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Tropical Rainforest
Gloria Larson and Kendra Sultzer
Locations
Band around equator
 Solar radiation highest in this area-affects
rainfall

Vegetation

4 layers of rainforest: emergent, canopy,
understory, forest floor
Average Rainfall

Location makes rainforest rainy
– Solar radiation leads to evaporation,
condensation, rain
– 250-450 cm. of rain/year which is about 8-14
feet/year
Temperature vs. Precipitation
Temperatures

Somewhere around 68°F to 86°F regularly
– But annual change in temperatures is much
less
 Diurnal pattern
– Evaporation and condensation during the day promote
high change of temperature
Sunlight

Canopy format prevents sunlight from
reaching lower layers
– Understory and forest floor pretty dark
 Plants and animals adapt to lack of sunlight
Soil Fertility

Soil in rainforest not very fertile
– Nutrients from different sources fall into soil
but then swept away by rain
– Animals and plants adapt ways to get
nutrients
Seasonal Changes
Not a big change in temperature
 No winter
 2 seasons: rainy and dry

– Differs due to position relative to equator
 North- rainy = summer
 South- rainy = October – April
 East – dry = 5-7 months
 West- dry = 1-3 months
Limiting Factors
Lack of nutrients- unfertile soil
 Wet environment- climate
 Large amount of trees in environment
 Lack of sunlight for lower layers

Animal Adaptations
Camouflage
 Locomotion in trees
 Survival in wet environment
 Nocturnal
 Bright colors for warning

Animals

Spider Monkey

Sloth
Animals

Toucan

Harpy Eagle
Animals

Anaconda

Jaguar
Animals

Poison Dart Frog

Dawn Bat
Plant Adaptations
Epiphytes
 Parasitic plants
 Shallow root system

– Buttresses
Drip tips and large leaves
 Smooth bark

Plants

Epiphytic Orchid

Strangler Figs
Plants

Lianas (vines)

Kapok tree
Plants

Bromeliads

Mangroves (stilt and
prop roots)
Plants

Bracket Fungi

Jelly Fungi
Food Web
Plants
(fruits, berries, leaves)
Insect
Tapir
Anaconda
Monkey
Jaguar
Sloth
Lizard
Past Century Changes

Only 2.5 million square miles of tropical
rainforests left on planet
– Losing 93,000 square miles/year
– Losing 137 species/day = 50,000 species/year
– Indigenous peoples losing their homes
Human Contributions to Changes

Deforestation = huge problem
– Timber, agricultural purposes, cattle ranches
– Economic hardships in areas of rainforests
 Unequal distributions of land

Killing of animals for skins
– Highly prized in Berlin, Paris, Tokyo
Conservation

Proposed: Linden-Lovejoy-Phillips Plan
– Divide natural areas into blocks and get
variety of organizations to support
Big emphasis on protecting the indigenous
people and helping them to preserve their
natural homes
 Various other conservation organizations

– Adopt-a-Rainforest