tropical rain forest group 7

8/3/2019 Tropical Rain Forest Group 7

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TROPICAL RAINFOREST

- Forest of tall trees in a region of year-round warmth.

An average of 50 to 260 inches (125 to 660 cm.) ofrain falls yearly.

- The temperature- higher than 93 °F (34 °C) or drops

below 68 °F (20 °C); average humidity is between 77

and 88%; rainfall is often more than 100 inches a year.



Rainforests now cover lessthan 6% of Earth's land surface.

Tropical rainforests produce

40% of Earth's oxygen.

A tropical rain forest has more

kinds of trees than any other

area in the world.

About 1/4 of all the medicines

we use come from rainforest

plants.



Home to a huge number of different plants

and animals. All tropical rainforests are

endangered.

There are four layers of rainforest:

(emergent, upper canopy,

understory/lower canopy, forest floor)



Tropical rainforests are found between latitudes 10° N and 10° S.

This includes the Amazon Basin of South America, the Zaire Basinof Africa and the islands and peninsulas of South-east Asia.

In Southeast Asia, the tropical rainforests are found in India,

Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Burma andPapua New Guinea.

Zaire basin in Africa contains the largest patch of Tropical

Rainforest in Africa and about one-tenth of the world·s rainforest.



South East Asia Australia Africa

NOTE : The distribution of T.R.F is indicated by green areas

distribution of the tropical rainforest in S.E.A, is indicated by the green areas

distribution of the tropical rainforest in S.E.A, is indicated by the green areas

The distribution of the tropical rainforest in S.E.A, is indicated by the green areas



In Southeast Asia, the tropical rainforests are found in India,Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Burma and Papua

New Guinea.

India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are in small patches and strips,

Indonesia contains one-tenth of the world·s rainforest and 40% of allAsian rainforests.

About four-fifths of Malaysia are covered by tropical rainforest. But

now has lost about two third of its lowland forest to plantations.

Papua New Guinea still has areas of rainforest yet to be disturbed,due to its mountainous terrain. Papua New Guinea is home to many

amazing animals, one being the largest

butterfly in the world; the

Queen Alexandra·s birdwing.Its wing span can reach up to

10 inches wide!



About four-fifths of Malaysia are covered by tropical rainforest. But

now has lost about two third of its lowland forest to plantations.

Rainforest Malaysia located near equator are blessed with tropicalrainforest.

Tropical Rainforest Malaysia also known as tropical moist broadleaf

forest

Lowland tropical rainforests, are forests which receive high rainfall(more than 2000 mm, or 80 inches, annually) throughout the year.

Tropical Rainforest Malaysia are mostly dominated by trees from

the Dipterocarpaceae family.



Rainfall occur along year

comprise about 160,000 of the estimated

250,000 species of plants on Earth

Mostly have buttress root, large leaves inlower layer & drip tips

Exceptionally thin bark ² 1 to 2 mm thick

Large fleshy fruits attract birds, mammals,

and even fish as dispersal agents



Banyan tree Talipot palm Peacock plant

Giant bamboo



Emergent Layer

Top layer

Tallest tree (200 feet above) with around 16 feet

trunks Broad-leaved, hardwood evergreens

Small, pointed and waxy leaves ² more exposed

to drying wind

Shallow root system , buttress root to protectagainst strong wind

Their seeds spread all over the forest



Get greatest amount of sunlight but also must endure

high temperatures, low humidity & strong winds Most of animal found never touch the ground

Kapok tree



They eat: Fruits, insects, lizards,

small birds, eggs, berries, androdents.

Enemies (Predators): Humans, largerbirds, alligators, and jaguars.

Interesting Facts:

o live in the holes of decayed treeso bill is frightening to other birds and

small animals

o 2 toes forward and 2 toes backwardsto gives an excellent grip on trees

o Feathered tongue

o one of the noisiest birds in the world

o blind when born & open their eyesaround 3 weeks.

Toucan



They eat: The juice from dyingfruits and flowers.

Enemies (Predators): Birds, bigbugs, big insects, and humans.

Interesting Facts:o Spends the night hanging from

trees or the underside of leaves.o Folds up bright wings when sleeps

o 17 kinds of Morpho butterflies

o Some have tan & white wings mosthave blue wings

o It loves to sit in the sun

o lives for only a short time, from afew days to about 8 months.

Morpho butterfly



Canopy Layer

Layer under emergent, umbrella shaped 60 to 130 foot trees

Accept 80% of sunlight and leaves aredense

Higher photosynthesis rate yieldmore fruits, seeds, flowers and leaves ²attract and support a wide diversity ofanimal life

Bromeliads ² cup like plant provide drinkingpool for animal & breeding location for treefrogs



Branches often densely covered withother plants (epiphytes) and tiedtogether with vines (lianas)

Leaves - smooth, oval leaves that come

to a point & form drip tips allow waterflow off the leaves to prevent mosses &fungi growth

Provides shelter under trees from harsh

weather Most rainforest·s animal stay in thislayer



Tree frog

Macaw

Spider monkey



Understory Layer (low canopy)

Known as shrub layer

60 foot trees

Receiving only 2-15% of the sunlight

Have large broad leave to absorb light

BANANA TREEThe bananas that we eat grow on trees in

the understory layer rainforest. This tree has very

largeleaves. This is so the leaves can capture as

much sunlight as possible.



