Characteristics of tropical rainforests
I can describe key abiotic and biotic characteristics of the tropical rainforest.
Characteristics of tropical rainforests
I can describe key abiotic and biotic characteristics of the tropical rainforest.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Tropical rainforests are distinctive global biomes (large-scale ecosystems).
- Tropical rainforests have distinctive abiotic characteristics that result from the equatorial climate.
- Tropical rainforests have distinctive biotic characteristics, including the structure of vegetation into layers.
Keywords
Biome - a large-scale ecosystem with specific climate, plants and animals
Climate - the average weather conditions in a region over a long period of time
Biotic - living components of the environment, such as plants, animals and microorganisms
Abiotic - non-living components, such as temperature, rainfall, humidity, soil quality and sunlight
Common misconception
It is always raining in the tropical rainforest.
Although it will often rain every day in a tropical rainforest, the rain is often short and intense rather than continual. Some rainforests have drier and wetter seasons also.
To help you plan your year 10 geography lesson on: Characteristics of tropical rainforests, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 10 geography lesson on: Characteristics of tropical rainforests, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Tropical rainforests are located between the Tropics of Cancer and .
Q2.What is the typical climate of a tropical rainforest?
Q3.How much of Earth's land surface is covered by tropical rainforest?
Q4.Match the terms and their definitions.
Large, distinct region, characterised by climate, vegetation, wildlife
Community of living organisms interacting with each other
A specific area where organisms live
Q5.The of a region refers to the long-term weather patterns and average weather conditions in that area.
Q6.Rainforests receive more than __________ of rain annually, with some areas getting up to 4000 mm.
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Which of the following best defines a biome?
Q2. factors are the living components of an ecosystem, such as plants, animals and microorganisms.
Q3.Which of the following is an example of an abiotic factor in an ecosystem?
Q4.Match the rainforest layer with its description.
trees here reach between 30-50 metres
a continuous layer of branches and leaves
dark and humid with smaller animals, trees and shrubs and ferns
only 1-2% of sunlight reaches this layer