Tropical Rainforest:
Where are tropical rainforests located?
Tropical rainforests are tropical, hence the name, so they usually lay along the equator in parts of Asia, Australia, South America, Central America, and Mexico. They also occur on many of the Pacific, Caribbean, and Indian Ocean islands.
Tropical rainforests are tropical, hence the name, so they usually lay along the equator in parts of Asia, Australia, South America, Central America, and Mexico. They also occur on many of the Pacific, Caribbean, and Indian Ocean islands.
What is the climate like in a tropical rainforest?
Since tropical rainforests lie mainly on and around the equator, it is very hot and wet. During all months of the year, the average temperature is 18°C!
Since tropical rainforests lie mainly on and around the equator, it is very hot and wet. During all months of the year, the average temperature is 18°C!
What are the physical features of a tropical rainforest?
Tropical rainforests are divided into layers: the forest floor, the under-story, the canopy layer, and the emergent layer.
Tropical rainforests are divided into layers: the forest floor, the under-story, the canopy layer, and the emergent layer.
Forest Floor:
The forest floor only gets 2% of the sunlight so the plants need to be able to live in low light. The forest floor is very open and some animals that live there are apes and okapi. Plant and animal matter decay very fast because the humid conditions promote rapid decay.
The forest floor only gets 2% of the sunlight so the plants need to be able to live in low light. The forest floor is very open and some animals that live there are apes and okapi. Plant and animal matter decay very fast because the humid conditions promote rapid decay.
Under-story:
The under-story is between the canopy and the forest floor. Here live many insects, birds, small mammals, insects, and reptiles. The plants are mainly shade tolerant shrubs, herbs, and small trees. Only about 5% of sunlight reaches the under-story.
The under-story is between the canopy and the forest floor. Here live many insects, birds, small mammals, insects, and reptiles. The plants are mainly shade tolerant shrubs, herbs, and small trees. Only about 5% of sunlight reaches the under-story.
Canopy Layer:
The canopy is the main layer out of all the tropical rainforest "layers." The trees are very tall and mainly evergreen.
The canopy is the main layer out of all the tropical rainforest "layers." The trees are very tall and mainly evergreen.
Emergent Layer:
The emergent layer consists of a small number of very large trees called emergents. These trees often grow between 45 and 55 metres tall and in some cases, up to 70 or 80 metres! When these trees naturally fall down, it creates a "gap" in the emergent layer and canopy layer causing more sunlight to go to the under-story and the forest floor thus helping with seed germination. The product of this is more tree and plant species being able to flourish with a gap/canopy opening.
The emergent layer consists of a small number of very large trees called emergents. These trees often grow between 45 and 55 metres tall and in some cases, up to 70 or 80 metres! When these trees naturally fall down, it creates a "gap" in the emergent layer and canopy layer causing more sunlight to go to the under-story and the forest floor thus helping with seed germination. The product of this is more tree and plant species being able to flourish with a gap/canopy opening.
Plants, animals, and adaptations
There are many different species of plants and the plants grow in many layers. The tall trees of the canopy absorb most of the sunlight and only shrubs have adapted to their low light environment. Vines climb trees to get sunlight and many plants such as orchids reach the sunlight by growing on tall trees.
There are many different species of plants and the plants grow in many layers. The tall trees of the canopy absorb most of the sunlight and only shrubs have adapted to their low light environment. Vines climb trees to get sunlight and many plants such as orchids reach the sunlight by growing on tall trees.
The tropical rainforest has the greatest diversity of animals but there are very few large mammals. Most animals have adapted to living in trees because of the little amounts of vegetation in the under storey. Nut eating animals like toucans and parrots have big, strong beak to cut nuts from trees and crack open the tough shells.