Tropical Rainforest

1. Tropical RainforestTropical Rainforest
Krystina Smith, Nicole Bronkema

2. Where in the World . . .?Where in the World . . .?
 Tropical Rainforests are found around the Tropical Rainforests are found around the
equator, between the Tropic of Cancer and equator, between the Tropic of Cancer and
the Tropic of Capricorn.the Tropic of Capricorn.
Some of the countries that fall in the Some of the countries that fall in the
Tropical Rainforest Biome include:Tropical Rainforest Biome include:
•BrazilBrazil
•PeruPeru
•Hawaii (United States)Hawaii (United States)
•IndonesiaIndonesia
•New Zealand New Zealand
• MalaysiaMalaysia
• ThailandThailand
• MadagascarMadagascar
• Dominican Republic of Dominican Republic of
the Congothe Congo

3. What Is The Tropical Rainforest . . .?What Is The Tropical Rainforest . . .?
Video
http://gtm-media.discoveryeducation.com/videos/10482/chp891775_256k.asf
Animals
Strata of the rainforest
Climate

4. ClimateClimate
falls within the Tropical Wet and Tropical falls within the Tropical Wet and Tropical
Monsoon climate zones. Monsoon climate zones.
there is either a short dry season with a long there is either a short dry season with a long
rainy summer season, or no dry season at rainy summer season, or no dry season at
all. all.
areas of the Tropical Monsoon climate zone areas of the Tropical Monsoon climate zone
experience a lot of rain and monsoon winds experience a lot of rain and monsoon winds
during their summer season, and no rain during their summer season, and no rain
during their short, dry season.during their short, dry season.

5. ClimateClimate
annual rainfall annual rainfall
between 2000 and between 2000 and
2250 millimeters, or 2250 millimeters, or
about 78.75 to about 78.75 to
88.58 inches.88.58 inches.
temperature usually temperature usually
no higher than 93 no higher than 93
°F (34 °C) or below °F (34 °C) or below
68 °F (20 °C). 68 °F (20 °C).
average humidity is average humidity is
77 and 88 percent. 77 and 88 percent.
Annual rainfall and temperature range of
Brazil

6. AnimalsAnimals
The number of animals that live in The number of animals that live in
tropical rainforests is too great too count. tropical rainforests is too great too count.
Some of the animals that are found Some of the animals that are found
specifically in tropical rainforests include:specifically in tropical rainforests include:
The KinkajouThe Kinkajou
The Poison Dart Frog andThe Poison Dart Frog and
The SlothThe Sloth

7. KinkajouKinkajou
found in Mexico, Central America, and the Amazon found in Mexico, Central America, and the Amazon
Basin.Basin.
live high in the forest canopy, nearly a hundred feet off live high in the forest canopy, nearly a hundred feet off
the ground.the ground.
use long tail and strong arms to swing from branchesuse long tail and strong arms to swing from branches
do not leap from tree to tree like monkeys, because do not leap from tree to tree like monkeys, because
not part of the monkey familynot part of the monkey family
more closely related to raccoons. more closely related to raccoons.

8. KinkajouKinkajou
average adult weighs 4 to 7 pounds, or 2 to 3 kg.average adult weighs 4 to 7 pounds, or 2 to 3 kg.
average body length is 17 to 22 inches. average body length is 17 to 22 inches.
tail is 16 to 22 inches long, n addition to the body,. tail is 16 to 22 inches long, n addition to the body,.
eat primarily fruit, although classified as carnivores.eat primarily fruit, although classified as carnivores.

9. Poison Dart FrogsPoison Dart Frogs
native to Central and South native to Central and South
America, where over 175 America, where over 175
species of poison frog can be species of poison frog can be
found. found.
In Costa Rico alone, there are In Costa Rico alone, there are
seven species, three that display seven species, three that display
bright colors as a warning for bright colors as a warning for
predators.predators.
If a predator bites, it will get a If a predator bites, it will get a
taste of the poison, and either taste of the poison, and either
die from it or learn to stay die from it or learn to stay
away.away.

