Tropical Rain Forest
By: Darcy Malec
Vitals of biome
Tropical rainforests are found in hot, moist areas below the equator. The temperature is always very high and the amount of rainfall is over 50 inches per year.
Climate
The average temperature is 77 degrees fahrenheit or 25 degrees celsius. The average rain fall is can be about 60 to over 100 inches per year.There is not much change in the season. All of them are very hot and rainy.
Plant life
The plants in the tropical rainforest need lots of water and sun. More than two thirds of the worlds plant species are found here. Most trees have thin, smooth bark. Bromeliads live on the branches and leaves of other plants so that they can reach sunlight. Mangroves roots spreadout across the surface so that they can soak up more nutrients. Pitcher plants have big leaves that form a pitcher filled with nector that attracts insects for them to eat. The peacock plant is adapted to the low light of the forest floor. It has broad leaves to help it soak up the max amount of sunlight possible. The banyan tree has adapted to the rainforest and gets its nutrients from other trees. It grows on the other trees and uses their nutrients to grow.
Animal life
About one half of the worlds animal species live in the rain forest. The rain forest is perfect for animal survival. There is always plenty of water and there is no season change so the animals do not have to migrate. However, there are many animals so there is alot of competition. Many animals have adapted. Birds have developed strong beaks so that they can eat the nuts off of trees that most animals cannot eat. Specific types of monkeys have developed night vision and long fingers so that they can avoid preditors and scoop insects out of trees where other animals cannot reach them. Jaguars have developed the skill to swim to adapt to the wet climate of the rainforest. Lots of mammals have long strong arms to help them cling the many tall trees of the rain forest to help them find food. Most animals have developed certain camoflage to hide them from predators that blends perfectly into the rainforest. One example of competition would be monkeys fighting for the tree with the best food supply. Another example of competition is birds fighting for the space/nests. Some predator/prey relationships are bats(predator) and insects(prey), the anaconda(predator) and small rodents(prey), tiger(predator)and a bunny(pray), alligator(predator) and fish (prey).
Additional info
1. The trees of a tropical rainforest grow so close together that rain falling on the canopy can take as long as 10 minutes to reach the ground. 2. 25% of the ingredients in our medicine comes from rainforest plants.
Ecological Concerns
Deforestation is the main threat for this biome. People cut down full sections of the rain forest at a time. When the trees are cut down, not only are the animals affected, but so is the atmosphere. The tropical rainforests are globally important because they convert large amounts of carbon dioxide into oxygen for us to breath. Orangutans, the silvery gibbon, and the proboscis monkey are currently considerd critically endangered.
References
http://www.mbgnet.net/sets/rforest/plants/ http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/rnfrst_animal_page.htm http://www.srl.caltech.edu/personnel/krubal/rainforest/Edit560s6/www/facts.html