Made up of the trunks of canopy trees, shrubs,

plants, small young trees and leafy herbaceous

plants

Little air movement because have thick layer ²

humidity is constantly high

Constant shade stage



Rely on insects & animals to pollinate their flower

Home to a number of birds, snakes and lizards as well

as predators such as jaguars, boa

constrictors and leopards

CAPUCHIN MONKEY

The capuchin is a small monkey. It is

usually dark brown or black.

They also like to eat the liquid

from inside a cacao pod. Capuchins findshelter in the branches and

leaves of branches in the understory.



Forest Floor Layer

Lowest layer with mud & dirt, completely shaded

Receives less than 2% of the sunlight ² less plant grow &

few bushes or herbs can grow

Person can easily walk through most parts of a tropical

rain forest Important part of the forest ecosystem

Decomposition ² leaves fall & dead animals (nutrient)



Decomposers such as millipedes & earthworms use these

nutrients for food Tree root absorb the nutrient

Many of the largest rainforest animals & thousand of

other plant & animal are found



There are so many creatures living in the rainforest. So,

there is a great deal of competition for food, sunlight and

space. Some animals became very specialized

They adapted to eat a specific plant or animal that few

others eat.

For example, parrots and toucans eat nuts, and developedbig strong beaks to crack open the tough shells of Brazil

nuts.

Leafcutter ants climb tall trees and cut small pieces of

leaves and carry it back to their nest. The leaf is about 50times their weight. The ants bury the leaf pieces, and the

combination of the leaves and the ants' saliva encourages

the growth of a fungus, which is the only food these ants

eat.



Animal use camouflage to 'disappear' in the

rainforest.

Examples : Stick insects, butterflies whose wings

look like leaves.

Camouflage is useful for predators -can catch prey

that hasn't seen them. Example :The Boa

Constrictor.

three-toed sloth uses camouflage and amazing

slowness to escape predators. Green algae grows in

the sloth's fur, which helps camouflage it in the

forest canopy. other adaptations. snail-like pace

movement; it is one of the slowest-moving animals

on earth. Predators, do not notice the sloth as it

hangs quietly in the trees, high up in the canopy.



Poisonous animals-use bright colors to warn predators to

leave them alone. Brightly colored poison arrow frogs.

Special features : exp- The Woolly SpiderMonkey ²can do

wonderful acrobat which can leap six metres from tree to

tree. Has a special tail that can be used like a hand to hang

from trees or to reach out for fruit (called a prehensile tail).



In drier temperate deciduous forests a thick

bark helps to limit moisture evaporation

from the tree's trunk.

Since this is not a concern in the highhumidity of tropical rainforests, most trees

have a thin, smooth bark. The smoothness of

the bark may also make it difficult for other

plants to grow on their surface.



Lianas are climbing woody vines that drape

rainforest trees.

They have adapted to life in the rainforest by

having their roots in the ground and climbinghigh into the tree canopy to reach available

sunlight.

Many lianas start life in the rainforest canopy

and send roots down to the ground.



The leaves of forest trees have adapted to

cope with exceptionally high rainfall.

Many tropical rainforest leaves have a drip

tip. These drip tips enable rain drops to runoff quickly.

Plants need to shed water to avoid growth of

fungus and bacteria in the warm, wet

tropical rainforest.



Many large trees have massive ridges near

the base that can rise 30 feet high before

blending into the trunk.

Why do they form? Buttress roots provideextra stability, especially since roots of

tropical rainforest trees are not typically as

deep as those of trees in temperate zones.



Prop and stilt roots help give support and are

characteristic of tropical palms growing in

shallow, wet soils.

Although the tree grows fairly slowly, theseabove-ground roots can grow 28 inches a

month.



Plants that live on the surface of other

plants, especially the trunk and branches.

They grow on trees to take advantage of the

sunlight in the canopy. Most are orchids,bromeliads, ferns, and Philodendron

relatives.

Tiny plants called epiphylls, mostly mosses,

liverworts and lichens, live on the surface ofleaves.



Some grow in the ground, like pineapple, but most

species grow on the branches of trees.

Their leaves form a vase or tank that holds water.

Small roots anchor plants to supporting branches,and their broad leaf bases form a water-holding

tank or cup. The tank's capacity ranges from half a

pint to 12 gallons or more.

The tanks support a thriving eco-system of bacteria,protozoa, tiny crustaceans, mosquito and dragonfly

larvae, tadpoles, birds, salamanders and frogs.



On tropical deltas and along ocean edges and

river estuaries, trees have adapted to living

in wet, marshy conditions. These trees,

called mangroves, have wide-spreading stiltroots that support the trees in the tidal mud

and trap nutritious organic matter.



