rainforest- what are they? what do they look like?
DESCRIPTION
An introduction to the characteristics of a rainforest with original photos by Carole Hinding.TRANSCRIPT
RainforestsIn Australia and worldwide.
What do they look like?Tropical rainforest is a vegetation class consisting of tall, close-growing trees with fewer branches in the trunk, and form a flat crown. They grow in areas of high temperature and high rainfall.
The tall trees have long branches that branch out over areas greater than 30 metres. Because the weather is hot and wet, trees do not need thick bark to slow down moisture loss and have instead thin, smooth bark.The layers of rainforest are connected by vines and ferns, and mosses grow on the trees. Liana is a climbing vine that grows on rainforest trees, climbing into the canopy so its leaves get more sunlight.
Climbing vines
Moss on trunk
The forest floor is where decomposition takes place. Decomposition is the process by which fungi and microorganisms break down dead plants and animals and recycle essential materials and nutrients.
Understoreyrefers to plant life growing beneath the forest canopy without penetrating it to any extent. Plants in the understorey comprise an assortment of seedlings and saplings of canopy trees together with specialist understorey shrubs and herbs.
The emergent layer contains a small number of very large trees called emergents, which grow above the general canopy, reaching heights of 45–55 m, although on occasion a few species will grow to 70–80 m tall. They need to be able to withstand the hot temperatures and strong winds that occur above the canopy in some areas.
Water- the great sustainer of life in the rainforest. They are the veins and arteries of the rainforest ecosystem.
Oecophylla smaragdina (common names include weaver ant, green ant, green tree ant, and orange gaster) is a species of arboreal ant found in Asia and Australia. They make nests in trees made of leaves stitched together using the silk produced by their larvae.
About 150 species of phasmids are found in Australia. They usually live in gum trees. When disturbed, a phasmid may sway, imitating a dead leaf or stick swaying in the breeze.
There are hundreds of tarantula species found in most of the world's tropical, subtropical, and arid regions. They vary in colour and behaviour according to their specific environments. Generally, tarantulas are burrowers that live in the ground.
Scorpions are common arachnids found in gardens and forests throughout Australia. They are found under logs, rocks and in shallow burrows in earth banks.
Golden-Orb Spider
The females build large webs, in open areas often high in forests.
