It’s a Jungle Out There A Social Studies Perspective on the Animals of the Jungle

CT Social Studies Standards Geography 9. Places and Regions -Students will use spatial perspective to identify and analyze the significance of physical and cultural characteristics of places and world regions. 10. Physical Systems - Students will use spatial perspective to explain the physical processes that shape the Earth’s surface and its ecosystems. 12. Human and Environmental Interaction- Students will use geographic tools and technology to explain the interactions of humans and the larger environment and the evolving consequences of those interactions

What is a jungle? jun·gle (j ng g l) (Botany, Ecology) n. 1. Land densely overgrown with tropical vegetation. 2. A dense thicket or growth. *Partial definition taken from

Jungle Regions of the World  The areas colored dark green represent jungle regions. Jungle regions can be found on the continents of Africa, Asia, Central America and South America.

Jungle Animals are Found in Different Habitats The layers of the jungle are: 1. Emergent 1. Emergent 2. Canopy 2. Canopy 3. Understory 3. Understory 4. Floor 4. Floor

Emergent Layer - Consists of tall trees and is very sunny and windy. Animals found here include: Harpy Eagle Harpy Eagle Squirrel Monkey Squirrel Monkey Hummingbirds Hummingbirds

Canopy -Mostly trees and vines and is bright. Animals found in this layer: Howler Monkey Howler Monkey Macaw Macaw Toucan Toucan Green Iguana Green Iguana Sloth Sloth

Understory -The layer just under the canopy, has dim light and is moist and cool. Animals found here include:  Toucan  Spider monkey  Ocelot

Jungle Floor -Dark, warm and wet. Animals on the floor: Snakes Snakes Insects Insects Lions Lions Tigers Tigers Humans Humans

Jungle Uses Besides being the home to millions of animals and people the Jungle helps produce many products:  Chocolate  Rubber bands  Tea  Chewing Gum  Nuts  Medicines  Cinnamon

Human Interaction Often human interaction can cause harm to the jungle. People enter and destroy the jungle by clearing land and trees. Many sad things happen to this ecosystem when the jungle dies. 1. Native people can lose their homes. 2. The rich soil washes away. Rivers fill with mud. The soil becomes dry, cracked and the water source is lost forever. 3. Plants and animals die. Once one kind of plant or animal dies in the rainforest, others that depend on it die too.