RAIN FOREST ECOSYSTEM BY AMARA

LOCATION Almost all rain forests are near the equator. They occupy large areas in Africa, Asia, and Central and South America, and on Pacific islands. The largest tropical rain forest is the Amazon rain forest (right). It covers almost a third of South America.

VEGETATION A tropical rain forest is always green. Most trees in the forest lose old leaves and grow new ones throughout the year. But certain species of trees may lose all of their leaves for a short time during the year. Different kinds of trees bear flowers and fruit at various times of the year. Thus, some kind of tree is in bloom or in fruit at any time of the year. Some short trees bear fruit on the trunk or on large, low branches. Some tall trees bear large fruit on long, drooping, ropelike stalks. Some examples of plants are Liana, Passionflower and Strangler Fig Tree.

WILD LIFE The rain forest has many different types of animals. In the upper and lower canopy live bats, gibbons, monkeys, squirrels, parrots, toucans, sloths, some monkeys, humming birds, small parrots, frogs, lizards, snakes and large birds. In the tree tops live lemurs, flying squirrels, Galagos, marmosets, several kinds of anteaters, monkeys, opossums, and porcupines. On the forest floor are Antelope, deer, hogs, tapirs, many kinds of rodents, several cats live on the forest floor and trees, Bees, butterflies, mosquitoes, moths, termites, and spiders.

CLIMATE The rain forest is warm and wet year round.

BIBILIOGRAPHY   World Book Multimedia, 1998