1. The Rainforest Ecosystem

2. Learning objectives: Explain how the rainforest ecosystem works including the layers of the rainforest Explain how plants and animals are adapted to the tropical rainforest ecosystem

3. Starter Working in pairs, how many animals can you come up with that live in the rainforest?

4. Describe the global distribution of tropical rainforests (3)

5. The rainforest canopy Key Words Canopy Under Canopy Shrub Layer Emergent

6. The tropical rainforest canopy Plants have had to adapt to living in tropic conditions (hot and wet). Plants grow well in the damp heat – so well that they have to fight for sunlight.

7. The tropical rainforest canopy One way to win is to grow tall and straight. Trees battle to reach above the canopy for more sunlight.

8. The rainforest canopy Main canopy Emergent Under canopy Shrub layer Copy this diagram and label your rainforest with the correct words.

9. The rainforest canopy LayerType of plant Likes / dislikes Home to Shrub layer Under canopy Canopy Emergents

10. Task Title: The tropical rainforest canopy Colour in your tree layers Cut the different layers and stick them in your book in the following order: – Emergent tree layer – Canopy layer – Under canopy layer – Shrub layer

11. Layers of the rainforest

12. Watch the planet earth DVD Watch the BBC Planet Earth Jungles DVD using the worksheet to help your structure your notes

13. “Something that is changed or changes to become suitable to a new or special situation.” ThinkSharePair

14. How have plants adapted to the conditions of the rainforest? Thick vines loop around the tree trunks to reach sunlight. Air plants perch up high on branches. Ferns adapt to life in the shade. Roots grow close to the surface to get nutrients.

15. What else? Drip tips to let the rain drip off Sharp edges to stop it being eaten Thick waxy coat to protect against the rain and insects Grow straight and tall to reach the sunlight Butress roots to keep them balanced.

16.  Tom Abbott, Biddulph High School and made available through www.sln.org.uk/geography and only for non commercial use in schools Rainforest plants And the enormous the number of different species of plants grow in rainforests, with many species occurring only in one particular region. Unlike other forests, rain forests have an abundance of : Epiphytes plants which live above the ground growing on tree trunks and branches, Example orchids, ferns, mosses Climbing plants including large woody climbers called lianas which are rooted in the soil and usually reach the canopy. The climbers twist around the tree trunks, and loop from one tree to another in the canopy, binding the trees together.

17.  Tom Abbott, Biddulph High School and made available through www.sln.org.uk/geography and only for non commercial use in schools Strong scent and bright colours of flowers attract insects which assist in pollination Strong scent of fruits attracts animals, which feed on the fruit and assist in dispersal of the seeds Thick, waxy surface of leaves protects against hot sun, heavy rain, and strong winds Aerial roots of epiphytes absorb moisture from the air Tall straight trunks no side branches Thin, smooth bark Buttress roots Shallow spreading root system

18.  Tom Abbott, Biddulph High School and made available through www.sln.org.uk/geography and only for non commercial use in schools Orchid - sun-loving roots attached themselves to branches and absorb nutrients Pitcher plant - a carnivorous plant. slippery rim tendril Insects falling into the pitcher are digested, and nutrients which are released are absorbed by the plant. Parasitic plant

20. Stick Insect

21. Poison Arrow Tree Frog Mimic Poison Arrow Tree Frog

22. Toucans

23. Three-toed Sloth

24. African Forest Elephant

25. Decide what part of the rainforest your animal will live in

26. This is a butterhummingfrog. It lives in the Brazilian rainforest. It cannot fly, but uses its wings to attract insects and butterflies to eat. It has a pointed beak to drink nectar from flowers. It likes to live in dark, moist environments like a pond or stream. Its toes have suction cup pads to help in climbing and clinging to leaves and branches.

27. Use at least 3 adaptations for the animal Describe your animal, giving reasons for its adaptations linked to the conditions within the forest Give your animal a name Describe your animal’s environment and the layer that the animal lives in Put your animal in a food chain, using other imaginary animals from the rainforest. Homework: Draw an annotated sketch of your animal. Things to think about... Use at least 3 adaptations for the animal Describe your animal, giving reasons for its adaptations linked to the conditions within the forest Give your animal a name Describe your animal’s environment and the layer that the animal lives in Put your animal in a food chain, using other animals from the rainforest.