Pitcher plant vines in the family Nepenthaceae haveleaves that form a pitcher, complete with a lid.

Sweet or foul-smelling nectar in the pitcher attracts

insects, especially ants and flies, that lose their

grip on the slick sides and fall into the liquid.Downward-pointing hairs inside the pitcher prevent

the insects' escape. The insects are digested by the

plants and provide nutrients. Pitcher plants are not

epiphytes but climbers rooted in the soil.



1. Logging

- For their timber

- felling selected tree,

tears down with itclimbers, vines, epiphytes

& Lianas.

- extreme soil disturbance

by building of roads.

2. Agriculture ² shifted

cultivators

People moves into rainforest

& established small-scalefarming operations.

3. Agriculture ² cash crops &

cattle Ranching

- Undisturbed and logged

rainforest areas are beingtotally cleared to provide

land for food crops, tree

plantations or for grazing

cattle (Colchester &

Lohmann).

4. Fuelwood

- The United Nation's Food

and Agriculture

Organisation estimates that'1.5 billion of the 2 billion

people worldwide who rely

on fuelwood for cooking

and heating are overcutting

forests'.

5. Large dams

- Downstream ecosystems are

damaged by dams which trap

silt, holding back valuable

nutrients.

6. Mining & industry

- Lead to direct forest loss

due to clearing of land to

establish projects.



1. For all purposes forwhich tropical timber is

used, other woods ormaterials could be

substituted.

2. Land reform is essential ifthis problem is to be

addressed.

3.Reducing the demand forSouthern-produced

agribusiness crops and

alleviating the pressure fromexternally-financed

development projects andassistance

4. involve a return to localpeoples' control of theforests they depend on.

5. Aid organisations like theWorld Bank have traditionally

favoured spectacular large-scale irrigation and hydro-electric projects.

6. Local campaigns againstmining and industrialdevelopment, and the

campaigns to reform thelarge aid agencies which

fund such schemes, shouldbe supported.

Ways to preserve

and conserve



Economic and Medical values



Avocado

Macadamia nuts

BreadfruitManioc/tapiocaBrazil nuts

Mayonnaise (coconut oil)

Cane sugar (Saccharin officious, indigenous to the Far East)

Okra

CassavaPapaya

Chayote

Passion fruit

Chewing gum (chicle latex)

Plantain

Eucalyptus oil (cough drops, perfumes)

Star anise

Guava

Tolu balsam oil (cough drops, confections, soap, cosmetics)

Hearts of palm

Vermouth (cascarilla oil)



Teak

Rosewood

Sandalwood

Mahogany Balsa



Anthurium

Philodendron

Bromelaids

Rubber trees (F icus sp.)

CrotonSanserveria

Dieffenbachia

Schefflera

Dracena

SpathiphullumFiddle-leaf fig

Swiss Cheese Plant

Parlor Ivy

Zebra Plant



Bay Oil-Perfumes

Camphor Oil-Perfumes, soap, disinfectant, deodorant

Cascarilla Oil-Confections, beverages

Coconut Oil-Suntan lotion, candles

Eucalyptus Oil-Perfumes, cough drops

Guaic Oil-Perfumes

Palm Oil-Shampoo, detergents

Patchouli Oil-Perfumes

Rosewood Oil-Perfumes, cosmetics, flavorings

Sandalwood Oil-Perfumes

Oil of Star-Anise-Scenting, confections, beverages, coughdrops

Tola Balsam Oi-lConfections, soaps, cosmetics, cough drops

Ylang-ylang-Perfumes



Chicle latex-Chewing gum

Copaiba-Perfumes, fuel

Copal-Paints and varnishes

Gutta percha-Golf ball covers

Rubber latex-Rubber products

Tung oil-Wood finishing



TRF are called ¶the world largest pharmacy·

- Due to the large amount of natural medicines

discovered.

Examples:roots of climber (Chondrodendron

tomentosum)- muscle relaxant in surgery

leaves of Erythroxylum coca- cocaine

yam (Dioscorea)- diosgenin (steroid)



roots of a shrub (Rauvolfia)- reserpine to reduce high BP and

treat mental illness

seeds of Moreton Bay Chestnut (Castanospermum australe)

from Australia TRF -discovered to contain drug that might

help combat AIDS.

Chemical (emitine) in Cephaelis ipecacuanha- induce

vomiting from swallowed poisonous or harmful substances.

More than 1400 varieties of TRF plants- potentially to cure

cancers.



Annato-Red dye

Curare-Muscle relaxant for surgery

Diogenin-Arthritis and Asthma treatments,

steroids, birth control pills, sex hormonesQuassia-Insecticide

Quinine-Anti-malarial treatment, pneumoniatreatment

Reserpine-Sedative, tranquilizerStrophanthus-Heart disease

Strychnine-Emetic, stimulant

Tuba root-Rotenone, flea dip

tropical rain forest group 7

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