AQA A-level Geography · 3.1.6

Biomes: tropical rainforest and savanna

50 exam-style questions with answers for 3.1.6 Biomes: tropical rainforest and savanna in AQA A-level Geography (spec 7037). Practise with flashcards, a topic quiz, a random quiz across the course, 5 crosswords, or read every question and answer below. Not official AQA material.

All 50 questions and answers

Question 1 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Biome concept
Define the term biome. [2 marks]
Answer:
A large-scale ecosystem that covers a wide area (1); defined by its climate and characteristic vegetation, such as tropical rainforest or tundra (1).
Question 2 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Biome concept
Describe the global distribution of the major terrestrial biomes. [3 marks]
Answer:
Biomes lie in broad bands that follow latitude, because temperature and rainfall change with latitude (1); tropical rainforest lies close to the equator, with savanna on either side and hot deserts near 30° (1); temperate forests and grasslands lie in mid-latitudes, with taiga and tundra at high latitudes (1).
Question 3 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Biome concept
Explain why biomes change with altitude on a mountain. [2 marks]
Answer:
Temperature falls with height, by about 6.5 °C for every 1,000 m (1); so the sequence of vegetation resembles the change in biomes from the equator to the poles (1).
Question 4 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Rainforest
Describe the distribution of tropical rainforests. [2 marks]
Answer:
They lie within about 10° of the equator (1); the largest areas are in the Amazon Basin, the Congo Basin and South-East Asia (1).
Question 5 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Rainforest
Describe the climate of tropical rainforests. [3 marks]
Answer:
Temperatures are high, with a mean of about 27 °C and little variation through the year (1); rainfall is over 2,000 mm a year, falling in daily convectional storms (1); there is no dry season, and humidity is very high (1).
Question 6 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Rainforest
Explain why tropical rainforests have heavy, year-round rainfall. [2 marks]
Answer:
Intense heating at the equator causes warm, moist air to rise (1); it cools and condenses to form towering clouds and heavy convectional rain at the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (1).
Question 7 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Rainforest
Describe the soils of tropical rainforests. [3 marks]
Answer:
Deep, red soils formed by rapid chemical weathering (1); most nutrients are leached out by heavy rain, so the soils are infertile (1); a thin layer of humus at the surface is quickly recycled by plants (1).
Question 8 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Rainforest
Describe the structure of vegetation in a tropical rainforest. [4 marks]
Answer:
Emergent trees reach over 40 m above the rest (1); a dense canopy forms a continuous layer at 25–40 m (1); an understorey of smaller trees lies below (1); the shrub layer and forest floor receive little light (1).
Question 9 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Rainforest
Explain the soil moisture budget of a tropical rainforest. [2 marks]
Answer:
Rainfall exceeds evapotranspiration throughout the year, so there is a water surplus (1); soils are always moist, and surplus water drains through the soil or runs off (1).
Question 10 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Rainforest
Describe adaptations of rainforest plants to the climate and soil. [4 marks]
Answer:
Drip tips on leaves shed heavy rain quickly (1); buttress roots support tall trees in thin, shallow soil (1); epiphytes grow on branches to reach light and take moisture from the air (1); lianas climb trees to reach the canopy, and thick waxy leaves reduce water loss in the canopy (1).
Question 11 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Rainforest
Describe adaptations of rainforest animals. [3 marks]
Answer:
Many live in trees, with prehensile tails, claws and gliding membranes, such as monkeys and sloths (1); camouflage, or bright warning colours that signal poison, protect them from predators (1); many species are specialists that feed on particular fruits or insects (1).
Question 12 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Rainforest
Explain why tropical rainforests have the highest biodiversity of any terrestrial biome. [3 marks]
Answer:
Warmth, light and water throughout the year allow continuous growth (1); the layered structure provides many different habitats (1); the climate has been stable for millions of years, so species have had time to evolve (1).
Question 13 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Savanna
Describe the distribution of tropical savanna. [2 marks]
Answer:
Savanna lies between about 5° and 20° north and south of the equator, surrounding the rainforest (1); the largest areas are in Africa, such as the Serengeti, with others in Brazil's Cerrado, northern Australia and India (1).
Question 14 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Savanna
Describe the climate of tropical savanna. [3 marks]
Answer:
Temperatures are high all year, between about 20 °C and 30 °C (1); there is a wet season in summer and a long dry season in winter (1); annual rainfall is typically 500–1,500 mm (1).
Question 15 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Savanna
Explain why savanna has a wet season and a dry season. [3 marks]
Answer:
The Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone moves north and south with the overhead sun (1); when it is overhead, rising air brings heavy rain in the wet season (1); when it moves away, high pressure and dry air bring the dry season (1).
Question 16 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Savanna
Explain the soil moisture budget of a savanna. [3 marks]
Answer:
In the wet season, rainfall exceeds evapotranspiration, so there is a surplus and soil moisture is recharged (1); in the dry season, evapotranspiration exceeds rainfall (1); plants use up the stored water, leaving a soil moisture deficit (1).
Question 17 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Savanna
Describe the soils of tropical savanna. [3 marks]
Answer:
Often thin and low in nutrients (1); heavy wet-season rain leaches nutrients, and the dry season bakes the surface hard (1); fires and grasses return some nutrients, but organic matter is limited (1).
