Water and nutrient cycles in the rainforest ecosystem
The rainforest ecosystem has a distinctive water and nutrient cycle due to:
- high Occurs in warm or tropical climates when heated air rises and cools.
- high levels of The amount of water vapour in the atmosphere measured as a percentage.
- abundant vegetation
- nutrient-rich but shallow soil
Rainforest water cycle
The roots of trees, plants and shrubs take up water from the soil. The rain is To interrupt the movement of something, eg water is intercepted by the leaves of trees when it rains. by trees as it falls. As the temperature in the rainforest increases during the day, it causes the water to evaporate into the atmosphere.
This water vapour cools, condenses and forms clouds to make the next day's rain. This is known as convectional rainfall. The whole process is repeated daily and the cycle continues.
Rainforest nutrient cycle
The warm, damp conditions on the forest floor and the abundance of insects enables the rapid breakdown of dead leaves and plant material. This humus provides nutrients that are easily absorbed by plant roots. Because of the abundance of rainforest vegetation, nutrients are used up quickly.
This cycle is continuous as long as The cutting down of trees and forests to allow a different land use. does not occur. Unfortunately, if the protective canopy (umbrella) of vegetation is removed, the soil quickly becomes infertile as nutrients are When nutrients are washed out of the soil by heavy rainfall. out of the soil, and the top soil is easily washed away into rivers by heavy rainfall.
