Tropical Rainforest
Climate and Location
- 125-660 cm of rain yearly (50-260 in)
- average of 77%-88% humidity
- usually near the equator
Plants and Adaptations
- dense vegetation
- enormous trees
- smooth bark so plant can't grow up
- lianas have woody vines so it's easier to climb
- buttresses provide stability and can rise more than 30 feet
Animals and Adaptations
- thousands of species
- camouflage to hide from predators and prey
- many animals have small bodies so they can navigate the dense forest floor
- some animals are brightly colored to warn predators away from them
- ants can carry 50 times more than their body weight
Human Impact
- millions of acres are lost due to logging and farming
- many farmers do slash and burn farming
- most of the logging has been in the 20th and 21st centuries
Description of the Land
- trees are spaced far apart
- many trees are over 200 feet tall
- there is almost no sunlight on the forest floor
- rainforests only make up about 12% of Earth's land area
- ground is very moist due to much rain and little sunlight
Unique Facts
- most animals live in the trees
- majority of creatures living in rainforests are insects
- there are over 2,500 vine species