By Jack.H, Oliver and Zainab

By Jack.H

Where Tropical Rainforests Are Found Tropical Rainforests are found… (38%)Latin America Except Brazil: The Amazon, Central America, (25%)Southeast Asia & the Pacific Islands (19%)Brazil (18%)Africa: West Africa, Zaire basin, Congo basin, and eastern Madagascar Tropical rainforests are mainly located in a band around the equator (Zero degrees latitude), mostly in the area between the Tropic of Cancer (23.5° N latitude) and the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5° S latitude).

A Map of Where They Are Found

The Physical Landscape

The Terrain Moss and other plants Rocks tall, straight trees that don't branch out until 100 feet or more with smooth, thin bark healthy, fertile soil grasses rocky base because of small mountains and hills covered by the rainforest.

Layers Of The Rainforest

The Emergent Layer The emergent layer includes trees that are usually spaced wide apart and range from ft tall with a special trait. these trees have umbrella shapes that grow tall over all other trees. The leaves on these trees are small and pointed because since they're so tall and grow above all other trees, exposing them to dry winds. The emergent trees also have very few branches with straight and smooth trunks and also have a very shallow root system.

The Canopy The canopy layer form a type of room over the understory and forest floor. The trees that make the canopy layer have large smooth leaves that come to a point. These many leaves of the canopy attracts more sunlight for photosynthesis which provides fruits, seeds, flowers, and leaves which supports a wide number of different animal life. The trees create good living conditions for wildlife such as snakes, toucans, and treefrogs, providing shelter from harsh weather.

The Understory The leaves of the understory block the rest of the light that gets through the canopy from the forest floor. The huge broad leaves in the understory captures the light making it humid and dark which habitats a large amount of insect life.

The Forest Floor The rainforest floor is relatively clear of vegetation because of the darkness that the canopy causes. The canopy diverts the sunlight, and damps the wind and rain from reaching the floor of the rainforest. Despite its constant shade, the ground floor of the rainforest is the site for important interactions. Decomposition occurs on the forest floor, a process that is needed to preserve the rainforest. Thousands of plants and animals also live on the forest floor.

Human Influence

Human Influence Part 2 Heavy deforestation often completely wipes out rainforests. this deforestation often destroys species. it also drives climate change. Another effect is (supposed) global warming. People also create mining operations in rainforests which require roads. These roads frighten the animals with the sounds created by cars. agriculture also depletes the soil and because of the need for new soil, people clear more of the rainforest.

By Zainab

Abiotic & Biotic Features Abiotic helps some animals get shelter. Also some animals might hide there food between rocks and more. Biotic helps by giving animals food and for some animals shelter.

Food Chain #1

Food Chain #2

Decomposer Creatures such as the velvet worm are organisms that live on the forest floor and feed off small invertebrates. Earthworms are another example of a tropical decomposer and feed off fallen leaves and tree bark. Unlike worms, fungi are decomposers that can be found both on the forest floor as well as on the trunks of trees. Tropical fungi feed on decaying plant matter and are typically clustered into groups connected by an extensive root system. Saprophytic bacteria are typically found ubiquitously in nutrient-rich soils. High numbers of these bacteria are found in tropical forests, with over 40 million bacteria residing in each gram of soil. These microscopic organisms feed on both dead plant and animal matter. Arthropods, such as termites and ants, are common decomposers that, like fungi, can be found both on the forest floor and on trees. Termites specifically eat wood, while ants eat animals and fungi.

Adaptations Animals that hunt at night When the sun goes down, some animals bed down. Others -- including the flying fox bat, the leopard cat and Wallace's flying frog -- are bright-eyed and on the lookout for a meal. The adaptation to night hunting gives nocturnal animals the benefit of reduced competition for food. size Large animals, like lions and elephants, live on the plains for good reason. Size is no advantage in the rain forest where a dense understory makes movement difficult. Jaguars adapted with a small but stocky build that makes them speedy hunters and small enough to sleep in trees.

Carnivores Cougar Jaguar Red Panda

Herbivores Tapir Duiker Quokka

Omnivores Margay Coati Red River Hog

By Oliver

Weather & Climate Rainforests are important because they help maintain global weather patterns and rain. Water that evaporates from trees falls in other areas as rain. They are lush and warm all year long! The average temperature of the tropical rainforest remains between 70 and 85° F.

Precipitation The yearly rainfall ranges from 80 to 400 inches (200 to 1000 cm), and it can rain hard. It can downpour as much as 2 inches (5 cm) in an hour! Rainforests are extremely important because the water they produce is evaporated and then used as rain in other areas.

Sunshine/Daylight Totals Tropical rainforests have an average temperature of between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius during the 12 hours of daylight. However, only approximately 2 % of this daylight hits the forest floor.

Humidity The environment is pretty wet in tropical rain forests maintaining a high humidity of 70% to 80% year- round. Also, because Tropical rainforests are in the general area of the equator, they are very humid environments

Air Pressure As air rises it cools and water condenses to form rain which is why the tropics are wet. Air flows from high pressure to low pressure areas. This is why it rains so much in the rainforest.

Temperatures The average temperature in tropical rainforests ranges from 70 to 85°F (21 to 30°C).

Wind Velocity The trees found in a tropical rainforest are primarily broad-leaved species that form a dense canopy of foliage above the forest floor that acts as a wind buffer and decreases wind speeds below the canopy. Even above the canopy most tropical rainforests experience minimal winds, a factor that contributes to the overall hot and humid climate.

Weather Patterns With rain almost every day, it means that it is usually quite cloudy.

Month To Month Trends (Throughout The Year)

How do weather patterns impact the environment and organisms in it? The damp and hot weather in the rainforest impact the environment because the plants have a lot of water, which makes it really damp. The animals all have wather so they can survive. The plants and animals all need to be able to adapt to the hot and damp weather in order to survive.