All About All About RainforestsRainforests

A Powerpoint Presentation by A Powerpoint Presentation by Mrs.MeadowsMrs.Meadows

What is a tropical What is a tropical rainforest?rainforest?

Rainforests are rich and wonderful worlds. Rainforests are rich and wonderful worlds. They are filled with tall trees, strange animals, They are filled with tall trees, strange animals, giant bugs, and amazing plants. The largest giant bugs, and amazing plants. The largest flowers in the world grow in the rainforests. The flowers in the world grow in the rainforests. The smallest frogs and the biggest spiders live in the smallest frogs and the biggest spiders live in the rainforests, too! rainforests, too!

Rainforests have year round warmth and plenty Rainforests have year round warmth and plenty of rainfall. Rainforests can get 60-70 inches of of rainfall. Rainforests can get 60-70 inches of rain a year and the temperatures of a rainforest rain a year and the temperatures of a rainforest are usually between 70-80 degrees year round.are usually between 70-80 degrees year round.

Where are tropical Where are tropical rainforests located?rainforests located?

Tropical rainforests are located all around the Tropical rainforests are located all around the world. Almost all rainforests lie near the world. Almost all rainforests lie near the equator. (The imaginary line that runs all around equator. (The imaginary line that runs all around the middle of the earth.) They are located in the middle of the earth.) They are located in Africa, Asia, Central and South America, and on Africa, Asia, Central and South America, and on islands in the Pacific Ocean. islands in the Pacific Ocean.

The largest tropical rainforest is the Amazon The largest tropical rainforest is the Amazon Rainforest in South America. The Amazon Rainforest in South America. The Amazon rainforest is bigger than the states off Texas, rainforest is bigger than the states off Texas, California, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, Arizona, Oregon, Minnesota, and Alaska combined!Oregon, Minnesota, and Alaska combined!

Why are rainforests Why are rainforests important?important?

Tropical rainforests have more kinds of trees Tropical rainforests have more kinds of trees than any other area in the world. In the Amazon than any other area in the world. In the Amazon Rainforest, scientists have counted about 280 Rainforest, scientists have counted about 280 kinds of trees in just a 2 ½ acre area. (An acre is kinds of trees in just a 2 ½ acre area. (An acre is equal to about 2 ½ football fields.) Most forests equal to about 2 ½ football fields.) Most forests of this size in the U.S. have fewer than 7 species. of this size in the U.S. have fewer than 7 species. Also, more than half of the world’s species of Also, more than half of the world’s species of plants and animals live in tropical rainforests.plants and animals live in tropical rainforests.

One of the most important reasons tropical One of the most important reasons tropical rainforests are so important to us is that half of rainforests are so important to us is that half of the medicines in the world used everyday come the medicines in the world used everyday come from rainforest plants. In addition, products we from rainforest plants. In addition, products we use everyday come from rainforests resources.use everyday come from rainforests resources.

What does a tropical What does a tropical rainforest look like?rainforest look like?

A tropical rainforest looks like a building with A tropical rainforest looks like a building with several different floors. The floors are called several different floors. The floors are called layers. Each layer is home for different kinds layers. Each layer is home for different kinds of plants and creatures. The four layers of a of plants and creatures. The four layers of a rainforest are:rainforest are:

1. Emergent Layer1. Emergent Layer 2. Canopy Layer2. Canopy Layer 3. Understory Layer3. Understory Layer 4. Forest Layer4. Forest Layer

A Emergent Layer

B. Canopy Layer

D. Forest Floor

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

C. Understory Layer

What does each layer of What does each layer of a rainforest look like?a rainforest look like?

The The emergent layeremergent layer is top level of a rainforest. The emergent is top level of a rainforest. The emergent level consists of the few trees that grow even taller than the level consists of the few trees that grow even taller than the canopy trees in the second layer. The distance from the ground canopy trees in the second layer. The distance from the ground to the top of an emergent tree can be greater than the height of a to the top of an emergent tree can be greater than the height of a 14 story building. Harpy eagles live in the tops of the emergent 14 story building. Harpy eagles live in the tops of the emergent trees.trees.

The The canopy layercanopy layer is right below the emergent layer. The tops is right below the emergent layer. The tops of the trees in a rainforest form the canopy. The canopy is like of the trees in a rainforest form the canopy. The canopy is like living under a big green umbrella. In most rainforests, the canopy living under a big green umbrella. In most rainforests, the canopy is more than 100 feet above the ground. The canopy is noisy. is more than 100 feet above the ground. The canopy is noisy. Most of the animals in a rainforest live here. Many of these Most of the animals in a rainforest live here. Many of these animals live their whole life in the canopy and never touch the animals live their whole life in the canopy and never touch the ground.ground.

The third level of a rainforest is the understory later. The third level of a rainforest is the understory later. The understory is dark and shadowy because the The understory is dark and shadowy because the leaves of the canopy are so close together that only a leaves of the canopy are so close together that only a tiny bit of sun shines through. The trees here are not tiny bit of sun shines through. The trees here are not very tall. Several different wild cats live here along with very tall. Several different wild cats live here along with snakes, monkeys owls, and bats.snakes, monkeys owls, and bats.

The bottom layer of a rain forest is the The bottom layer of a rain forest is the forest floorforest floor. . It is very dark and quiet. The ground is covered with It is very dark and quiet. The ground is covered with rotting leaves. A few ferns and bushes grow among rotting leaves. A few ferns and bushes grow among the giant trunks of the canopy trees. The animals living the giant trunks of the canopy trees. The animals living here are quiet. Jaguars prowl silently, looking for food here are quiet. Jaguars prowl silently, looking for food and snakes slither over the tree roots. Millions of and snakes slither over the tree roots. Millions of insects creep through the dead leaves. insects creep through the dead leaves.