Fauna Ecosystem Flora Biome Equatorial region Key Term Match Up  A large ecosystem Area around the equator where rainforests are located Animals in the rainforest A community made up of living organisms (plants/animals). E.G. rainforest or a desert. Plants in the rainforest Fauna Ecosystem Flora Biome Equatorial region

How are plants adapted to the TRF? Lesson 6 How are plants adapted to the TRF? Lesson Objective:- To investigate the challenges faced by plants living in a tropical rainforest and the creative solutions they develop to overcome these challenges. Lesson Outcome By the end of today’s lesson you will be able to:- To be able to describe and explain the nutrient cycle To know what adaption means To describe and explain how plants (flora) adapt to the rainforest.

Draw this diagram into your books The Nutrient Cycle Draw this diagram into your books

Using the information complete the diagram The roots quickly take up the nutrients again. The decomposers release the nutrients from them. Dead leaves and animal waste fall out all year round. The soil underground is poor because the nutrients do not get a chance to sink in. The nutrients help the vegetation grow. Decomposer – Bacteria or a worm that breaks down dead leaves for nutrients

The Nutrient Cycle The nutrients help the vegetation grow. Dead leaves and animal waste fall out all year round. The roots quickly take up the nutrients again. The decomposers release the nutrients from them. The soil underground is poor because the nutrients do not get a chance to sink in.

Write a paragraph explaining how the nutrient cycle works

With the use of the video clip complete your worksheet. Remember the more you listen and watch, the more information you will collect, the easier your next lesson will be. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=C1Ib0-BlBKU

Types of leaves in the rainforest Drip tip leaves allow the rain to drip off them Thick waxy coated leaves protects against rain and insects Sharp edges prevent (stops) animals from eating them Larger leaves grow in the shrub layer. This is to trap as much light as possible

Group rotation Your group will have 5 minutes with each learning mat - it is your responsibility to find out the details before the mat is passed on!

Why? Plant Adaptation Reason Sketch

On you piece of paper make at least five questions you could ask someone about rainforest plants

Swap your questions, then answer them Swap your questions, then answer them! Remember to write in full sentences with detail

List three adaptations which you think are the most important and why 1) 2) 3)

Resources

Plants of the Rainforest More than 2/3rds of the worlds plant species are found in tropical rainforests. Due to the amount of competition for light and food plants have evolved and adapted to allow them to survive in the rainforest. Plants of the Rainforest Epiphytes Epiphytes, or air plants, have adapted to grow on the branches, trunks, and even the leaves of trees. They feed on the rain and nutrients from rotting leaves. There is too much competition for light and nutrients in the shrub layer. Different types of epiphytes may grow on the same tree. They begin their life in the canopy from seeds or spores transported there by birds or winds. Buttress Roots Most rainforest soil is very poor with all the nutrients available largely remaining at surface level. Because of this rainforest trees have very shallow roots. Some very tall trees have formed buttress roots, which grow out from the base of the trunk (sometimes as high as 15 ft above the ground). These extended roots spread out and increase the area over which nutrients can be absorbed from the soil.

Plants of the Rainforest Lianas Lianas have thick, woody stems. They begin life on the forest floor and depend on trees for support for survival. They attaching themselves to trees with sucker roots and grow upwards with a younger tree. They also climb towards the sunlight by winding themselves round the tree's trunk. When they reach the top of the canopy they often spread to wrap around other lianas. This network of vines gives support against strong winds to the shallow-rooted, top-heavy trees. Strangler Fig The seed of the strangler fig starts life as an epiphyte high in the trees. It is transported here by birds and monkeys which eat the fig fruit. The seedling fig sends down long roots to the ground from where it begins to surround the host tree. It grows quickly and eventually suffocates the host: when the host tree dies it leaves an enormous upright strangler with a hollow core. By using an adult tree as its host, the strangler fig avoids competition for light and nutrients at ground level.

Plants of the Rainforest Bromeliads Bromeliads are related to the pineapple family. Their thick, waxy leaves form a bowl shape in the centre for catching rainwater. Some bromeliads can hold several gallons of water and are miniature ecosystems in themselves providing homes for several creatures including frogs and their tadpoles, salamanders, snails, beetles and mosquito larvae. Those that die decompose and furnish the plant with nutrients. This means that they don’t need to compete against other plants, as much for, water, sunlight and nutrients. Saprophytes Saprophytes act as the rainforests decomposers, they are very small and work very fast to compete against the heavy rainfall which constantly washes away nutrients on the forest floors. Decomposers work in the warmth and wetness and can often break down dead animals and vegetation within 24 hours. Decayed matter contains essential nutrients like iron, calcium, potassium and phosphorous all of which are necessary to promote healthy rainforest growth. Without them the trees would not receive enough nutrients.

Plants of the Rainforest More than 2/3rds of the worlds plant species are found in tropical rainforests. Due to the amount of competition for light and food plants have evolved and adapted to allow them to survive in the rainforest. Plants of the Rainforest Epiphytes Epiphytes (air plants),grow on the branches, trunks, and leaves of trees. They feed on the rain and nutrients from rotting leaves. There is too much competition for light and nutrients in the shrub layer. They begin their life in the canopy from seeds or spores transported there by birds or winds. Buttress Roots Most rainforest soil is very poor with all the nutrients available largely remaining at surface level (at the top of the soil). Because of this rainforest trees have very shallow roots. Some very tall trees have formed buttress roots, which grow out from the base of the trunk (sometimes as high as 15 ft above the ground). These extended roots spread out and increase the area over which nutrients can be absorbed from the soil.

Plants of the Rainforest Lianas Lianas have thick, woody stems. They begin life on the forest floor and depend on trees for support for survival. They attaching themselves to trees with sucker roots and grow upwards with a younger tree. They also climb towards the sunlight by winding themselves round the tree's trunk. When they reach the top of the canopy they often spread to wrap around other lianas. This network of vines gives support against strong winds to the shallow-rooted, top-heavy trees. Strangler Fig The seed of the strangler fig starts life high in the trees. It is transported here by birds and monkeys which eat the fig fruit. The seedling fig sends down long roots to the ground from where it begins to surround the tree. It grows quickly and eventually suffocates the tree: when the host tree dies it leaves an enormous upright strangler with a hollow core. By using an adult tree, the strangler fig avoids competition for light and nutrients at ground level.

Plants of the Rainforest Bromeliads Bromeliads are related to the pineapple family. Their thick, waxy leaves form a bowl shape in the centre for catching rainwater. Some bromeliads can hold several gallons of water. They providing homes for several creatures including frogs and their tadpoles, snails, and beetles. When the creatures die the plant uses them for food. This means that they don’t need to compete against other plants, as much for, water, sunlight and nutrients (food). Saprophytes Saprophytes act as the rainforests decomposers (they break down the dead leaves), they are very small and work very fast to compete against the heavy rainfall which constantly washes away nutrients on the forest floors. Decomposers work in the warmth and wetness and can often break down dead animals and vegetation within 24 hours. Decayed matter contains essential nutrients like iron, calcium, potassium and phosphorous all of which are necessary to promote healthy rainforest growth. Without them the trees would not receive enough nutrients.