The Wonders of the Rainforest

Where are Rainforests located?

Weather

• A rainforest is a forest that experiences high annual rainfall.

• Rainforests are divided into two subsets: – tropical rainforests – temperant rainforests

Tropical Rainforest

• Tropical rainforests are located in tropical regions

• Average temperature of a tropical rainforest is 77 F

• The rainforest stays about this temperature year round

• Extensive cloud cover and heavy rainfall keep temperatures from getting considerably hotter or colder

Temperate Rainforest

• A temperate rainforest experiences all four seasons and a part of the rainfall count falls in the form of snow.

• Temperate rainforests are found between an ocean and a mountainous region

• Temperatures are mainly cool and wet, though they can get hot in summer. The average annual temperature is 50 F

4 Layers of a Rainforest

Emergent Layer (Trees and Plants)

• Trees and plants that grow in the Emergent layer receive the most sunlight and wind– They have thick, waxy leaves to help protect them

from the strong sun and wind

Brazilian Nut Tree

Kapok Tree

Orchids

Emergent Layer Animals(Tree Dwellers)

Toucan

Sparrow Hawk

Butterfly

Love Birds

Harpy Eagle

Canopy Layer (Trees and Plants)

• The trees form a “green roof” over the forest below

• The canopy is the busiest part of the rainforest

• The canopy protects the ground from the sun and light rain

• Many of the leaves on the plants are pointed , so that the rain runs off the leaves to help keep the leaves dry and free from mold

Canopy Layer

Lianas(Monkey Vines)

Bromeliad

Strangler Fig

Epiphytic Fern

Canopy Layer AnimalsCockatoo

Scarlet Macaw

Pygmy Marmoset

Quetzal

Howler Monkey

Sloth

Understory Layer

• Little sunshine reaches this area

• Plants have to grow larger leaves to reach the sunlight

• The plants in this area seldom grow to 12 feet

Understory (Trees and Plants)Hot Lips Flower

Passion Flower

Heliconia

Peace Lily

Cecropia Tree

Cacao Tree

Banana Tree

Understory AnimalsRed Eyed Tree Frog

Poison Dart Frog

Spider Monkey

Boa Constrictor

Fruit Bat

Margay

Blue Tailed Iguana

Kinkajou

Jaguars

Forest Floor(Trees and Plants)

• It's very dark on the forest floor

• Almost no plants grow in this area, as a result

• Since hardly any sun reaches the forest floor things begin to decay quickly.

Rainforest Fungi

Fungi

Giant Lilly Pad

Forest Floor Animals(Scorpion)

Millipede

Giant Anteater

Army Ants

Rainforest Food Chain