The rainforest: The biome of showers of happiness By: Maria Grado, Reina Garcia and Violeta Abarca

What is a rainforest? A rainforest is a dense evergreen forest with an annual rainfall of at least 406 cm (160 inches). Rainforests are often, but not always, located in tropical regions. Many tropical rainforest plants have been identified as having anti-cancer properties.

Where are rainforests found? Rainforests are found in Central America (Amazons) Africa (Zaire) (Madagascar) India Southeast Asia Australia

What causes a rainforests? Rainforests are classified by their weather and location. .There are two types of Rainforest: Temperate Rainforests Tropical Rainforests

Tropical Rainforest Tropical rainforests are located close to the equator, an area known as the tropic zone. Most are in the area between the Tropic of Cancer. and the Tropic of Capricorn. Temperatures near the equator are higher. These higher temperatures cause accelerated evaporation of water, which results in frequent rain in forested areas in the tropics. Tropical rainforests are found in South and Central America, Africa, Australia, and Asia. Tropical rainforests cover only about 6% of the Earth's surface. The largest tropical rain forest are in the Amazon River Basin, the Congo River Basin, and throughout much of southeast Asia. There are many smaller ones located throughout the tropics including Central America, Madagascar, Australia and India. (See Map)

Temperate Rainforests Temperate rainforests are found along some coasts in temperate zones. The largest temperate rainforests are found on the Pacific coast of North America. They stretch from Oregon to Alaska for 1,200 miles. Smaller temperate rainforests can be found on the southeast coast of Chile in South America. There are a few other coastal strips with temperate rainforests, including small areas in the United Kingdom, Norway, Japan, New Zealand, and southern Australia. (See Map)

The map

Types of plants More than two thirds of the world's plant species are found in the tropical rainforests: plants that provide shelter and food for rainforest animals as well as taking part in the gas exchanges which provide much of the world's oxygen supply. Rainforest plants live in a warm humid environment that allows an enormous variation rare in more temperate climates: some like the orchids have beautiful flowers adapted to attract the profusion of forest insects. Competition at ground level for light and food has lead to evolution of plants which live on the branches of other plants, or even strangle large trees to fight for survival. The aerial plants often gather nourishment from the air itself using so-called 'air roots';. The humidity of the rainforest encourages such adaptations which would be impossible in most temperate forests with their much drier conditions.

Types of plants in a rainforest

Adaptations of plants in tropical rainforest The tropical rainforest is hot and it rains a lot, about 80 to 180 inches per year.  This abundance of water can cause problems such as promoting the growth of bacteria and fungi which could be harmful to plants.  Heavy rainfall also increases the risk of flooding, soil erosion, and rapid leaching of nutrients from the soil (leaching occurs when the minerals and organic nutrients of the soil are "washed" out of the soil by rainfall as the water soaks into the ground).  Plants grow rapidly and quickly use up any organic material left from decomposing plants and animals.  This results is a soil that is poor.  The tropical rainforest is very thick, and not much sunlight is able to penetrate to the forest floor.  However, the plants at the top of the rainforest in the canopy, must be able to survive 12 hours of intense sunlight every day of the year.  There is a great amount of diversity in plant species in the tropical rainforest. Tropical Rainforest Plant Adaptations drip tips and waxy surfaces allow water to run off, to discourage growth of bacteria and fungi buttresses and prop and stilt roots help hold up plants in the shallow soil some plants climb on others to reach the sunlight some plants grow on other plants to reach the sunlight flowers on the forest floor are designed to lure animal pollinators since there is relatively no wind on the forest floor to aid in pollination smooth bark and smooth or waxy flowers speed the run off of water plants have shallow roots to help capture nutrients from the top level of soil. Many bromeliads are epiphytes (plants that live on other plants); instead of collecting water with roots they collect rainwater into a central reservoir from which they absorb the water through hairs on their leaves epiphytic orchids have aerial roots that cling to the host plant, absorb minerals, and absorb water from the atmosphere

Challenges of life in a rainforest Small plants don’t grow because of the emergent layer. Not that many resources because humans cut down trees to use it for their convenience. Many animals wont be able to see good because of the humidity. Some examples are:

Jaguar Adaptions Is the only member of the family cat that likes to swim. This helps hunt its pray. Its eyes glow in the night to help it see its pray at night. Their whiskers help them Jaguars have jaws and a large head especially equipped for piecing the skull of their prey with their canines, this helps it kill it faster. Unlike other large cats, who attack at the neck, jaguars often kill their prey with a single bite to the back of the head.  They are called "occipital crunchers."  They are primarily nocturnal with activity levels high at dawn and dusk. Because they may live in rain forests and flooded swamp areas this adaptation comes in handy when trying to cool off or catch food. 

Resources http://www.answers.com/topic/rainforest :What is a rainforest? http://www.nature.org/rainforests/explore/facts.html :Facts about rainforests http://www.savetherainforest.org/savetherainforest_012.htm :What is a tropical rainforest? http://mbgnet.net/bioplants/adapt.html :Adaptations of plants http://www.srl.caltech.edu/personnel/krubal/rainforest/Edit560s6/www/plants.html :Types of plants http://www.whozoo.org/Intro2001/amansaut/Amanda_Jaguar.html :Special anatomical, physiological or behavioral adaptations