1. What is a rainforest ecosystem?

2. Unit Standards
5.L.4A.1
Analyze and interpret data to summarize the abiotic factors (including quantity of light and water, range of temperature, salinity, and soil composition) of different terrestrial ecosystems and aquatic ecosystems.
5.L.4A.2
Obtain and communicate information to describe and compare the biotic factors (including individual organisms, populations, and communities) of different terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

3. What is a rain-forest ecosystem?
Rainforest- ecosystem with dense forests and hot, damp climate

4. What is a rain-forest ecosystem?
It rains a lot in this ecosystem, and the soil is very thin and poor in nutrients.
However, there is more life here than in any other place on earth.

5. What is a rain-forest ecosystem?
Rainforests cover less than 6% of Earth’s surface.
However, they are home to 50 to 70% of all living things on earth.

6. What is a rain-forest ecosystem?
The tall trees of the rainforest give the ecosystem different layers.

7. What is a rain-forest ecosystem?
Emergent- the layer of the rainforest that includes the tops of the tallest trees. This layer gets a lot of sunlight but also can have high temperatures and winds.

8. What is a rain-forest ecosystem?
Canopy- the layer below the emergent. Most of the rainforest animals live here, because there is a great deal of sunlight and food. Snakes, tree frogs, and toucans can be found in this layer.

9. What is a rain-forest ecosystem?
Understory- the layer below the canopy. Not much sunlight reaches this layer, because the canopy provides so much shade. Leopards, jaguars, frogs, and many insects live in the understory.

10. What is a rain-forest ecosystem?
Forest floor- the layer below the understory. This layer is even darker than the understory. Not many plants grow here, because there is very little sunlight.

11. What is a rain-forest ecosystem?
Decomposers work quickly in this layer. A leaf that falls on to the forest floor might decompose in less than two months. In another climate it could take an entire year.

12. What is a rain-forest ecosystem?
A tropical rainforest can get up to 457 cm (180 in) of rain each year. Compare that to the 13 cm (5 in) of rain each year in the Mojave Desert.