1. 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

2. 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.

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

4. 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

5. 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.

6. Write a paragraph explaining how the nutrient cycle works

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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!

10. Why?
Plant
Adaptation
Reason
Sketch

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

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

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

14. Resources

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. 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.