Download - Tropical rainforest
Tropical RainforestOBJECTIVES
• Describe and explain distribution of tropical rainforest.
• Describe the features of tropical rainforests.
• Describe how tropical rainforest adapt to the environment.
Overview
ADAPTATIONS
PLANTS
STRUCTURE
DISTRIBUTION
TROPICALRAINFOREST
RAINFORESTDISTRIBUTION
Location of tropical rainforests
Location of tropical rainforests
DISTRIBUTION• Found in places between 10°N and 10°S of the
Equator
• Mainly located in Amazon Basin, Congo Basin, and parts of Southeast Asia such as Malaysia and Indonesia.
DISTRIBUTION
DISTRIBUTION• Why?: high temperatures (27°C) and high
rainfall (above 1500mm) throughout the year.
• This promotes abundant plant growth which is typical of tropical rainforests.
RAINFORESTSTRUCTURE
STRUCTURE• 5 distinct layers: Emergent, Canopy,
Understorey, Shrub, Undergrowth
• [You are expected to label/ describe every layer in detail]
STRUCTURE• Emergent:
– 30-50m– Tall trees (Emergent trees)– Tall, thick, straight trunks
• Canopy – 15-30m– Wide, umbrella shaped crowns– Continuous leaf cover called canopy
STRUCTURE• Understorey
– 6-15m– Narrower, oval-shaped crowns (?)– Young trees of canopy, emergent
• Shrub– 5m– Tree saplings, woody plants
STRUCTURE• Undergrowth
– 0-5m– Grasses, ferns, mosses, fungi– Sparse growth (?)
RAINFORESTCHARACTERISTICS
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RAINFORESTFEATURES
#1: Sparse Undergrowth• There is sparse undergrowth in the forest floor
of the tropical rainforest.
• This is because very little sunlight (about one percent) passes through the canopy and reaches the forest floor.
#2: Large Variety • There is a large variety of plants in the tropical
rainforest. It is estimated that rainforests may contain more than 750 species of trees and 1500 species of other plants.
• This is because of consistent high temperature and rainfall throughout the year that promotes plant growth.
#3: Extreme density• Tropical rainforests are extremely dense due to
the presence of a large variety of plant species which can grow in the tropical rainforest.
#4: Evergreen Leaves• Tropical rainforests have evergreen leaves due
to the consistently high rainfall throughout the year.
#5: Large & broad leaves• Tropical rainforests have large and broad
leaves to maximise the surface area for photosynthesis.
#6: Thin & smooth barks• Tropical rainforests have developed thin and
smooth barks because there is no need for protection against cold or dry conditions.
#7: Buttress Roots• Some trees in the tropical rainforest have
buttress roots, which are thick and spread out widely to support the great weight of trees.
RAINFORESTADAPTATIONS
#1: Low Light• The canopy layer prevents sunlight from
reaching the lower layers of the tropical rainforests.
• Some plants such as the epiphytes and lianas have adapted to this low light condition by growing on tree branches.
• Furthermore, these trees have branches only on the top one-third portion of the trunks to get maximum sunlight.
#2: Bacteria Growth • High temperature and high rainfall in the
tropical regions promote rapid growth of bacteria.
• Hence, tropical rainforest have waxy leaves with drip t ips to allow rainwater to drain off easily.
• This prevents harmful bacteria from growing and protects the plants from diseases.
#3: Sti l l air below canopy • The presence of the continuous canopy results
in still air in the layers below it and this does not allow pollination to be carried out by wind.
• Hence, flowers and fruits in the tropical rainforest are colourful and sweet-smelling.
• This attracts insects for pollination and animals for seed dispersal.
#4: Rapid humus formation • High temperatures and rainfall all year round
causes the leaf litter to decompose and form humus rapidly.
• This supplies nutrients to the topsoil, which is the uppermost layer of the soil.
• Hence, the roots of trees in the tropical rainforest are shallow and spread widely to absorb the nutrients present in the topsoil.
RAINFORESTPLANTS
EPIPHYTES• This refers to plants that grown on and use
trees for physical support.
• Rainwater and decaying leaves provide the epiphytes with water and nutrients.
• Example: Bird’s Nest Fern, Orchids
LIANAS• Refers to thick, woody vines that wind around
tree trunks to reach for sunlight
PARASITIC PLANTS• This refers to plants that compete with the host
tree for space, sunlight and nutrients.
• These plants are common in the canopy and understorey layer of the rainforest.
• Example: Strangling Fig
Summary
ADAPTATIONS
PLANTS
STRUCTURE
DISTRIBUTION
TROPICALRAINFOREST