1. Tropical Rainforest Gloria Larson and Kendra Sultzer

2. Locations Band around equator Band around equator Solar radiation highest in this area-affects rainfall Solar radiation highest in this area-affects rainfall

3. Vegetation 4 layers of rainforest: emergent, canopy, understory, forest floor 4 layers of rainforest: emergent, canopy, understory, forest floor

4. Average Rainfall Location makes rainforest rainy Location makes rainforest rainy –Solar radiation leads to evaporation, condensation, rain –250-450 cm. of rain/year which is about 8-14 feet/year

5. Temperature vs. Precipitation

6. Temperatures Somewhere around 68°F to 86°F regularly Somewhere around 68°F to 86°F regularly –But annual change in temperatures is much less  Diurnal pattern –Evaporation and condensation during the day promote high change of temperature

7. Sunlight Canopy format prevents sunlight from reaching lower layers Canopy format prevents sunlight from reaching lower layers –Understory and forest floor pretty dark  Plants and animals adapt to lack of sunlight

8. Soil Fertility Soil in rainforest not very fertile Soil in rainforest not very fertile –Nutrients from different sources fall into soil but then swept away by rain –Animals and plants adapt ways to get nutrients

9. Seasonal Changes Not a big change in temperature Not a big change in temperature No winter No winter 2 seasons: rainy and dry 2 seasons: rainy and dry –Differs due to position relative to equator  North- rainy = summer  South- rainy = October – April  East – dry = 5-7 months  West- dry = 1-3 months

10. Limiting Factors Lack of nutrients- unfertile soil Lack of nutrients- unfertile soil Wet environment- climate Wet environment- climate Large amount of trees in environment Large amount of trees in environment Lack of sunlight for lower layers Lack of sunlight for lower layers

11. Animal Adaptations Camouflage Camouflage Locomotion in trees Locomotion in trees Survival in wet environment Survival in wet environment Nocturnal Nocturnal Bright colors for warning Bright colors for warning

12. Animals Spider Monkey Spider Monkey Sloth Sloth

13. Animals Toucan Toucan Harpy Eagle Harpy Eagle

14. Animals Anaconda Anaconda Jaguar Jaguar

15. Animals Poison Dart Frog Poison Dart Frog Dawn Bat Dawn Bat

16. Plant Adaptations Epiphytes Epiphytes Parasitic plants Parasitic plants Shallow root system Shallow root system –Buttresses Drip tips and large leaves Drip tips and large leaves Smooth bark Smooth bark

17. Plants Epiphytic Orchid Epiphytic Orchid Strangler Figs Strangler Figs

18. Plants Lianas (vines) Lianas (vines) Kapok tree Kapok tree

19. Plants Bromeliads Bromeliads Mangroves (stilt and prop roots) Mangroves (stilt and prop roots)

20. Plants Bracket Fungi Bracket Fungi Jelly Fungi Jelly Fungi

21. Food Web

22. Past Century Changes Only 2.5 million square miles of tropical rainforests left on planet Only 2.5 million square miles of tropical rainforests left on planet –Losing 93,000 square miles/year –Losing 137 species/day = 50,000 species/year –Indigenous peoples losing their homes

23. Human Contributions to Changes Deforestation = huge problem Deforestation = huge problem –Timber, agricultural purposes, cattle ranches –Economic hardships in areas of rainforests  Unequal distributions of land Killing of animals for skins Killing of animals for skins –Highly prized in Berlin, Paris, Tokyo

24. Conservation Proposed: Linden-Lovejoy-Phillips Plan Proposed: Linden-Lovejoy-Phillips Plan –Divide natural areas into blocks and get variety of organizations to support Big emphasis on protecting the indigenous people and helping them to preserve their natural homes Big emphasis on protecting the indigenous people and helping them to preserve their natural homes Various other conservation organizations Various other conservation organizations –Adopt-a-Rainforest