Tropical Rainforest
Jenny Li & Arth Devani
Terrain
The rainforest terrain has four layers: the ground story, under story, canopy, and the emergent layer, each with its own unique plants and animals. The ground story has little sunlight and contains much of the dead matter from the upper stories. The under story also has little sunlight and many plants in this layer often grow higher to reach more sunlight. The canopy is the primary layer and most plants and animals flourish here. The emergent layer is where the tallest trees are found along with a few species of animals.
Coconut Trees
Cocos nucifera
Bengal Bamboo
Bambusa tulda
Banana Tree
Musa paradisiaca
Bougainvillea
Bougainvillea spectabilis
Tualang Tree
Koompassia excelsa
Jambu
Syzygium aqueum
Plant Adaptations
- Plants will grow and climb on other plants to reach sunlight
- Waxy surfaces on leaves allow for excess water to easily drip off the surface
- Flowers on the ground story are designed to lure and attract animal pollinators since there is little wind
- Some plants have a central reservoir used to collect water
- Prop roots on plants are used as support in shallow soil
Golden Lion Tamarin
Leontopithecus rosalia
Harpy Eagle
Harpia harpyja
Jambu Fruit Dove
Ptilinopus jambu
Dawn Bat
Eonycteris spelaea
Bengal Tiger
Panthera tigris tigris
African Forest Elephant
Loxodonta cyclotis
Animal Adaptations
- Long beaks on toucans are used to snatch fruits from difficult to reach places
- Camouflage is used by animals like sloths to blend into their surroundings
- Brightly colored skin on frogs are used as a warning sign to other animals that they are poisonous and shouldn't be consumed
- Nocturnal animals who hunt at night have reduced competition for food
- Animals like jaguars that have a small build are able to move swiftly through the forest to catch prey
Animal Interactions
Predation: the Harpy Eagle preys on the King Cobra.
Mutualism: the Jambu Fruit Dove eats the Jambu Fruit and the seed gets distributed.
Commensalism: Antbirds will feast on the insects that army ants scare away as they march.
Parasitism: Flies will lay their eggs in the head of a leaf-cutter ant and the larvae will eat the ant as food, killing the ant.
Competition: the Harpy Eagle and King Cobra are in competition for the Toco Toucan as food.
Interesting Facts
- Giant bamboo plants can grow up to 9 inches a day
- Trees in the rainforest are so tall that rain water can take ten minutes to reach the ground
- Every second, a portion of the rainforest as large as a football field is being destroyed
Stage 1: Bare Ground
Pioneer plants will begin to grow during this stage.
Stage 2: Young Forest
The plants are growing towards a climax.
Stage 3: Mature Forest
Plants have reached a climax stage.
Tropical Rainforest
Human Influences
Citations
- "Rainforest Plants." Rainforest Plants. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Nov. 2015. <http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/rnfrst_plant_page.htm>.
- "Tropical Rain Forest." Tropical Rain Forest. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Nov. 2015. <http://www.mbgnet.net/bioplants/troprf.html>.
- "Tropical Rainforest Animal Facts." TROPICAL RAINFOREST ANIMAL FACTS. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Nov. 2015. <http://www.tropical-rainforest-facts.com/Tropical-Rainforest-Animal-Facts/Tropical-Rainforest-Animal-Facts.shtml>.
- Robbins, Carolyn. "Adaptations of Animals in the Tropical Rain Forest." EHow. Demand Media, n.d. Web. 08 Nov. 2015. <http://www.ehow.com/list_6862950_adaptations-animals-tropical-rainforest.html>.
- "Facts on the Rainforest." Facts on the Rainforest. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Nov. 2015. <http://www.srl.caltech.edu/personnel/krubal/rainforest/Edit560s6/www/facts.html>.
- "KDE Santa Barbara." KDE Santa Barbara. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Nov. 2015. <http://kids.nceas.ucsb.edu/biomes/rainforest.html>.
- (Video clips in climate video) "IMAX Tropical Rainforest" <https://youtu.be/YUuA-C_I3DE>