What makes up a tropical rain forest?

1
Rain forest

• What makes up a tropical rain forest?
• Why are rain forests important?
• What problems are there for the rain forest?
• What is our responsibility to the rain forest?

2
This power point was done using many different
sources as well as personal pictures and
information. The following were really
helpful Enchanted Learning http//www.mcps.k12.md
.us/curriculum Virtual field trips done by
Gerald R. Urquhart A power point by Paula
Weigelt Jungle photos
3
What makes up a tropical rain forest?
4
There are two types

• Tropical rain forests receive more than 80
  inches of rain a year. Some rain forests can
  receive as much as 200-400 inches of rain a year!
  These forests also have large amounts of
  humidity, or water vapor in the air.

• Temperate rain forests are forests that have very
  distinct seasons and a more moderate climate.
  Rain occurs evenly throughout the whole year.

5
Rain forest Comparisons

• Tropical
• 200-400 rain per year
• broadleaf on trees
• hundreds of species of trees
• temperature constant around 75ºF
• endangered

• Temperate
• 100 of rain per year
• needle leaves on trees
• 10 - 20 species of trees
• temperature average 60ºF
• endangered

6
The climate of a tropical rain forest is very
hot and humid so the animals and plants that
exist there must learn to adapt.
7
Where are tropical rainforests located?
8
(No Transcript)
9
Rain forest layers
In the emergent layer, trees can be 200 feet
high. Most trees are broad-leaved, hardwood
evergreens. Sunlight is plentiful.   Animals
found here are eagles, monkeys, bats and
butterflies.
The canopy layer forms a roof over the two
remaining layers and is a very dense layer.   The
leaves on most trees are smooth and come to a
point. Food is abundant for animals such as
snakes, toucans and tree frogs.
Little sunshine reaches this layer so the plants
have to grow larger leaves to reach the sunlight.
Plants in this area seldom grow to 12 feet.
Animals that live here include jaguars, red-eyed
tree frogs and leopards and many insects.
This layer is very dark, so no plants grow here, 
Things decay very quickly here.  A leaf that
might take one year to decompose in a regular
climate will disappear in  only 6 weeks. This is
the home for giant anteaters.
10
Why are they important?

• These incredible places cover only 6 of the
  Earth's surface, but MORE THAN 1/2 of the world's
  plant and animal species live there!
• At least two-thirds of the world's plant species,
  grow in the rain forests.

11
In addition

• We eat many foods from the rain forest and many
  medicines are made from ingredients found only in
  these areas.

• Cinnamon
• bananas
• rubber
• coffee
• cocoa and many more

12
Of the millions of animal species in the world,
over half are found in the rain forest and
nowhere else on Earth.
Special Creatures
MACAWS
13
ZOG-ZOG
More Creatures

14
All is quiet and peaceful in the forest -or is it?
15
People of the Rainforest
People have lived in the rain forests for
thousands of years. They live in harmony with the
forest, plants and animals. Their traditions and
customs are unlike other people.
16
Homes in the forest are very different. They
don't need walls on their houses because it
doesn't get cold t here. Natives don't need much
privacy at all. Privacy is a lot different than
what you may be used to and we do go into houses
without asking.
17
Children are expected to do lots of work and
they get up early in the morning. The girls
look after their little sisters, brothers,
nieces, or nephews. They also help cook, grate
manioc, carry heavy backpacks, and get water.
18
The boys in the village have to do some work,
too. They fish, farm, and weave baskets with the
men in the village. They also spend much time in
the jungle as part of their learning and training
to become excellent hunters and providers for
their families.
19
In their free time, both boys and girls love to
go swimming in the river, and there are plenty of
rivers around in the rain forest. They also like
to watch the animals in their village. The
girls like to play with their hand-made
dolls (since there are no stores around here to
buy them). Boys like to shoot their bows and
arrows and play in the forest.
20
Guess who is in the yellow rain coat?
Why is the rain forest so valuable?
21

• How has it helped us?
• Fifty percent of the medicines used every day
  come from rain forest plants.
• The corn plant originally came from the forests
  in Mexico and South America.
• Rice came in Asian rain forests.
• Orange juice, tea, eggs, and bananas originally
  came from Asian rain forests.
• Over 50 of the fruits you eat originally came
  from tropical rain forests.

22
Products we get with help from rain forest
resources...
23
What problems are there for the rain forest?
24
The Rain Forest is in Trouble In addition to
being one of our most precious natural resources,
tropical rain forests are among the most
endangered habitats on earth because of
deforestation.   Causes of Deforestation       
  clearance for roads and railways       
forest fires        mining and drilling for
fuel wood          international timber
trade          collection and clearance for
living space Humans already have destroyed
half of the rain forest area, with most damage
occurring in the last 200 years.
25
A delicate ecosystem destroyed

• Rainfall is absorbed by the trees.It is pulled up
  to the canopy where it evaporates into the air.
• Trees and plants receive most of their nutrients
  from decaying matter such as fallen leaves and
  organic debris.
• Plants and trees hold down the topsoil. This
  keeps it from washing away in heavy rains.
• When the land is cleared and crops are planted
  the soil doesn't stay fertile for long because it
  doesn't have nutrients from the decaying matter.
• Once plants are removed, heavy rains wash away
  the topsoil.

26
By Deforestation
27
Rain forests are important to everyone on the
planet-not just to those who live in or near
them. They help control the world's climate.
When the rain forests are burned and cleared,
carbon is released into the atmosphere.Carbon
dioxide in the atmosphere prevents the suns
radiation from escaping back to the atmosphere.
This causes the weather to be much hotter on the
whole planet. (This is called the greenhouse
effect.)
28
When the beautiful forest is gone where do the
animals go?
29
What is our responsibility to the rain forest?
30
Can you help?
31

• WATCH OUT FOR OUR EARTH
• WAYS THAT YOU CAN HELP TO SAVE THE RAIN FOREST
• Write letters to your senators or representatives
  to let them know that you are concerned about
  rain forest destruction.
• Ask that they support programs that help protect
  tropical areas throughout the world.
• Write letters to other organizations that can
  help.

32

• ANOTHER WAY THAT YOU CAN HELP TO SAVE THE RAIN
  FOREST
• Go in with some friends and buy an acre of rain
  forest. The Nature Conservancy's "Adopt-an-Acre
  Program" lets you purchase the protection of an
  acre of rain forest in a specific nature preserve.

33

• WATCH OUT FOR OUR EARTH
• MORE WAYS THAT YOU CAN HELP TO SAVE THE RAIN
  FOREST
• Turn off the lights or TV when you leave a room
• Recycle paper, cardboard, plastic, glass,
  metals--everything you can!
• Walk or ride your bike instead of driving.

34
Think about all the changes that would happen
if we lose the rain forest
35
Forest PeopleForest people will lose their
homes, and their culture. Their knowledge of the
forest is also lost .
Last Songbirds The songbirds, which help farmers
in the U.S. by eating insects, will no longer
winter in tropical forests.
Changed ClimateBurning huge areas of rainforest
releases carbon, which causes changes in wind
currents and rainfall around the world.
Undiscovered MedicinesPlants that might provide
new medicines extinct before they can even be
studied.
ExtinctionThousands of species of rainforest
plants and animals will be lost.
36
What will you do about the rain forest now?
37
Are you ready to do more exploring?
Here is a website you can use that is really
neat. You are finished with the slide show at
this point.

http//www.bsrsi.msu.edu/rfrc/tour/active.html