What does the canopy provide for the rainforest?
A habitat for monkeys and birds
How do the tall trees stay green?
They are deciduous meaning that they shed their leaves at difference times
How are the tallest tree supported ?
By buttress roots , shallow roots that poke up out of the soil
Characteristics of emergents leaves
- Oval shape
- Extended part with drip-tip
- Olive-green leathery surfaces
Example of a plant that increases vegetation and how
Parasite plants growing on trees and branches increase the amount of vegetation
What are the 5 distinct layers of the rainforest?
40m - Discontinuous canopy of the tallest trees (emergents)
30m - Continuous layer of the main canopy formed by the crowns of many tall trees
~20m - Discontinuous under canopy formed by the trees that are 10 to 20 high
~10m - Layer of shrubs and young trees
~5m - Herb layer with ferns 3m or more high
What make s the rainforest ideal for plant growth?
Their high temperatures
Where are tropical Rainforests situated?
Around the equator
Why are tropical Rainforests situated where they are?
Because Rainforests like warm, wet areas
They also like consistent temperatures and due to these high temperatures at the equator there is accelerated evaporation of water which results in frequent rainfall in forested areas in the tropics
How does convection rainfall occur?
- Small areas of the ground are fiercely heated due to the angle of the suns rays
- When the land warms up it heats up the air above causing it to expand and rise
- It then rises, cools, condenses and falls back as rain
How have tall trees adapted to living in the rainforest?
- Tall trees are drawn up by heat and light which is why leaf growth is concentrated in the canopy
- The upper surface of the leaves are leathery to withstand the Suns radiation
- Driptips help to shed water during heavy rainfall
- The trees have wide buttress roots to support them
How have shrubs, ferns and vines adapted to the rainforest?
Shrubs take advantage of any gap in the forest canopy
Vines hug tall trees (emergents) to take advantage of their nutrients and sunlight
Ferns have leaves which intercept a high proportion of available light
What are the threats to the rainforest?
- Tropical hardwoods (logging)
- Settlement
- Clearing for food production
- Mineral resources
What would be lost if the rainforest disappeared?
- ~50% of the worlds 10million species live in tropical rainforest
- Many of today’s drugs such as aspirin are derived from plants in the tropical rainforest
- Huge supply of oxygen and lessen greenhouse gasses threat
