The Forests of the World — Revision notes

Habitat

The natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or other living organism

Interception

The process where leaves and branches catch and slow down falling raindrops before they reach the ground, helping to prevent rapid flooding

Tropical rainforest

A dense forest found between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn characterized by year-round heat and heavy rainfall

Temperate forest

A forest found in mid-latitude regions between the tropics and polar areas, experiencing distinct seasonal changes

Boreal forest

Also known as taiga, a cold-climate evergreen forest found exclusively in the Northern Hemisphere near the poles

Carbon storage

The locking away of carbon inside trees absorbed during photosynthesis, helping to reduce atmospheric global warming

What this lesson covers

How well do you know each one? Be honest: red means go back over it.

• Explain what a habitat is and why forests support so much biodiversityNot yetSort ofGot it
• Name the three main forest types and say where each one is foundNot yetSort ofGot it
• Describe the climate and trees of tropical, temperate and boreal forestsNot yetSort ofGot it
• Explain how photosynthesis lets forests store carbon and slow global warmingNot yetSort ofGot it
• Explain what interception is and how forests help prevent floodingNot yetSort ofGot it
• Explain why the three forest types occur in a fixed order from the equator to the polesNot yetSort ofGot it

Test yourself

Cover the answer, say it out loud, then check the full quiz on the lesson page.

• During photosynthesis, what do trees store inside them?
• Where exactly are tropical rainforests located?
• If you walked from the equator to the North Pole, what order would you pass through forests?

Topic quiz

12 questions on this topic only — not mixed with anything else, one at a time.

Spelling challenge

Read the definition, then type the correct spelling of the term. Uses the same terms as above.