10. Poison Dart FrogsPoison Dart Frogs
dangerous animals, can be very hard to handle since dangerous animals, can be very hard to handle since
they have so much poison in them. they have so much poison in them.
only animal in the world known to be able to kill a only animal in the world known to be able to kill a
human by touch alone. human by touch alone.
can jump as far as 2 inches. can jump as far as 2 inches.
mostly active during the day (not nocturnal). mostly active during the day (not nocturnal).
eat ants and termites, but will also eat other small eat ants and termites, but will also eat other small
insects. insects.

11. SlothSloth
five species of the sloth, all which five species of the sloth, all which
reside in tropical rainforests reside in tropical rainforests
slowest mammal on Earth. It takes a slowest mammal on Earth. It takes a
month for a sloth to move one month for a sloth to move one
kilometer! kilometer!
even eat slow with a low metabolic even eat slow with a low metabolic
raterate
do not require much water, because do not require much water, because
they do not use a lot of energy. It they do not use a lot of energy. It
takes nearly a week for a sloth to takes nearly a week for a sloth to
digest one meal. digest one meal.
sleep about 15 to 18 hours a day. sleep about 15 to 18 hours a day.

12. SlothSloth
arboreal animals, spend most arboreal animals, spend most
of their time in trees. of their time in trees.
eat, sleep, mate, and give eat, sleep, mate, and give
birth all the while hanging birth all the while hanging
upside down. upside down.
live in the rainforest canopy, live in the rainforest canopy,
and basically disappear in it. and basically disappear in it.
camouflage consists of camouflage consists of
coloring, slow movement, coloring, slow movement,
and increase of algae and increase of algae
growing on fur.growing on fur.
herbivores, eat mostly leaves herbivores, eat mostly leaves
and fruit.and fruit.

13. Strata of Tropical RainforestStrata of Tropical Rainforest
Different animals and plants of the Tropical Different animals and plants of the Tropical
Rainforest reside in different strata, or zones, of Rainforest reside in different strata, or zones, of
the rainforest. the rainforest.
The different The different
strata include:strata include:
The Forest FloorThe Forest Floor
UnderstoryUnderstory
CanopyCanopy
EmergentEmergent

14. Forest FloorForest Floor
The forest floor is mostly The forest floor is mostly
completely shaded, except in completely shaded, except in
cases where a canopy tree may cases where a canopy tree may
have fallen and created an have fallen and created an
opening.opening.
Most areas of the forest floor Most areas of the forest floor
receive so little light that few receive so little light that few
bushes or herbs can grow there. bushes or herbs can grow there.
Because of the layout of the Because of the layout of the
forest floor, a person can easily forest floor, a person can easily
walk through most parts of a walk through most parts of a
Tropical RainforestTropical Rainforest

15. Forest FloorForest Floor
Less than 1 % of the light that strikes the top of Less than 1 % of the light that strikes the top of
the forest penetrates to the forest floor. the forest penetrates to the forest floor.
top soil is very thin and of poor quality. A lot of top soil is very thin and of poor quality. A lot of
litter falls to the ground where it is quickly broken litter falls to the ground where it is quickly broken
down by decomposers like termites, earthworms down by decomposers like termites, earthworms
and fungi. and fungi.
heat and humidity further help to break down the heat and humidity further help to break down the
litter. This organic matter is then absorbed by the litter. This organic matter is then absorbed by the
trees‘ roots. trees‘ roots.

16. UnderstoryUnderstory
consists of 60 foot consists of 60 foot
trees. trees.
made up of the trunks made up of the trunks
of canopy trees, of canopy trees,
shrubs, plants and shrubs, plants and
small trees. small trees.
little air movement, so little air movement, so
the humidity is the humidity is
constantly high. constantly high.
in constant shade. in constant shade.

17. UnderstoryUnderstory
Some animals include Some animals include
spiders, birds, white tail spiders, birds, white tail
deer, wolves, squirrels, deer, wolves, squirrels,
bees, snakes, frogs, bees, snakes, frogs,
jaguars, red-eye tree frogs jaguars, red-eye tree frogs
and leopards. and leopards.
plants include tree trunks, plants include tree trunks,
saplings, small ground saplings, small ground
plants (such as dwarf plants (such as dwarf
palms) and vines.palms) and vines.
Due to the lack of Due to the lack of
sunshine, plants seldom sunshine, plants seldom
grow to 12 feet, must grow grow to 12 feet, must grow
larger leaves to reach any larger leaves to reach any
sunshine. sunshine.

