The Rain ForestThe Rain Forest

By JMD 7HBy JMD 7H

What Is The Rain Forest?What Is The Rain Forest? There are two types of There are two types of

rainforest, Tropical and rainforest, Tropical and Temperate.Temperate.

Tropical: Found close to the Tropical: Found close to the equator, lies between the equator, lies between the tropic of Cancer and tropic of tropic of Cancer and tropic of Capricorn. Receives rain fall Capricorn. Receives rain fall regularly, and it remains warm regularly, and it remains warm and frost free.and frost free.

Temperate: found along the Temperate: found along the coast in the Temperate zone coast in the Temperate zone (pacific northwest). (pacific northwest).

Rainforests have two seasons, Rainforests have two seasons, Wet and Dry.Wet and Dry.

What is the Rainforest?What is the Rainforest?

Rain forests are often Rain forests are often called the “lungs of the called the “lungs of the earth” because they earth” because they provide so much oxygen.provide so much oxygen.

The actually take in just The actually take in just as much oxygen as they as much oxygen as they produce.produce.

They do consume a lot of They do consume a lot of the atmospheric carbon.the atmospheric carbon.

Rainforests cover 6 to 7% Rainforests cover 6 to 7% of the earths land of the earths land surface.surface.

Layers of the RainforestLayers of the Rainforest

The tropical rainforest has four layers.The tropical rainforest has four layers. The Emergent: Giant trees that are The Emergent: Giant trees that are

above the canopy with mushroom above the canopy with mushroom shaped crowns.shaped crowns.

The Canopy: Broad, irregular crowns The Canopy: Broad, irregular crowns form a tight canopy that is 60 to 90 feet form a tight canopy that is 60 to 90 feet above the ground. It is often covered in above the ground. It is often covered in other plants and tied together with other plants and tied together with vines. Canopy is home to 90% of the vines. Canopy is home to 90% of the rainforests organisms.rainforests organisms.

The Understory: Gets only 2 to 15% of The Understory: Gets only 2 to 15% of the sunlight. Contains young trees and the sunlight. Contains young trees and leafy herbaceous plants that can leafy herbaceous plants that can survive on low light. This is where survive on low light. This is where many household plants come from.many household plants come from.

The forest floor: Receives less than The forest floor: Receives less than 2% of the sunlight. Very little grows 2% of the sunlight. Very little grows here. On the floor is a thin layer of here. On the floor is a thin layer of fallen leaves, seeds, fruits, and fallen leaves, seeds, fruits, and branches that quickly decompose.branches that quickly decompose.

Where is the tropical rain forest?Where is the tropical rain forest?

% of Tropical Rainforests in the world

57%25%

18%LatinAmericaSoutheastAsia/PacificWest Africa

Where is the rainforest?Where is the rainforest?

The temperate rainforests are located mostly along the The temperate rainforests are located mostly along the pacific northwest of the USA from Oregon to Alaska for pacific northwest of the USA from Oregon to Alaska for about 1200 miles. Smaller ones are found on the south about 1200 miles. Smaller ones are found on the south east coast of Chile in south America. east coast of Chile in south America.

It is also located in parts of the United Kingdom, Norway, It is also located in parts of the United Kingdom, Norway, Japan, southern Australia and New Zealand. Japan, southern Australia and New Zealand.

Vegetation of the Rain ForestVegetation of the Rain Forest

Number of tree Number of tree species:species:

Tropical = hundredsTropical = hundreds

Temperate = 10 to 20Temperate = 10 to 20 Types of trees: Types of trees:

Tropical = BroadleafTropical = Broadleaf

Temperate =NeedlesTemperate =Needles

Vegetation of the RainforestVegetation of the Rainforest Age of trees:Age of trees:

Tropical = 50 to 100Tropical = 50 to 100 Temperate = 500 to 1000Temperate = 500 to 1000

Epiphytes:Epiphytes:Tropical = Orchids / Ferns/ BromeliadTropical = Orchids / Ferns/ Bromeliad

Temperate = Mostly Mosses and FernsTemperate = Mostly Mosses and Ferns Decomposition Rate:Decomposition Rate:Tropical = RapidTropical = RapidTemperate = SlowTemperate = Slow

Animals of the rainforestAnimals of the rainforest

There are many animals There are many animals that live in the rainforests. that live in the rainforests.

Some of these include:Some of these include:Anaconda ( worlds largest Anaconda ( worlds largest

snake)snake)Bearded PigBearded PigChimpanzeeChimpanzeeCrested GuanCrested GuanFlying DragonFlying DragonGorillaGorillaIndian CobraIndian CobraOrangutanOrangutan

How Plants and Animals interact.How Plants and Animals interact.

Primary Producers:Primary Producers:

Ferns, Mosses, Shrubs,Ferns, Mosses, Shrubs,

Flowers.Flowers. Primary Consumers:Primary Consumers:

Small Mammals, Small Mammals, salmon, insects, deer, salmon, insects, deer, elk, birds. elk, birds.

Climate of the rain forestClimate of the rain forest

Tropical and Temperate are very wet and Tropical and Temperate are very wet and lush.lush.

Tropical gets 80 to 400 inches of rain per Tropical gets 80 to 400 inches of rain per year.year.

Temperate gets about 100 inches per Temperate gets about 100 inches per year.year.

Temperature in the Tropical rainforest is Temperature in the Tropical rainforest is warm and the temperate is cool.warm and the temperate is cool.

Both are frost free and are around 85 F.Both are frost free and are around 85 F.

Dangers the rainforest must face.Dangers the rainforest must face.

30 acres of rainforest is cut down everyday.30 acres of rainforest is cut down everyday. Companies are logging for firewood, charcoal, Companies are logging for firewood, charcoal,

building materials, and pasture land for cattle. building materials, and pasture land for cattle. There is also the mining industry that is looking There is also the mining industry that is looking

for gold and other minerals.for gold and other minerals. Natural disasters, war, construction of dams and Natural disasters, war, construction of dams and

poverty are also leading causes of the poverty are also leading causes of the destruction of rainforests. destruction of rainforests.

PicturesPictures

Hercules Beetle

Borneo, Southeast Asia Iguana

Rainforest Lizard