Biodiversity and Food Webs in TRF and Taiga

Questions and Answers

Define biodiversity.

The variety of organisms living in a particular area (plants and animals).

Describe the biodiversity in the TRF.

Rainforests have extremely high biodiversity - they contain around 50% of the world's plant, animal and insect species.

Describe the biodiversity in the Taiga.

Taiga forests have much lower biodiversity than tropical forests - many areas of forest contain a single type of tree, e.g., pine, spruce, fir.

How old is the TRF and how does this affect the biodiversity in the TRF?

The rainforest biome has been around for a very long time (10 million years) without the climate changing very much so there has been lots of time for species to evolve and specialise. Signup and view all the answers

How old is the Taiga and how does this affect the biodiversity in the Taiga?

The land was much colder and covered in ice until about 15,000 years ago. Species have had relatively little time to adapt to the current climate. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the structure of the rainforest and how this affects biodiversity in the TRF.

The layered structure of the rainforest means that there are lots of very different habitats within the rainforest and so a very wide range of plants and animals have developed. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the structure of the Taiga and how this affects biodiversity in the Taiga.

The simple structure means there aren't many different habitats, so there are fewer varieties of species. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the climate of the TRF and how this affects the productivity of the TRF.

Rainforests are very stable environments - it is hot and wet all year round and this provides ideal conditions for fast growth producing lots of biomass - they are therefore very productive environments. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the climate of the Taiga and how this affects the productivity of the Taiga.

Taiga forests are much less productive than tropical rainforests (plants grow slowly so less new biomass is added each year). The growing season is very short - just a few months in the summer. Signup and view all the answers

What is the NPP?

The net primary productivity of a biome; the measure of how much new plant and animal growth (biomass) is added to a biome each year (in grams per square metre per year). Signup and view all the answers

When is productivity highest?

Productivity is highest where there is plenty of sunshine, high temperatures and precipitation. Signup and view all the answers

What is the NPP for the TRF?

2200 g/m²/year Signup and view all the answers

What is the NPP for the Taiga?

800 g/m²/year Signup and view all the answers

Describe food webs in the TRF.

They are very complex with lots of links and different species. Signup and view all the answers

Describe food webs in the Taiga and explain why they are so.

Food webs in the Taiga are much simpler than in the tropical rainforest, as the climate conditions of the subarctic produce much lower biodiversity. Signup and view all the answers

Examples of biotic factors.

Animals, plants, mushrooms, bacteria. Signup and view all the answers

Examples of abiotic factors.

Water, soil, light, minerals, wind, air, temperature, pollution, etc. Signup and view all the answers

How are the abiotic and biotic factors related in the TRF and Taiga?

They are very closely related and dependent on each other - if one factor changes, everything else does. Signup and view all the answers

Give some examples of biotic-abiotic relationships in the TRF.

Trees and soil: dense leaf cover protects the forest floor from erosion by the heavy rain and the tree roots hold the soil together. Symbiotic relationships between animals and plants are very common in the tropical rainforest. Signup and view all the answers

Give some examples of biotic-abiotic relationships in the Taiga.

Plants gain their nutrients from the soil, and provide nutrients to the animals that eat them. Changes to components of the ecosystem, such as chopping down the trees, can have knock-on effects on the whole ecosystem. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Biodiversity Definition

Biodiversity refers to the variety of organisms, including plants and animals, living in a specific area.

Biodiversity in Tropical Rainforests (TRF)

Tropical rainforests possess extremely high biodiversity, housing approximately 50% of the world’s species of plants, animals, and insects.

Biodiversity in Taiga

Taiga forests have significantly lower biodiversity compared to tropical forests, often dominated by a single tree species such as pine or spruce.

Age and Biodiversity of TRF

The tropical rainforest biome has existed for around 10 million years, allowing extensive time for species evolution and specialization due to stable climatic conditions.

Age and Biodiversity of Taiga

The Taiga was predominantly ice-covered until about 15,000 years ago, limiting the time species had to adapt to the current colder climate.

Structure of the Rainforest

The complex, layered structure of rainforests creates diverse habitats, promoting a wide range of plant and animal development.

Structure of the Taiga

The Taiga's simpler structure leads to fewer distinct habitats, resulting in a reduced variety of species.

Climate of TRF

The rainforest climate is consistently hot and wet throughout the year, providing optimal conditions for rapid growth and high biomass production, making it a highly productive environment.

Climate of Taiga

Taiga forests are less productive due to slow plant growth and a short summer growing season, making food scarcity a continual challenge.

Net Primary Productivity (NPP)

NPP quantifies the amount of new organic material produced (biomass) in a biome annually, expressed in grams per square meter.

Factors Influencing Productivity

Maximum productivity occurs in environments with abundant sunlight, high temperatures, and significant precipitation.

NPP of the TRF

Tropical rainforests feature an NPP of 2200 g/m²/year.

NPP of Taiga

The NPP for taiga forests is notably lower at 800 g/m²/year.

Food Webs in TRF

TRF food webs are intricate and complex, featuring numerous linkages among various species.

Food Webs in Taiga

Taiga food webs are simpler due to lower biodiversity, with many species adapting territories for summer feeding and migration, leading to seasonal food web variations.

Examples of Biotic Factors

Biotic factors include living elements such as animals, plants, mushrooms, and bacteria.

Examples of Abiotic Factors

Abiotic factors encompass non-living components like water, soil, light, minerals, wind, air, temperature, and pollution.

Relationship Between Biotic and Abiotic Factors

Biotic and abiotic factors are interdependent; changes in one factor can significantly impact others within both ecosystems.

Biotic-Abiotic Relationships in TRF

Trees stabilize soil and prevent erosion through dense cover; loss of trees leads to increased erosion and soil leaching.
Symbiotic interactions, such as agoutis burying Brazil nut tree nuts, highlight species interdependence and the potential impact of extinction on ecosystems and livelihoods.
Deforestation diminishes CO2 absorption, exacerbating greenhouse gas effects and climate change.

Biotic-Abiotic Relationships in Taiga

Plants provide nutrients for consuming animals, which in turn aid plant reproduction through seed dispersal via dung.
Herbivores like reindeer rely on specific vegetation and migrate as necessary; carnivores like wolves follow the herbivores.
Ecosystem changes, such as deforestation, can lead to melting permafrost, flooding, and subsequent methane emission, contributing to global warming and threatening biodiversity.

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Description

Explore the concepts of biodiversity and food webs in tropical rainforests (TRF) and taiga ecosystems. This quiz covers definitions and descriptions of biodiversity, highlighting the differences in species variety between these two biomes.