Tropical Rainforest

By Ryan AsensioLoryn SmithMolly Jerzy

A.k.a Wet Equatorial / lowland equatorial evergreen rainforest / tropical moist broadleaf forest

LocationQueensland National Parks (NE Australia)

ClimateAverage

Temperature: 70FPrecipitation: 103 in (262 cm)

Influences on climate: Position of sunEarth’s rotation (Winds)

Iquitos, Peru

Plant AdaptationBromeliads

Waxy leavesLeaves

arranged in bowl

Release CO2 at night to conserve H2O

Kapok TreeTall to catch

sunlightSpines from

trunk to discourage damage

Plank-like buttresses

EpiphytesAttach to

canopy trees to get sunlight

Absorb moisture from air

Get nutrients from dust

Animal AdaptationToco Toucan

Wide tail for balance

Bill disperses heat

Nest in holes in trees

Proboscis MonkeyNose used to

amplify “honks”Long arms to

move about trees

Complex stomach to digest leaves

Two-toed slothClaws to grip

treesAlgae grows in

grooves of hairComplex

stomach to digest leaves

SOIL AND CHEMICAL CYCLING YEAH!Soil quality is very poor

1-2 inches humus, beneath is clayOrganic matter is broken down and reabsorbed

quicklyWater quality

Nutrients low (high demand of orgs.)High B.O.D (concentrated # of orgs.)

Economic Value SlideMedicinal value

37% of prescribed in U.S.<5% tested for medicinal value

CO2 absorption (1 ton/ha)Oxygen production

20% from Amazon basin

FRUITS! Yeah!3,000 types of fruit (estimated)Only 200 used in U.S.

Human DisturbanceClearing for farmland (poor soil->erosion)

Subsistence & commercialHydroelectric Dams

Brazil- causes floodingPollutionUrbanizationHunting/PoachingAlien SpeciesTourism

EEEEK! DEFORESTATION!

http://rainforests.mongabay.com/deforestation_alpha.html

Works Citedhttp://www.mongabay.com/images/worldmap.

gif (pictures)

http://www.sci.uidaho.edu/scripter/geog100/lect/06-climates/low-lat-climates/7-7-wet-equatorial-equitos-peru.htm

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.orghttp://www.rainforestconservation.org/article

s/rainforest_primer/1.htmlhttp://www.abcarticledirectory.com/Article/Th

e-Rainforest-And-You--The-Benefits-We-Get-From-The-Rainforest/52520

http://jrscience.wcp.muohio.edu/fieldcourses03/OutlinecostaricaArticles/MedicinalUsesoftheRainfor.html

http://rainseed.com/fruits.htm

Bengal Tiger

Panthera tigris tigris

Characteristics

Located: The Bengal Tiger is mostly found in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhuton, and Burma.

Characteristics cont’d…Range: They will travel

several miles to find prey and will also stray from their marked territory for it.

Migrate?: NoDisperse?: Between 18

months and 2 years the Bengal Tiger cubs will leave their mother and find their own territory.

Characteristics cont’d…Niche: The Bengal Tiger is the largest cat

and a territorial predator.

Characteristics cont’d…Eating Habits: Bengal Tigers are equipped

to hunt down and kill their pray fast. Their eating habits range from termites to elephant calves but they mainly eat prey weighing in 45lbs. For example, tapirs, hog deer, takin, etc.

Characteristics cont’dHow do they live?:

Bengal Tigers are nocturnal. They are also very solitary and do not like to share hunting grounds and they need large home ranges in which to hunt.

Tigers usually have several dens within their home ranges and uses whichever one is more convenient.

Characteristics cont’d…Habitat: The Bengal Tiger primary lives in

mangrove forests in India and Bangladesh.Size/conditions needed: The Bengal Tiger’s

territory is about 250 miles in size. They also need an ample food supply to properly mate and feed their young.

Causes of EndangermentThe Bengal Tiger is

endangered because of man. Poachers hunt tigers for their fur and different body parts which are sold illegally in markets.

Bengal Tigers are believed to have mystical, magical powers by ancient cultures and that is another reason why poachers still hunt them today.

Level of EndangermentTheir current level of endangerment is that

the Bengal Tiger is endangered.It is at a high risk because even though there

was a law passed to help protect the tigers, they are still getting killed by humans everyday.

There are about 1,800 tigers left.

Status of Bengal TigersIndia has an extensive conservation program

at the Corbett National Park, where there are over 100 Bengal Tigers.

Tiger conservation programs are also in place in Ranthambore National Park, and Kanha National Park in India. Along with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), India has set up "Project Tiger" a nationwide project to help the preservation and conservation of tigers in the wild.

Endangered Species

Act

-Came into effect in 1973-The United States authorized it when President Richard Nixon

signed it on December 28, 1973.

Provisions of the law:

1-authorizes the determination and listing of species as endangered and threatened2-prohibits unauthorized taking, possession, sale, and transport of endangered species3-provides authority to acquire land for the conservation of listed species, using land and water conservation funds4-authorizes establishment of cooperative agreements and grants-in-aid to States that establish and maintain active and adequate programs for endangered and threatened wildlife and plants5-authorizes the assessment of civil and criminal penalties for violating the Act or regulations6-authorizes the payment of rewards to anyone furnishing information leading to arrest and conviction for any violation of the Act or any regulation issued there under

Enforcement of the law:

-Who enforces the law? -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)-- The National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS)

- How is the law Enforced? - you could be arrested without warrant for any violations to this law

Changes to the law:

The list of endangered species is always changing. Animals can go from being endangered to being

perfectly fine, and some can go from being fine to endangered, we’ll never know what is going to

happen next

How this law applies to our endangered species…

The Bengal Tiger = ENDANGERED!