Terrestrial biomes

Forest Biomes Of all the biomes in the world, forest biomes are the most widespread and are home to the greatest diversity of plants, animals, and other organisms. Trees need a lot of water, so forests exist where precipitation is plentiful.

Terrestrial biomes Tropical Rain Forests

Tropical Rain Forests

Tropical Rain Forests Tropical rain forests are located in a belt around the Earth near the equator: Latitude: 20o North Latitude: 20o South

Tropical Rain Forests The climate is ideal for a wide variety of plants and animals, such as: Rafflessia keithii Flower Scarlet Macaw Dipterocarpaceae Trees Trees with “drip tip” leaves Glasswing Butterflies Mountain Gorilla Blue-jeans Dart Frog Coati

Tropical Rain Forests These forest biomes help regulate world climate and play vital roles in the nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon cycles. Tropical rain forests are always humid and warm and get about 200 to 450 centimeters of rain each year. Because they are near the equator, tropical rain forests get strong sunlight year-round and maintain a relatively constant temperature year-round. The warm, wet conditions also nourish more species of plants than any other biome does.

Tropical Rain Forests Where do you think most of the nutrients are found in a tropical rain forest: the soil or the plants?

Tropical Rain Forests Most of the nutrients are found in the plants! Organic matter decays quickly in hot, wet conditions, so decomposers can break down material and return nutrients to the soil very fast. The soil is not very rich, though, because the plants quickly absorb any nutrients that are put into the soil! Most tropical soils that are cleared of plants for agriculture lack nutrients and cannot support crops for more than a few years!

Layers of the Rain Forest

Layers of the Rain Forest Emergent Layer – top layer; consists of the tallest tress, which reach heights of 60 to 70 meters (~200-230 feet) Trees in this layer grow and emerge into direct sunlight Canopy – main layer of the rain forest; trees in the canopy can grow more than 30 meters tall (~100 feet). Form a dense layer that absorbs up to 95% of sunlight. Epiphytes, which are plants that grow on the sides of trees, live in the canopy Also, most animals in the rain forest live here because of the flowers and fruits that grow in the canopy.

Layers of the Rain Forest Understory – Trees and shrubs that are adapted to shade grow here because very little light reaches this layer. Most plants here do not grow higher than 3.5 meters tall. Forest floor – Herbs with large, flat leaves grow on the forest floor. These plants capture the small amount of sunlight that penetrates the understory. Most common house-plants are native to tropical rain forest floors. Why?

Animals of the Tropical Rain Forest This biome has the greatest amount of species diversity. The diversity of rain forest vegetation has led to the evolution of a diverse community of animals. ***Look on page 159 in your book to find typical adaptations of rain forest animals.***

Threats to the Tropical Rain Forest Tropical rain forests once covered about 20% of the Earth. Today, they only cover about 7%. Every minute of every day, 100 acres of tropical rain forest are cleared for logging, agriculture, or oil exploration. Habitat destruction occurs when land inhabited by an organism is destroyed or altered. Many plant species found only in tropical rain forests are valuable and marketable to industries. Animals are threatened by exotic-pet trading. Some exotic pet traders illegally trap animals, such as parrots, and sell them in pet stores at high prices.

Tropical Rain Forest Now, it’s time to fill out the climatogram in your packet!