BY: Angelina Spampinato and Allie Sciortino

THE TROPICAL RAINFOREST ANDDEFORESTATION

Diagram of the Tropical Rainforest:

Parts of the Tropical Rainforest:

1. Emergent Layer –These are the giant trees that have

huge mushroom-shaped crowns.–They enjoy the greatest amount of

sunlight, but MUST endure high temperatures with low humidity, and strong winds.

Parts of the Tropical Rainforest(cont.) :

2. Canopy Layer–These trees form a constricted, continuous

canopy 60-90 feet above the ground.–The branches are often covered with other

plants and connected with vines. –The canopy is an abode to 90% of the

organisms found in the rainforest.

Parts of the Tropical Rainforest(cont.) :

3. Understory –Receives only 2-15% of the sunlight that the

canopy attracts–Many popular house plants come from this

layer

Parts of the Tropical Rainforest(cont.) :

4. Forest Floor–Very little grows except plants that adapt to

very low light– It receives less than 2% of the sunlight–Fallen leaves, seeds, fruits, and branches

decompose extremely quickly on the floor

Location:

• Covers 6% of the Earth’s surface • Located around the belt of the equator• Areas include:

– Amazon Basin – Congo and lower regions of Africa– Southeast Asia – Central America– The Queensland Coast–Madagascar

Climate:• Average temperature is more than 20 degrees

Celsius• Temperature ranges from 20-25 degrees

Celsius • Has little variation in day length throughout

the year• Has 250+ cm of rain during the year

Biological Diversity:

• Refers to all of the different kinds of life on Earth

• 50% of all species are found in the tropical rainforests

• Has provided many medicines to treat diseases

Animals:

• A wide variety that adapt to their surroundings

• Use coloring to alert predators of their poison • Camouflage is also used to avoid predators

The Capybara: Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris

• Spends much time in water • Capybaras feed on plant material, including

aquatic plants• Live in family groups • Are active at dawn and dusk

The Chimpanzee:Pan troglodytes

• Has a wide range of sounds and gestures for communication

• They eat plant material (fruit, nuts, leaves, shoots, bark), eggs, and insects

• They climb well but spend most of the time on the ground

Crested Guan Penelope purpurascens

• Primarily tree-living birds• They eat fruits and seeds• While in flight, the bird begins to beat its

wings at twice the normal speed, creating a whirring sound

Vegetation:

• Consists of the plants, jungle trees, and flowers

• Often interacts with animals, birds, and insects• Most leaves have pointed ends so the water

can drip off

Coccoloba:Coccoloba pubescens

• Referred to as “Eve’s Umbrella”

• Can grow up to 80 feet

• Has large, veined ornamental leaves

Peacock Plant:Calathea makoyana

• Well adapted to the low light of the forest floor

• The leaves of the plant fold up at night• It has striking markings on the upper surface

of the leaf

Ylang-Ylang:Cananga odorata

• Located in southeast Asia

• Can grow up to 80 feet• Leaves are used for some of the world’s most

expensive perfumes

Deforestation:

• The removal of a forests where the land is changed to a nonforest use

• Reasons– Farmland– Logging– Road building– Grazing lands– Paper

Deforestation (cont.):

• Population growth intensifies deforestation

• Displaces people of the forest

• We lose important knowledge of plants and animals

Deforestation and the Rainforest:

• Removes vegetation

• 1 ½ acres of land are lost every second

• Deforestation is used for logging, creating grazing land, and firewood

How can WE stop deforestation?:

• Advocating and participating in recycling programs

• Use less paper

• Implementing preventative legislation

• Eat less meat

• REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE!!!!!

Thank you for your time

Works Cited:• Peters, Charles M."Rain forest." World Book Advanced. World

Book,2011. Web. 28 Oct. 2011.• "Rainforest Animals." Rainforest Topics. MGBnet. 2002. Web.

21 October 2011• "Rainforest Facts." Rainforest Facts. Raintree Nutrition, Inc. 20

March 2010. Web. 28 October 2011• "Rainforest Plants." Rainforest Topics. MGBnet. 2002. Web. 21

October 2011• Tiller, Leisa. "Tropical Rainforest Biome." Tropical Rainforest

Biome. Web. 21 October 2011.