Ecosystems: Rainforests of the World

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Ecosystems Rainforests of the World

• A presentation by
• Carol Cleveland
• NSF NMGK-12 Fellow 2000-2001

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2 Kinds of Rain Forests
Tropical
Coastal Temperate
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What is a Rain Forest?
3 Main Layers of the Forest (Emergent) Canopy
Understory Forest Floor
Over 100 inches of rain in a year (we get about
60 inches)
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Where do you find rainforests?
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Where do you find rainforests?
Tropical rainforests are mostly around the
equator. 50 are in South America.
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Tropical Rainforests

• Near equator
• Warm Temperature (70-80oF)
• Rainy - 2 inches/hour sometimes
• Up to 400 inches rain in a year
• Many species of plants and animals
• In danger from people

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Tropical Rainforest Animals
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Tropical Rainforest Animals
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Tropical Rainforest Plants
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Coastal Temperate Rainforests
Scattered around the world Mostly on Pacific West
coast of North America
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Coastal Temperate Rainforests

• Alaska to Oregon
• 35 to 80oF - not extremes
• Rain - 140-167 inches per year
• Trees can grow to 300 feet high and 23 feet in
  diameter

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Coastal Temperate Rainforest Animals
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Coastal Temperate Rainforest Plants
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Why shouldnt we cut down rainforests?

• Rainforests - very high diversity of animal and
  plant life (lots of different kinds)
• Very difficult to replace - not many nutrients in
  the soil so once the plants are gone it is hard
  to grow any plants in that area
• Add oxygen to the atmosphere (40)
• but also use much oxygen by decay