still continue to set forest on fire-cheapest
• Shifting cultivators way of life-traditional farming methods inherited from past generations