Tropical Rainforest

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Tropical Rainforest

• Jen Richardson
• AP Biology 8
• 4/5/01

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Climate
The climate of the Tropical Rainforest is very
different than most biomes. Temperatures in
tropical rainforest regions are between 20 and
29 C (68 and 84 F), and in no month is the
temperature below 18 C (64 F). Although the
climate supporting tropical rainforests is
normally hot, temperatures never reach the high
values regularly recorded in drier places to the
north and south of the equator. This is partly
due to high levels of cloud cover, which limit
the number of sunshine hours per day to between
four and six. In hilly areas where air masses
rise and cool because of the landscape, the hours
of sunlight may be even fewer.
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Climate

• The heat may seem extreme owing to the high
  levels of humidity, which is usually higher than
  50 percent by day and approach almost 100 percent
  at night.To make it even more uncomfortable, the
  average wind speeds are usually lest than 6 miles
  per hour and even less than five miles per hour
  in some areas.

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Climate

• Hurricanes occur periodically in some coastal
  regions, such as in the West Indies and in parts
  of the western Pacific region. Although they
  dont happen frequently, such storms have an
  important effect on forest structure and
  regeneration of vegetation.

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Climate

• Use the following hyperlink to compare the
  rainforests climate with your own.
• How rainy is the rainforest?

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Soil Type
The soil in the rainforest is thin and often
waterlogged. Due to high temperature and
moisture in the biome, decomposition occurs much
more rapidly than it would in a temperate forest.
A leaf falling from a tree would take
approximately two months to decompose in a
rainforest. Otherwise, this feat could take
almost seven years. Minerals that are released by
decomposition are rapidly taken up again by
plants or taken away by water that trickles down
through the soil. Because of this, almost all of
the forests nutrients are not in the soil but in
the bodies of living organisms.
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Vegetation

• The tropical rain forest is the richest source of
  plant life on earth. There are so many different
  kinds of plants there, scientists don't even know
  them all yet. It is a perfect place for growing
  plants. The average temperature is 70 to 90
  degrees and there is plenty of water.

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TREES

• Some canopy trees grow to 120 feet. The leaves
  are so big they can be used for an umbrella! The
  leaves are thick and waxy, and have "drip tips"
  so that water can drain off. Fruit trees provide
  food for many rainforest animals and people.

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Air Plants

• Thousands of flowering plants grow on the trees.
  Their roots are not planted in soil, but take
  their food from air and water all around. Insects
  and even small animals live in and on these air
  plants. They have beautiful flowers and fruit, to
  provide food for forest dwellers. Butterflies,
  hummingbirds and bees drink the nectar from the
  flowers.

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Bromeliads

• The bromeliad is a kind of tropical plant with
  leaves like a pineapple. It collects water in
  its' center. This water forms a small pool for
  frogs, lizards, and insects to live in.

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• There are many kinds of vines and ferns which
  connect the layers of the rain forest. Mushrooms
  and herbs grow on the forest floor. People can
  learn to gather fruits and nuts for food, as well
  as plants for medicine, without harming the rain
  forest.

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Common Plants

• Here are some plants you may know. They first
  came from the rain forest!
•         
•          bananna
•          coffee
•          lemon
•          orange
•          peanut
•          Pepper

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Rainforest Layers

• The rain forest is divided into four main
  layers. Different kinds of trees, flowers, and
  other plants grow in each layer. These layers are
  called the emergent layer, the canopy, the
  understory, and the forest floor.

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Layers of the Rainforest

• Emergent Layer - The Top Layer These huge trees
  rise above all other trees in the forest and grow
  to 150 ft. tall. They receive the most sunlight.

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Layers of the Rainforest

• Canopy
• A canopy (or cover) of very tall trees is the
  next layer of the rain forest. The treetops, or
  crowns, grow very close together and form a lush
  green garden in the air. The canopy is rich with
  plants, animals and insects. Many beautiful
  birds, butterflies, hummingbirds, and flowering
  plants live here. Monkeys, bats, reptiles, and
  other animals swing, swoop, and climb through the
  canopy.

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Layers of the Rainforest

• Understory - The Middle Layer Smaller trees,
  bushes, and plants such as ferns, live in the
  understory. Not much sunlight reaches here
  because the canopy blocks the sun. Still, many
  birds and animals make their home in the
  understory. Forest wildcats, such as the leopard,
  are excellent tree climbers. They will chase
  monkeys and squirrels through the understory for
  food.

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Layers of the Rainforest

• Forest Floor - The Bottom Layer Few plants grow
  on the forest floor because almost no sunlight
  reaches here. But the leaves and plants which
  drop from the upper layers provide food and
  shelter for animals and insects who live on the
  forest floor. Mice, frogs, snakes and insects
  look for food. Larger animals, such as wild boar
  and deer, also make the forest floor their home.

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Prevailing Winds
P R E V A I L I N G
W I N D S
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Prevailing Winds

• The winds that affect the tropical biomes include
  the Southest Trade winds, the Subtropical Highs
  and the Prevailing West wind, along with the
  Tropical Circulation Cell.

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Animals
There are many species of animals, ranging from
insects to jaguars.
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Animals
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Animals
These are some examples of some of the animals
you would find in a tropical rainforest.
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Animals

• A Rainforest Journal

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Carbon Cycle
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Nitrogen cycle
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Phosphorus Cycle
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Primary Succession

• Primary succession occurs when there is initially
  no soil in an area. Lichens, moss and weeds
  establish themselves in new areas to eventually
  turn emptiness into wooded areas.

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Secondary Succession

• Secondary succession is the series of changes
  that occur in a community that has been
  disturbed. The land may have been logged or there
  may have been fire. One of the requirements for
  this is that the land wasnt completely stripped
  of its soil and vegetation. In the rainforest,
  this occurs after trees have been cut down. The
  trees that replace the originals (pioneer trees)
  grow slower, but remain healthy, especially when
  they reach a respectable size.

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J A G U A R
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The Jaguar

• Jaguars live in Central and South America in
  rain forests. They live for 11 to 22 years old
  depending if they are wild or captive. Jaguars
  get their food by hunting because they are
  carnivores. Some animals jaguars eat are
  monkeys, sloths, porcupines, fish, armadillos,
  birds, snakes, turtles, mice, deer, capybaras and
  iguanas. Male jaguars always hunt alone. Jaguars
  are nocturnal animals, meaning they hunt at night
  and sleep in the day. Jaguars are camouflaged by
  their fur somewhat, but they rarely have
  predators so it isnt needed, except when
  hunting.

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The Jaguar

• There is a common misconception that jaguars
  attack people and cattle. This is not true. In
  fact, the jaguars biggest predator is poachers.