Plant and animal adaptations in tropical rainforests

Geography

Characteristics of tropical rainforests

Nutrient cycling and biodiversity in tropical rainforests

Deforestation in the tropical rainforest

Deforestation in Indonesia’s tropical rainforest

Value of tropical rainforests to people and the environment

Sustainable rainforest management

Threats associated with climate change in the rainforest

Biotic and abiotic characteristics of the taiga biome

Plant and animal adaptations in the taiga biome

Nutrient cycling and biodiversity in the taiga biome

Threats to the taiga from commercial development

Causes of biodiversity loss in the taiga biome

Creating and protecting wilderness areas in the taiga biome

Conflicting views on protecting/exploiting resources in the taiga biome

Using GIS to visualise and analyse deforestation

This unit teaches pupils about tropical rainforest and taiga biomes. Pupils learn about its biotic and abiotic characteristics, the adaptations of plants and animals and the threats facing its biodiversity. The unit considers opposing views on protecting and exploiting resources.

Tropical rainforest and taiga biomes

The number of different species living in the area

What does the term biodiversity refer to in a tropical rainforest?

Adaptations occur over a short period of time, lifetime changes take generations

Adaptations occur over generations, lifetime changes are individual responses

Both adaptations and lifetime changes happen within a single generation

Adaptations only happen in plants, not animals

What is the difference between adaptations and changes an organism makes during its lifetime?

result of evolution. Within a species, individuals are always a little different

to genetic mutations. Sometimes these differences give individuals a slightly

better chance of survival in their environment.

If so, those individuals are more likely to reproduce and pass

their advantage on to the next generation. Over generations, the advantages

spread through the whole species and continue to be refined into adaptations.

When animal species in different habitats have evolved similar adaptations

When plants and animals can survive independently without needing each other

When plants and animals rely on each other for survival

What does it mean if plants and animals are interdependent?

Which word is described in this definition "a feature or behaviour that helps an animal or plant survive in its environment"?

Which of the following is an adaptation of tropical rainforest plants to cope with heavy rainfall?

Match the adaptation with the correct plant or animal.

As a defence to warn predators they are toxic

Why do rainforest animals, like frogs and insects, have brightly coloured skin?

Tropical rainforest are located between the Tropics of {{}} and {{}}.

A large area with distinct climate, vegetation, and animal life

A specific habitat where an organism lives

Which of the following best defines a biome?

Plant and animal adaptations in tropical rainforests

Lesson outcome