Explain the apparent discrepancy that lush tropical rainforests characteristically grow on very infertile soils

What will be an ideal response?


The high temperatures and abundant rainfall in a tropical rainforest cause intense chemical weathering that leaches most of the nutrients from the soil, leaving behind a residue of iron and aluminum oxides and hydroxides. The abundance of vegetation does mean, however, that there is a thick accumulation of organic matter to form an A horizon over a very infertile B horizon. The lush vegetation survives off of nutrients in the thick O horizon.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

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The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

A. prevents trade in endangered species. B. publishes a list of endangered and threatened species. C. forces countries to take steps to protect endangered species. D. All of the statements are correct.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

Low electronegativities are associated with which type of elements?

A) metals B) metalloids C) noble gases D) nonmetals

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

Land breezes flow from land to water during the night.

a. true b. false

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

Pioneer farmers settling the grasslands of the American West often built houses of sod, while early settlers of the eastern forest built wooden structures like log cabins. This suggests that building materials

A) are strongly influenced by local resources.
B) are commonly imported over long distances because of local folk culture.
C) are chosen because of the diffusion of popular culture.
D) are a uniform feature of folk culture.
E) are elements of popular culture.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences