Tropical RainforestTropical Rainforest

Gloria Larson and Kendra Gloria Larson and Kendra SultzerSultzer

LocationsLocations

Band around equatorBand around equator Solar radiation highest in this area-Solar radiation highest in this area-

affects rainfallaffects rainfall

VegetationVegetation

4 layers of rainforest: emergent, 4 layers of rainforest: emergent, canopy, understory, forest floorcanopy, understory, forest floor

Average RainfallAverage Rainfall

Location makes rainforest rainyLocation makes rainforest rainy– Solar radiation leads to evaporation, Solar radiation leads to evaporation,

condensation, raincondensation, rain– 250-450 cm. of rain/year which is about 250-450 cm. of rain/year which is about

8-14 feet/year8-14 feet/year

Temperature vs. Temperature vs. PrecipitationPrecipitation

TemperaturesTemperatures

Somewhere around 68°F to 86°F Somewhere around 68°F to 86°F regularlyregularly– But annual change in temperatures is But annual change in temperatures is

much lessmuch less Diurnal patternDiurnal pattern

– Evaporation and condensation during the day Evaporation and condensation during the day promote high change of temperaturepromote high change of temperature

SunlightSunlight

Canopy format prevents sunlight Canopy format prevents sunlight from reaching lower layersfrom reaching lower layers– Understory and forest floor pretty darkUnderstory and forest floor pretty dark

Plants and animals adapt to lack of sunlightPlants and animals adapt to lack of sunlight

Soil FertilitySoil Fertility

Soil in rainforest not very fertileSoil in rainforest not very fertile– Nutrients from different sources fall into Nutrients from different sources fall into

soil but then swept away by rainsoil but then swept away by rain– Animals and plants adapt ways to get Animals and plants adapt ways to get

nutrientsnutrients

Seasonal ChangesSeasonal Changes

Not a big change in temperatureNot a big change in temperature No winterNo winter 2 seasons: rainy and dry2 seasons: rainy and dry

– Differs due to position relative to Differs due to position relative to equatorequator North- rainy = summerNorth- rainy = summer South- rainy = October – AprilSouth- rainy = October – April East – dry = 5-7 monthsEast – dry = 5-7 months West- dry = 1-3 monthsWest- dry = 1-3 months

Limiting FactorsLimiting Factors

Lack of nutrients- unfertile soilLack of nutrients- unfertile soil Wet environment- climateWet environment- climate Large amount of trees in Large amount of trees in

environmentenvironment Lack of sunlight for lower layersLack of sunlight for lower layers

Animal AdaptationsAnimal Adaptations

CamouflageCamouflage Locomotion in treesLocomotion in trees Survival in wet environmentSurvival in wet environment NocturnalNocturnal Bright colors for warningBright colors for warning

AnimalsAnimals

Spider MonkeySpider Monkey

SlothSloth

AnimalsAnimals

ToucanToucan

Harpy EagleHarpy Eagle

AnimalsAnimals

AnacondaAnaconda

JaguarJaguar

AnimalsAnimals

Poison Dart FrogPoison Dart Frog

Dawn BatDawn Bat

Plant AdaptationsPlant Adaptations

EpiphytesEpiphytes Parasitic plantsParasitic plants Shallow root systemShallow root system

– ButtressesButtresses Drip tips and large leavesDrip tips and large leaves Smooth barkSmooth bark

PlantsPlants

Epiphytic OrchidEpiphytic Orchid

Strangler FigsStrangler Figs

PlantsPlants

Lianas (vines)Lianas (vines)

Kapok treeKapok tree

PlantsPlants

BromeliadsBromeliads

Mangroves (stilt Mangroves (stilt and prop roots)and prop roots)

PlantsPlants

Bracket FungiBracket Fungi

Jelly FungiJelly Fungi

Food WebFood WebPlants

(fruits, berries, leaves)

Tapir Monkey

Insect

Sloth

Jaguar

Lizard

Anaconda

Past Century ChangesPast Century Changes

Only 2.5 million square miles of Only 2.5 million square miles of tropical rainforests left on planettropical rainforests left on planet– Losing 93,000 square miles/yearLosing 93,000 square miles/year– Losing 137 species/day = 50,000 Losing 137 species/day = 50,000

species/yearspecies/year– Indigenous peoples losing their homesIndigenous peoples losing their homes

Human Contributions to Human Contributions to ChangesChanges

Deforestation = huge problemDeforestation = huge problem– Timber, agricultural purposes, cattle Timber, agricultural purposes, cattle

ranchesranches– Economic hardships in areas of Economic hardships in areas of

rainforestsrainforests Unequal distributions of landUnequal distributions of land

Killing of animals for skinsKilling of animals for skins– Highly prized in Berlin, Paris, TokyoHighly prized in Berlin, Paris, Tokyo

ConservationConservation

Proposed: Linden-Lovejoy-Phillips PlanProposed: Linden-Lovejoy-Phillips Plan– Divide natural areas into blocks and get Divide natural areas into blocks and get

variety of organizations to supportvariety of organizations to support Big emphasis on protecting the Big emphasis on protecting the

indigenous people and helping them to indigenous people and helping them to preserve their natural homespreserve their natural homes

Various other conservation Various other conservation organizationsorganizations– Adopt-a-RainforestAdopt-a-Rainforest