Rainforest Biodiversity

Question 1

Which statement correctly gives a specific example that shows how many different tree species can be found in a small part of a rainforest compared with an entire temperate country?

Accepted Answer

A 1‑hectare plot in the Amazon rainforest has about 320 different tree species, while the whole United Kingdom’s forests together contain only about 70 tree species.

Answer

A 5‑hectare plot in the Amazon rainforest has about 50 different tree species, which is fewer than the 200 tree species found across all of Sweden’s forests.

Answer

A 2‑hectare plot in the Congo rainforest holds about 150 bird species, which is about the same number of bird species found throughout all of Canada.

Answer

A 1‑hectare plot in the Amazon rainforest contains about 10 different frog species, which is more than the 8 frog species found in the whole of France.

Question 2

Scientists have measured that the total land area of Earth is about 150 million km² and that tropical rain‑forests together cover roughly 9 million km². They have also identified about 8 million different plant and animal species worldwide, of which about 4.5 million live in rain‑forests. Which statement correctly describes the fraction of Earth’s land that is rainforest and the fraction of all known species that rain‑forests contain?

Accepted Answer

Rainforests cover about 6% of Earth’s land and hold about 56% of all known species.

Answer

Rainforests cover about 8% of Earth’s land and hold about 45% of all known species.

Answer

Rainforests cover about 5% of Earth’s land and hold about 60% of all known species.

Answer

Rainforests cover about 6% of Earth’s land and hold about 45% of all known species.

Question 3

During a classroom discussion about ecosystems, the teacher asks which of the following statements correctly describes the size of rainforests compared to the whole planet and their share of known living species:

Accepted Answer

Rainforests make up about 6% of the planet’s land area and contain over 50% of all known plant and animal species.

Answer

Rainforests cover roughly 12% of Earth’s land and hold about 40% of the world’s known species.

Answer

Rainforests represent about 6% of the land surface but are home to only around 30% of the known species.

Answer

Rainforests occupy about 4% of Earth’s land and include more than 70% of all known species.

Try three questions

Which statement correctly gives a specific example that shows how many different tree species can be found in a small part of a rainforest compared with an entire temperate country?

During a classroom discussion about ecosystems, the teacher asks which of the following statements correctly describes the size of rainforests compared to the whole planet and their share of known living species:

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