Question 18 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Savanna
Describe the vegetation of tropical savanna. [3 marks]
Answer:
Tall grasses, such as elephant grass, are the dominant vegetation (1); scattered, drought-tolerant trees such as acacia and baobab (1); trees are widely spaced, and grasses die back in the dry season (1).
Question 19 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Savanna
Describe adaptations of savanna plants. [4 marks]
Answer:
Baobab trees store water in a thick trunk (1); acacias have long tap roots to reach deep water, and flat crowns and small leaves to reduce water loss (1); thorns protect against grazing (1); grasses grow from the base, so they regrow quickly after fire or grazing, and thick bark protects trees from fire (1).
Question 20 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Savanna
Describe adaptations of savanna animals. [3 marks]
Answer:
Large herds migrate to find water and fresh grass, such as wildebeest and zebra (1); long legs and fast running help to escape predators (1); some animals burrow or become inactive to survive heat and drought (1).
Question 21 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Savanna
Explain the role of fire in the savanna ecosystem. [3 marks]
Answer:
Lightning and human fires burn dead grass in the dry season (1); fire prevents trees from taking over and maintains grassland (1); it returns nutrients to the soil, and the grasses re-grow quickly with the rains (1).
Question 22 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Comparison
Compare tropical rainforest and savanna. [4 marks]
Answer:
Rainforest has rainfall all year, whereas savanna has a distinct dry season (1); rainforest has dense, layered vegetation, whereas savanna has grassland with scattered trees (1); rainforest has much higher biodiversity and biomass (1); rainforest nutrients are held in biomass, whereas savanna has a lower NPP and is affected by fire (1).
Question 23 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Comparison
Explain why net primary production is lower in savanna than in tropical rainforest. [2 marks]
Answer:
The dry season limits plant growth for several months (1); fire and grazing remove biomass, and the soils are less fertile (1).
Question 24 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Comparison
A savanna weather station receives 900 mm of rain in the wet season and 100 mm in the dry season. Calculate the percentage of its annual rainfall that falls in the wet season. [2 marks]
Answer:
900 ÷ (900 + 100) × 100 (1); = 90% (1).
Question 25 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Rainforest and people
Describe the causes of deforestation in tropical rainforests. [4 marks]
Answer:
Clearing for cattle ranching and soya farming (1); commercial logging, and clearance for palm oil plantations in South-East Asia (1); mining, road building and settlement (1); hydroelectric dams, and small-scale shifting cultivation (1).
Question 26 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Rainforest and people
Explain the impacts of deforestation on biodiversity. [3 marks]
Answer:
Habitats are destroyed, so species lose their homes and food (1); fragmentation isolates populations and reduces genetic diversity (1); species that are found only in small areas can become extinct before they are discovered (1).
Question 27 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Rainforest and people
Explain the impacts of deforestation on soils. [3 marks]
Answer:
Removing the canopy exposes soil to heavy rain, so erosion increases (1); nutrients are leached after the vegetation is removed (1); soils become infertile within a few years, so farmers move on and clear more forest (1).
Question 28 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Rainforest and people
Explain the impacts of deforestation on climate. [3 marks]
Answer:
Trees store carbon, and burning or decay releases carbon dioxide (1); less transpiration reduces local cloud formation and rainfall (1); less rainforest means the loss of a large carbon sink, adding to global warming (1).
Question 29 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Rainforest and people
Explain the impacts of deforestation on Indigenous peoples. [2 marks]
Answer:
Indigenous communities lose their homes, food sources and traditional way of life (1); they are exposed to diseases and conflict with settlers and companies (1).
Question 30 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Rainforest and people
Distinguish between agricultural extension and intensification. [2 marks]
Answer:
Extension means farming more land by clearing forest or grassland (1); intensification means producing more from the same area using fertiliser, irrigation, machinery or improved crops (1).
Question 31 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Rainforest and people
Explain how cattle ranching and soya farming have affected the Amazon. [3 marks]
Answer:
Large areas of forest have been cleared for pasture and soya, particularly along new roads (1); the crops are exported, which brings money to Brazil (1); but soils quickly become infertile, and biodiversity and carbon storage are lost (1).
Question 32 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Rainforest and people
Explain how palm oil production has affected South-East Asian rainforests. [3 marks]
Answer:
Indonesia and Malaysia produce most of the world's palm oil, on land cleared from rainforest and peatland (1); orangutans and other species have lost habitat, with over 100,000 orangutans lost in Borneo in recent decades (1); burning cleared peat causes smoke haze and releases large amounts of carbon (1).
Question 33 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Rainforest and people
Explain how population change has affected rainforests. [3 marks]
Answer:
Government resettlement schemes and new roads have encouraged migrants to settle in the Amazon (1); population growth increases demand for land, food and fuel (1); more people, towns and farms lead to deforestation and pollution (1).
Question 34 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Rainforest and people
Explain the effects of large hydroelectric dams on rainforest ecosystems. [2 marks]
Answer:
Flooded forest releases greenhouse gases and destroys habitats (1); dams block fish migration and force people from their homes, as with Belo Monte on the Xingu River (1).
