Tropical Rainforest
Guess what? It's raining! In the rainforest!
Locations
Tropical Rainforests form around the equator where the hotter temperatures are. Tropical Rainforests are located in Africa, Indonesia, Asia, South America and Central America. The most famous is the Amazon Rainforest, located in Brazil.
Climate
It is very humid, considering it gets between 50 to 260 inches of rain annually, but it usually averages as 100 inches. The temperature ranges from 93°F to 68°F. There aren't the normal seasons; however, there is usually a short dry period where it doesn't rain as much.
Plant Life
Bengal Bamboo
They can be found in Southern Asia tropical rainforests. They can grow from 40 to 80 feet in height. Gorillas and other animals in the rainforest eat it, including animals in other biomes, like pandas. Because of its lack of sunlight as a seedling, the bamboo adapted to be one of the fastest growing plants. It also developed vascular bundles, which make the plant basically hollow. It helps get more water and nutrients.
Banana Tree
Banana trees can be found in most of the tropical rainforests worldwide. Its fruit, bananas, are eaten by monkeys, insects, parrots, fruit bats, and many other animals, including humans. In fact, the banana is a very popular fruit. This tree has adapted by growing thinner bark, seeing it no longer needed thick bark to prevent loss of moisture
Tualang Tree
This tree is taller than the canopy, reaching over 250 feet in height. They grow in Southeast Asia tropical rainforests. It adapted its very slippery surface so bears could not climb it to reach its honey combs. Instead, the honey is harvested by bees, especially the Asian rock bee. It grows well in damp locations.
Orchids
Orchids have thousands of different species. This plant is very adaptive. It grows up trees to get better sunlight, actually in a parasite relationship. It robs the tree of its sunlight and the tree does not benefit, but is actually harmed. They can grow in several different types of climates. They can be found in southern Central America, northwest South America, in desserts, near the ocean, and many other places, but primarily in the tropical rainforest. They rely on specific species for pollination. It works with a type of fungi called mycorrhizae fungi. The fungi grows in its roots and gives the plant water and nutrients. In return, the orchid give the fungi some nutrients through photosynthesis. This relationship is called mutualism because both species are benefiting.
Strangler Fig Tree
This tree starts out in a crook of another tree and slowly grows up it, getting its sunlight. When it becomes taller than the tree, it strangles, hence the name, its host and robs it of its sunlight and nutrients. Eventually, the other tree dies and the strangler fig tree remains. The fig tree continues to grow. This is a relationship called parasitism, when one species harms the other. One benefits; the other does not. A certain wasp (Agaoninae spp) pollinates its flowers in the tree and in return lay wasp eggs in figs. That is a mutualism relationship because both species benefit.
This tree is one of the most important tree in the tropical rainforest. Many animals, including pigeons, toucans, gibbons, bats, parrots, hornbills, and monkeys eat the figs as a part of their diet. They are very tall trees that produce many fruit.
Animals
Jaguar
Jaguars usually live 12 to 15 years and can weigh up to 250 lbs. They live mostly in South and Central America. They are very good climbers and swimmers, and they prey on fish as well as deer and other land animals. They also prey on sloths. In this relationship, the jaguar is the predator and the sloth is the prey. This process is called predation. The Jaguar has to compete with other predators like tigers, cougars, and leopards in order to get its prey. The Jaguar adapted to their environment by developing their spotted fur which helps them blend into their environment when hunting. Unfortunately, they are being hunted for their fur.
Bracket Fungus
Bracket Fungus is a type of fungus that grows on trees. It decomposes the tree and weakens the tree until it falls. The eats basically any tree it grows on. This relationship can be seen as parasitism since the fungus is benefitting by eating the tree. The tree does not benefit from this process. They adapted very well to their environment by getting nutrients from weak and decaying trees.
Macaw
Macaws are found in South and Central America. Their size can range from 30-39 inches and they can weigh up to 4.5 lbs. They are omnivores, which means that they eats things like small mammals and nuts and berries. The macaw is the predator and the prey is the small mammals. They are known to be very smart creatures, and some species can "talk" or mimic sounds. They adapted to their environment by developing a very big beak which helps when breaking nuts. It also helps them climb. Macaws can be eaten by jaguars, making the macaw the prey.
Red-Eyed Tree Frog
Red-Eyed Tree frogs, despite their size, are carnivores. They eat small insects. In this situation, it is the predators and the bugs are the prey. However, the frogs can be eaten by bats, owls, snakes, and toucans, making it the prey. These frogs are nocturnal and sleep during the day stuck on the bottom of leaves, which is actually its camouflage that helps it blend in with its environment. Its red eyes startle predators, hopefully giving it enough time to get away.
Chimpanzee
Chimpanzees are highly intelligent creatures. They are very similar to humans; in fact, 98% of our DNA is the same. Chimps eat insects, fruit, nuts, small mammals, and roots. Like the macaw, the chimpanzee can be eaten by the jaguar, making the jaguar the predator and the chimp the prey. The adapted to their environment by using rocks and tools to break open buts and fruits. They usually live in communities with other chimpanzees. They are an endangered species.
Francois Langur
These monkeys are born orange but the color turns to black when they reach adulthood. They are herbivores and eat leaves, fruit, and flowers. It adapted by developing a stomach that helps digest the leaves that it eats. They live in small groups with a male as the leader. Unfortunately, it is an endangered species.
Ecological Concerns
Rainforests everywhere are being destroyed. They are being cut down for a wide variety of reasons: agriculture, logging, mining, tourism, pollution, overfishing, illegal wildlife trade, and other threats. This destruction is leading to the extinction of animals. There are numerous extinct and endangered species.
Extinct: Greater Short-Tailed Bat, Titanoboa, Aukland Island Merganser, Piopio, Huia, Laughing Owl, and many more species that we will never come to know.
Endangered Species: Bornean Orangutan, Sumatran Orangutan, Chimpanzees, Gorilla, Tree Kangaroo, Emperor Tamarin, Jaguar, Harpy Eagles, Pink Dolphins, Poison Dart Frog, Black Spider Monkey, and many, many, many more species that soon our children will never know.
There are many organizations to help save the rainforest, including World Wildlife Fund. Recycling, donations, tree planting, etc. are all ways to help save the rainforest.
Despite its destruction, the rainforest is very important globally. Many of our medicines come from the rainforest. 40% of our oxygen is produced from the rainforest. Many scientific discoveries are a result of the exploration of the tropical rainforest, including medical discoveries and the thousands of species of animals and plants.
Look how cute they are!!!
Interesting Facts
- Every second, a football field's area of the tropical rainforest is being destroyed each second. A football field is 120 yards long and 53.3 yards wide.
- In Asian rainforest, there are many flying animals. Types of frogs, squirrels, and snakes are included in that category.
References
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/rainforest.htm
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/jaguar/
http://a-z-animals.com/animals/macaw/
http://www.mbgnet.net/sets/rforest/where.htm
http://www.hemp-guide.com/bamboo-plant-facts.html
http://www.extento.hawaii.edu/kbase/crop/crops/i_banana.htm
http://www.savetherainforest.org/savetherainforest_006.htm
http://hubpages.com/hub/Extinct-Animals-of-the-Rainforest
http://worldwildlife.org/species
http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/kids/species-profiles/orchid
http://troprains.weebly.com/biotic-interactions.html
http://www.kidcyber.com.au/topics/biomerainfor3.htm
http://www.srl.caltech.edu/personnel/krubal/rainforest/Edit560s6/www/facts.html