TROPICAL RAINFOREST

LOCATIONS

• only covers about 6% of the world
• found near equator 
• 57% - Latin America
• 25% - South Asia and Pacific Islands
• 18% - West Africa

Untitled Slide

CLIMATE

• very humid 
• highest = 34°C, lowest = 20°C)
• rainfall (about 250 cm per year) 
• the hotter the air = the more water vapor it can hold

CLIMATOGRAPH OF TROPICAL RAINFOREST

FOREST STRUCTURE

• Emergent Layer 
• Canopy layer
• Understory
• Forest floor

EMERGENT LAYER

• tallest of the forest structure
• grows above general canopy
• contains small amount of very large trees (emergents)
• get the most amount of sunlight
• has to withstand the strong sun and wind

CANOPY LAYER

• 2nd tallest layer in forest structure
• trees may be as high as 100 ft
• busiest part of rainforest
• protects ground from strong sun and rain

UNDERSTORY

• below the trees but above the ground
• hot and damp
• young trees and plants that grow under shade
• small amount of light
• plants hardly grow higher than 12 ft

FOREST FLOOR

• bottom most layer
• very little sun reaches it
• very warm and humid in this layer
• only plants adapted to low sunlight can grow
• not crowded so easy movement for larger animals

ANIMALS

• about half of world's animal species are found here
• mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, amphibians  
• ex. - jaguar, toucan, boa constrictor, ants, red eyed tree frog

PLANTS

• more than two thirds of world's plants species are found here
• about 25% of world's medicine are from rainforest plants
• ex. - kapok trees, palm trees, banana trees, ferns, orchids. 

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