Question 35 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Rainforest and people
Explain why it is difficult to balance economic development with conservation in tropical rainforests. [3 marks]
Answer:
Governments and poor farmers rely on rainforest land and resources for income (1); the benefits of conservation, such as carbon storage, are global but the costs fall on local people (1); illegal logging and weak enforcement make protection hard (1).
Question 36 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Rainforest and people
Describe strategies for the sustainable management of tropical rainforests. [4 marks]
Answer:
Selective logging and replanting reduce damage (1); agroforestry mixes trees with crops on cleared land (1); protected areas and Indigenous land rights reduce clearance (1); ecotourism and international schemes such as REDD+ pay for conservation (1).
Question 37 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Rainforest and people
Evaluate the role of ecotourism in the sustainable development of rainforests. [3 marks]
Answer:
It brings income and jobs without clearing forest, and gives people an incentive to protect it (1); visitors need controlling, because too many cause pollution and disturb wildlife (1); much of the income may go to outside companies instead of local communities (1).
Question 38 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Rainforest and people
Explain the importance of tropical rainforests in the global carbon and water cycles. [3 marks]
Answer:
They store large amounts of carbon in biomass and soil (1); they absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis (1); transpiration returns huge amounts of water vapour to the atmosphere, which produces rainfall (1).
Question 39 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Savanna and people
Describe how people use savanna ecosystems. [3 marks]
Answer:
Pastoralism, with herders keeping cattle, sheep and goats (1); crop growing and, in some areas, large commercial farms (1); tourism and safaris, mainly in national parks and reserves (1).
Question 40 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Savanna and people
Explain the impacts of overgrazing on savanna. [3 marks]
Answer:
Too many animals remove the grass cover (1); bare soil is compacted and eroded by wind and rain (1); land becomes degraded, with a risk of desertification in drier areas (1).
Question 41 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Savanna and people
Explain how population growth affects savanna ecosystems. [3 marks]
Answer:
More people need food, so more land is cultivated, and herds grow larger (1); demand for wood and charcoal removes trees (1); wildlife habitats shrink and conflict between people and animals increases (1).
Question 42 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Savanna and people
Explain how agricultural extension and intensification have affected the Brazilian Cerrado. [3 marks]
Answer:
Large areas of savanna have been ploughed and cleared for soya and cattle (1); fertilisers, lime and irrigation have made poor soils productive (1); this has caused the loss of habitats and biodiversity, and brought pollution and carbon release (1).
Question 43 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Savanna and people
Evaluate the benefits and problems of tourism in the savanna. [4 marks]
Answer:
Safari tourism earns foreign currency and creates jobs, for example in Kenya and Tanzania (1); fees can fund conservation and rangers (1); vehicles and visitors damage vegetation and disturb wildlife (1); pastoral communities may lose grazing land and receive little of the income (1).
Question 44 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Savanna and people
Explain how national parks and conservancies help to protect savanna ecosystems. [3 marks]
Answer:
They protect habitats and migration routes, such as the Serengeti–Mara ecosystem (1); rangers reduce poaching and illegal grazing (1); community conservancies in Kenya pay landowners and keep land open for wildlife (1).
Question 45 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Savanna and people
Explain how climate change may affect the savanna. [3 marks]
Answer:
Higher temperatures and more frequent droughts reduce grass growth (1); changes in rainfall alter fire patterns and plant communities (1); wildlife and herders have less water, and some species may have to shift their range (1).
Question 46 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Savanna and people
Explain how fire is managed in savanna ecosystems. [2 marks]
Answer:
Early burning in the dry season creates firebreaks and reduces fuel for later, more intense fires (1); managed burning keeps the savanna open for grazing and protects trees and wildlife (1).
Question 47 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Savanna and people
Describe the impact of poaching on savanna wildlife. [2 marks]
Answer:
Poachers kill elephants for ivory and rhinos for horn, reducing populations dramatically (1); the loss of large animals disrupts the ecosystem, and illegal hunting reduces tourism income (1).
Question 48 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Savanna and people
Explain how the intensification of agriculture can reduce biodiversity. [3 marks]
Answer:
Monocultures replace a variety of plants (1); pesticides and fertilisers pollute soil and water and harm insects and other wildlife (1); large fields and the removal of natural vegetation reduce habitats and food (1).
Question 49 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Rainforest and people
Explain why shifting cultivation is sustainable only at low population densities. [3 marks]
Answer:
Small plots are cleared and cropped for a few years (1); the plots are then abandoned so the forest can regrow and restore nutrients (1); with more people, plots are reused too soon, so soils are exhausted and the forest does not recover (1).
Question 50 · Spec 3.1.6.3 · Savanna and people
Explain how traditional pastoralism by groups such as the Maasai can be sustainable. [2 marks]
Answer:
Herders move animals seasonally to find water and grass, which avoids overgrazing one area (1); this is threatened when land is fenced for farms and parks and herders are restricted to smaller areas (1).

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