1. Tropical rainforest structure LO: To understand the structure of the Rainforest To understand how plants and animals are adapted to the conditions within the Tropical rainforest
 Tom Abbott, Biddulph High School and made available through and only for non commercial use in schools

2. Using only evidence from the diagram above, describe three characteristics of the natural vegetation in areas of tropical rainforest.
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3. Structure of the rainforest
The dominant plants in a rainforest are giant trees. The hot wet climate enables them to grow all year round, and they remain evergreen, continuously shedding their leaves and growing new ones.
The average height of rainforest trees is about 45 metres, although the emergence (trees which tower above the others) may go as high as 90 metres. Smaller trees growing the under story (layer between the canopy and the forest floor).
Several layers can be identified within the forest
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4. 45 Emergent tree canopy 40 35 30 25 Canopy layer of Middle layer 20 1510 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
Emergent
tree canopy
Canopy layer
of Middle layer
Under canopy
Shrub/small
tree layer
 Tom Abbott, Biddulph High School and made available through and only for non commercial use in schools
Ground vegetation

5. Rainforest layers
Emergent layer, trees can be 200 feet high. Most trees are broad-leaved, hardwood evergreens. Sunlight is plentiful up here.  Animals found are eagles, monkeys, bats and butterflies.
Canopy layer forms a roof over the two remaining layers.   Most trees have smooth, oval leaves that come to a point. It forms a very dense layer. Food is abundant for animals including snakes, toucans and tree frogs
Under canopy. Little sunshine reaches here so the plants have to grow larger leaves to reach the sunlight.   The plants in this area seldom grow to 12 feet.  Many animals live here including jaguars, red-eyed tree frogs and leopards and many insects.
Forest floor. It's very dark here and so no plants grow here,  Things begin to decay very quickly.  A leaf that might take one year to decompose in a regular climate will disappear in  6 weeks. Giant anteaters live in this layer.
 Tom Abbott, Biddulph High School and made available through and only for non commercial use in schools

6. Emergent layer, trees can be 200 feet high
Emergent layer, trees can be 200 feet high. Most trees are broad-leaved, hardwood evergreens. Sunlight is plentiful up here.  Animals found are eagles, monkeys, bats and butterflies.
 Tom Abbott, Biddulph High School and made available through and only for non commercial use in schools

7. Canopy layer - formed by the crowns of the tall trees and
contains a mass of branches, Leaves, flowers and fruit.
Conditions in the canopy vary, and include:
Hot sunshine
Heavy rainfall
Tropical storms
Canopy layer forms a roof over the two remaining layers.   Most trees have smooth, oval leaves that come to a point. It forms a very dense layer. Food is abundant for animals including snakes, toucans and tree frogs
 Tom Abbott, Biddulph High School and made available through and only for non commercial use in schools

8. Conditions within the forest on more or less constant:
Middle layer (under canopy)- the Vegetation here is more sparse. The trees tend to have pointed crowns and, when a giant tree falls, they grow quickly to fill a gap in the canopy
Conditions within the forest on more or less constant:
There is little variation in temperature
The air is moist and still
Rain on the canopy drips to the forest floor several minutes later
A breeze is rare, even during storms
Little sunshine reaches here so the plants have to grow larger leaves to reach the sunlight.   The plants in this area seldom grow to 12 feet.  Many animals live here including jaguars, red-eyed tree frogs and leopards and many insects.
 Tom Abbott, Biddulph High School and made available through and only for non commercial use in schools

9. Forest floor
It's very dark here and so no plants grow here,  Things begin to decay very quickly.  A leaf that might take one year to decompose in a regular climate will disappear in  6 weeks. Giant anteaters live in this layer.
 Tom Abbott, Biddulph High School and made available through and only for non commercial use in schools

10. And the enormous the number of different species of plants grow in
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.
 Tom Abbott, Biddulph High School and made available through and only for non commercial use in schools

11. leaves protects against hot sun, heavy rain, and strong winds
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
Strong scent and bright
colours of flowers
attract insects which
assist in pollination
Aerial roots of
epiphytes absorb
moisture from the
air
Tall straight trunks
no side branches
Thin, smooth bark
Shallow spreading
root system
Buttress roots
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12. Pitcher plant - a carnivorous plant.
Parasitic plant
slippery rim
tendril
Orchid - sun-loving roots
attached themselves to
branches and absorb nutrients
Insects falling into the
pitcher are digested, and nutrients which are released are absorbed by the plant.
 Tom Abbott, Biddulph High School and made available through and only for non commercial use in schools

13. Explain the relationship between the natural vegetation characteristics and the climate of the tropical rainforest.
 Tom Abbot, Biddulph High School and made available through and only for non commercial use in schools