BELL WORK

Do you have an effect on the

Tropical Rainforests?

If yes, how?

If no, why not?

BIOME: Forest; Tropical Rainforest

LAYERS OF A RAINFOREST

                                                                                

EMERGENT LAYERThe tallest trees are the emergent's, towering as much as 200 feet above the forest floor with trunks that measure up to 16 feet around.   Most of these trees are broad-leaved, hardwood evergreens. Sunlight is plentiful up here.  Animals found are eagles, monkeys, bats and butterflies.

                                                                                

CANOPY LAYERThis is the primary layer of the forest and forms a roof over the two remaining layers.   Most canopy trees have smooth, oval leaves that come to a point. It's a maze of leaves and branches.  Many animals live in this area since food is abundant.   Those animals include: snakes, toucans and tree frogs.

                                                                                

UNDERSTORY LAYERLittle sunshine reaches this area so the plants have to grow larger leaves to reach the sunlight.   The plants in this area seldom grow to 12 feet.  Many animals live here including jaguars, red-eyed tree frogs and leopards.  There is a large concentration of insects here.

                                                                                

FOREST FLOORIt's very dark down here.  Almost no plants grow in this area, as a result.  Since hardly any sun reaches the forest floor things begin to decay quickly.  A leaf that might take one year to decompose in a regular climate will disappear in  6 weeks.   Giant anteaters live in this layer.

http://store.discoveryeducation.com/?di=40588027&ti=9000003&ps=879841

Where are the Tropical Rainforests?

Interesting Facts:Interesting Facts:

25% of Western 25% of Western pharmaceuticals pharmaceuticals

are derived from rainforestare derived from rainforestingredientsingredients

Less that 1% of these Less that 1% of these tropical trees and plants tropical trees and plants have been tested by have been tested by scientistsscientists

Shrinking RainforestsShrinking Rainforests

Rainforests once covered 14% of the earth's land surface; now they cover 6%

MORE THAN HALFMORE THAN HALF of the world's plant and animal species in of the world's plant and animal species in

the Tropical Rainforest the Tropical Rainforest

Rainforest EffectRainforest EffectDo you have any Do you have any

effect on the effect on the Tropical Tropical

Rainforest?Rainforest?

Oil Palm TreeOil is extracted from the seeds

Native to Africa

Cultivated in Asia.

As of 2007, palm oil is the most widely produced vegetable oil in the world.

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-palm-oil.htm

Palm (kernel) Oil

Other names for Palm Oil:

Sodium Lauryl SulfateSodium Laureth SulfateAmmonium Lauryl Sulfate

A Rainforest Project

An example from

Ted Talks

Sources:Sources:

ZoomSchool

Mongabay

Wisegeek

YouTube

Caltech

• EXIT PASSEXIT PASS

Do you have an effect on the Tropical Rainforests?

If yes, how? If no, why not?