Rainforest
by willsimmons
Location
Rainforest are located at or close to the equator such as the pacific north west of the USA. That is why they have year around warmth. About 1/4 of all medicines we use come from the rain forests. More than 1,400 plants in the rain forests are thought to be cures for cancer.
the weather and climate
It can get very wet in rain forests in fact an average of 50 to 260 inches fall in the rain forests every year. The temperature rarely gets higher than 93degrees f (34degrees c) or below 60 degrees f (20 degrees C). Rain fall is thought to be more than 100 inches per year.
There usually is a brief less rain season
Land forms
The rain forests grow in the Amazon mountains unlike other deciduous forests that live on the flat ground.
plants
In deciduous forests the bark on trees is thick to prevent evaporation but in rain forests the bark is thin because evaporation is not a concern since it is so wet. Rain forest trees also have a smooth bark to prevent other plants from growing on them. Lianas are woody vines that drape rain forests trees they have adapted by letting their roots grow in the ground and growing up into the canopy 1. Epiphytes are plants that grow on trees surface. Especially the trees trunk so it can take advantage of the sun light2. Mangroves grow on tropical deltas and river estuaries these trees have adapted to living in the wet. these trees have stilt roots that spread out wide that traps and keeps nutrients3. pitcher plants have leaves that form a pitcher and attract bugs with sweet smelling nectar so the insect can fall in and be digested4. Bromeliads are found exclusively in the americas. Some grow in the ground, but most species grow in trees. their leaves form a vase to hold water. small roots anchor the plant onto the tree. the amount of water the vase the leaves make can hold 1 pint to 12 gallons5.
animals
The bearded pig is an animal elongated body and a narrow head. The bearded pig has many whiskers on its chin and a wartlike protuberance. These are more common on males than females. fallen fruit, roots, insect larvae are what this pig likes to eat1. Brazilian tapirs are nearly always found near water. They are good swimmers and divers. THey can also move fast on land even over rugged mountains. It feeds on leaves buds and shoots2. The capybara spends much of its time in water and is a good swimmer and diver. it has webs in between its tows so it can swim better. Only eyes ears and nostrils show when it is water. They live in family groups. They may be nocturnal3. The intelligent social chimpanzee has a wide range of sounds and gestures and is probably the most expressive of all animals. It rises at dawn and feeds on things like nuts fruits and small insects. They use twigs as tools to extract termites from trees. At night chimps usually sleep with their mothers4. the common tree shrew is a squirrel like creature with a bushy tail. It is very active climbing with great agility but also spending much of its time on the ground feeding. it eats insects spiders birds and mice5.
Ecological concerns or issues
the rain forests. now cover less than 6% of the earths surface. It is also home to 100-300 species of plants and animals. More and More of the trees there are cut down making animals leave their homes and die most cures for cancer are there. Since the trees are being cut down there is less and less oxygen being produced into the atmosphere thirty acres of rain forest are cut every minuet. and people are doing this by cutting down trees