18. CanopyCanopy
Most of all the Most of all the
rainforest's animals live rainforest's animals live
in the canopy. in the canopy.
includes trees 60 to 130 includes trees 60 to 130
feet tall.feet tall.
Light is easily available Light is easily available
at the top, but greatly at the top, but greatly
reduced below it.reduced below it.
so much food available so much food available
at this level that some at this level that some
animals never go down animals never go down
to the forest floor. to the forest floor.

19. CanopyCanopy
leaves have "drip spouts" that leaves have "drip spouts" that
allow rain to run off. This keeps allow rain to run off. This keeps
them dry and prevents mold them dry and prevents mold
and mildew from forming in the and mildew from forming in the
humid environment.humid environment.
rain must run down the trunks rain must run down the trunks
of the trees or drip off the of the trees or drip off the
leaves because the canopy leaves because the canopy
stops the rain from reaching the stops the rain from reaching the
plants below.plants below.
animals include monkeys, animals include monkeys,
sloths, bats, treefrogs, ants, sloths, bats, treefrogs, ants,
beetles, parrots, hummingbirds beetles, parrots, hummingbirds
and snakes. and snakes.

20. EmergentEmergent
emergent trees are spaced wide apart, grow 100 emergent trees are spaced wide apart, grow 100
to 240 feet tall with umbrella-shaped canopies to 240 feet tall with umbrella-shaped canopies
that grow above the forest. that grow above the forest.
giant trees have straight, smooth trunks with few giant trees have straight, smooth trunks with few
branches. Root system is very shallow, to branches. Root system is very shallow, to
support their size they grow buttresses that can support their size they grow buttresses that can
spread out to a distance of 30 feet.spread out to a distance of 30 feet.
To hold onto water, leaves often have thick, To hold onto water, leaves often have thick,
waxy layers. waxy layers.

21. EmergentEmergent
trees are exposed to drying trees are exposed to drying
winds, tend to have small, winds, tend to have small,
pointed leaves. Some lose their pointed leaves. Some lose their
leaves during brief dry season leaves during brief dry season
in monsoon rainforests. in monsoon rainforests.
may take advantage of the may take advantage of the
greater air movement above greater air movement above
the canopy by developing the canopy by developing
winged seeds or fruits, which winged seeds or fruits, which
are dispersed to other parts of are dispersed to other parts of
the forest by wind. the forest by wind.
Sunlight is plentiful, animals Sunlight is plentiful, animals
such as eagles, monkeys, such as eagles, monkeys,
butterflies, insect-eating bats butterflies, insect-eating bats
and snakes inhabit this layer, and snakes inhabit this layer,
and some never venture below and some never venture below
it.it.

22. ReferencesReferences
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/images/g_me_r_1.gifhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/images/g_me_r_1.gif
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/rainforest.htmhttp://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/rainforest.htm
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/rnfrst_plant_page.htmhttp://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/rnfrst_plant_page.htm
http://www.cap.nsw.edu.au/bb_site_intro/stage2_Modules/zoo/tropical_rainforest.hhttp://www.cap.nsw.edu.au/bb_site_intro/stage2_Modules/zoo/tropical_rainforest.h
tmtm
http://www.wildernessclassroom.com/www/schoolhouse/rainforest_library/animal_lihttp://www.wildernessclassroom.com/www/schoolhouse/rainforest_library/animal_li
brary/kinkajou.htmbrary/kinkajou.htm
http://www.wildernessclassroom.com/www/schoolhouse/rainforest_library/animal_lihttp://www.wildernessclassroom.com/www/schoolhouse/rainforest_library/animal_li
brary/poison_frog.htmbrary/poison_frog.htm
http://www.wildernessclassroom.com/www/schoolhouse/rainforest_library/animal_lihttp://www.wildernessclassroom.com/www/schoolhouse/rainforest_library/animal_li
brary/sloth.htmbrary/sloth.htm