Tropical Morphology How Plants Adapt Rain Forest The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Leaf & Stem Structures Adaptation For Survival

About The Author Dr. Paul A. Thomas – Professor of Floriculture – Department of Horticulture – The University of Georgia – Extension Specialist – Really into Photography!

Learning Objectives 1. Recognize that tropical rainforests are highly populated with insects, animals and other life forms that eat plant material to survive. 2. Rainforest plants have several mechanisms to protect themselves from predators! Be able to describe three ways plants can protect themselves and the advantages each strategy has.

Many rainforest animals eat leaves, fruits and other plant parts to survive. m/leafcutter-ants.htm

Insects chew leaves and stem, or harvest parts of the plant to serve as food after being stored underground.

Tree Trunks Can Be Homes For Ants

Some plants or plant parts contain poisonous chemicals that animals and insects can sense. They leave these plants alone. All parts of a Plumeria tree are very poisonous!!

Poisonous Sap from the Plant

Leaf Bases Can Protect Young Palms

Thick Bark Can Deter Herbivores

Spines Work Well To Ward Off Predation

Costa Rica

Summary There are quite a few strategies plants can take advantage of to prevent or survive being eaten, including rapid growth, synergistic relationships, poisonous leaves, stems or poisonous sap, thick leaf bases, thick bark and spines and needles. Can you think of other physical protection mechanisms other plants use to ward off animals and insects that might try to eat the plant?

Assessment Opportunity Suggest why some plants might possess leaves that are poisonous, but generate fruit that is not poisonous? What would be the advantage if that was reversed, and the fruit was poisonous? Draw an example of a protective strategy you have learned about here. What is the key feature that imparts the protection?

For Future Exploration s_plants s_plants species.blogspot.com/2008/04/where-does- cork-come-from.html species.blogspot.com/2008/04/where-does- cork-come-from.html cactus/rainforest-cacti/ cactus/rainforest-cacti/