J Mill & Big D Tropical Rainforest

Topical Rainforest Tropical rainforests cover about 6% of the Earth's total land surface. They are mainly located around the belt at the equator. The climate of the rainforest is warm most of the year and has a lot of rain through most of the year. The climate is perfect for animals and plant growth. Even though the rainforests cover such a little amount of land mass of the Earth, they are home to the largest number of plant and animal species in such a concentrated area. Scientists believe that the tropical rainforests of the world might hold up to ninety percent of the plant and animal species on earth.

RAINFALL An average of 50 to 260 inches (125 to 660 cm.) of rain falls yearly. The rainfall is year round but there is usually a brief season of less rain.

Plants 1.Bromeliads- grow in the ground like pineapple, but most species grow on branches. Form a vase type leaf to capture water. Can hold up to 12 gallons or more of water. 2.Epiphytes- live on the surface of other plants like trunks and branches. Take advantage of the sunlight in the canopy. (live off other plants) 3.Lianas- climbing woody vines that drape the rainforest. Their roots are in the ground and the vine climbs to the tree canopy to find sunlight. 4.Mangroves- live along ocean edges and river estuaries. They have adapted to living in wet, marshy conditions. Have wide- spreading stilt roots that support the trees in the tidal mud.

Plants

The Nepenthes The nepenthes is known as a pitcher plant, complete with a lid. Sweet or foul- smelling nectar in the pitcher attracts the insects (especially ants and flies) that lose their grip on the sides of the slick plant and fall into the liquid. Hairs at the bottom on the plant prevent an escape for the insects along with the lid. They are later digested and provide nutrients for the plant.

Herbivores 1. The Capybara is a large South American rodent. It is semi- aquatic. Capybaras are herbivores and feed on a variety of plant materials, including grasses, reeds and even bark. 2. The Asian Elephant eat prodigious amounts of vegetation to sustain their large bodies. 3. Gorillas are almost completely herbivores, with invertebrates like insects making up an infinitesimal part of their diets. They at leaves, shoots, stems, roots and bark 4. Okapis use their long, dexterous tongues to pull the leaves off of plants in the rain forest 5. The Sloth is another animal of the rainforest that is also a herbivore.

Herbivores

Carnivores Boa Constrictors- snakes that live in the tropical rainforest and usually feed off of small animals or rodents Red Eyed Tree Frogs- despise their looks they are not venomous. Their diet mostly is made up of insects Cats- In South America's Amazon rain forest, the top feline predator is the jaguar. It preys on monkeys, tapir and deer, and has jaws powerful enough to break through a turtle's shell. Crocodiles- Crocodiles are found in many places in the rainforest. They feed on fish and have been known to kill humans Eagles- One of the world's largest eagles inhabits the rain forests of South America. They prey on monkeys and sloths.

Carnivores

Bamboo Cassava Bamboo Shrub's Epiphyte Bromeliads Colobus Monkey, Bats, Sloth, Lemurs, Opposum Snakes, Toucan, Scorpians, Spiders, Ant Eater Sumatran Rhino Loris Tiger Jaguar

Predator Prey One example of Predator and Prey is a frog and an alligator. The Alligator as the predator and the frog as the prey. Alligators have a wide variety of food sources but one includes frogs.

Parasitism Strangler Fig -The strangler fig starts out life growing on a branch of a tree. It grows both downwards towards the ground and upwards to the sky, while also winding around the tree. The strangler fig kills the tree by stealing sunlight and root space after enveloping it.

Mutualism Leaf cutter ants and fungus are an example of this relationship. The ants protect the fungi from pests and mold and also feed it with small pieces of leaves. The ants keep their larvae in the fungi which protects it and feeds it

Competition In the dense tropical rainforests, there is fierce competition for sunlight. The taller, older trees that have established a spot in the forest shadow the ground. Due to that, new trees and other plants on the forest floor can't grow.

Benefits There are many benefits of the Tropical Rainforest. The rainforests are home to half of the Earth's plant and animal species. They are winter homes to many birds that breed. Tropical rainforests are some of the most beautiful wildernesses on our planet. They are home to tribal cultures that have survived successfully in the forests for many thousands of years. They are a potential source of medicinal plants that may benefit everyone on Earth. This is both the forest's strength and its weakness: highly specialized organisms are particularly vulnerable to disturbance, because they cannot adapt fast enough to survive the change. Tropical rainforests help maintain global rain and weather patterns. Much of the water that evaporates from the trees returns in the form of rainfall.

Threats to the Tropical Rainforest There are many threats to the Tropical Rainforest. Humans strip the rainforests for uses including logging and cattle ranching. Entire Civilizations are destroyed leaving many people without homes. And many animals and plants are getting their homes taken away due to destruction by humans.

SAVING THE RAINFOREST The rainforest is getting smaller and smaller each day due to our construction. We are taking away homes and lives on a daily basis. One way we can slow the process and save the tropical rainforest is by ending construction where mass death will be occurring. But instead we decide to build a factory in the center of live and trees and animals and plants. We can be smarter with building and human locations instead of being selfish and building our homes and factories wherever we want and not thinking of the consequences. Also removal of the rainforest can change natural rainfall patterns around earth.