Tropical Rain Forest
CJ Bagwell
Chanco Estes
Alex Sanchez
Location and Climate
● Tropical rainforests are located near the equator in
many parts of the world, especially in Asia, Australia,
and South America.
● They are a unique biome, because they are very hot,
but also very wet, averaging more than 150 cm of rain
each year.
● The average temperature is 77 F and can get cooler the
farther away from the equator, however they never drop
below 32 F.
Physical Characteristics
● In the rainforest, there are 4 different layers known as
the emergent(overstory), upper canopy, understory, and
forest floor.
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The emergent level has 100-200 ft trees spaced out, that hang umbrella-like above the canopy.
The canopy is the “roof” of the jungle, and absorbs most of the sunlight. It consists of thick trees that
provide food, shelter, and homes for animals in this forest.
The understory level are shorter trees that catch the rest of the sunlight that makes it past the
canopy.
The forest floor is not highly vegetated because the canopy blocks most of the sun from
getting to the forest floor.
Flora
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Tropical Rainforests have more than ⅔ of all plant species in the world.
Plants have to compete to survive because of the lack of sunlight and food
on the forest floor.
Some have found ways to get food from the air itself, and some to grow off
branches of plants higher up.
Popular types of plants in the tropical rain forests- Bromeliads, Epiphytes,
Saprophytes, Buttress Roots, Lianas, Orchids, Strangler Fig
Fauna
● Animal life is varied in the tropical rain forests.
● The most common types are insects, but mammals,
reptiles, amphibians are also abundant here.
Types of each
Mammals
Jaguars, Chimpanzees,
Sloth, Tigers, etc.
Birds
Reptiles
Amphibians
Hummingbirds,
Snakes, Iguana,
Frogs,(poisonous
Parrots, Toucans ,
etc.
and harmless), etc.
etc.
Human Influence
● Humans have cut down more than half of the worlds
rainforests for its timber, minerals, and a place to settle in.
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Rate of destruction is about 93,000 square miles a year.
● In some places, over population and overuse of agriculture
contribute to deforestation.
● Most plants and animals in the tropical rainforests can not
survive anywhere else on the world, SAVE THE
RAINFORESTS!
Fun Facts
● Tropical Rainforests cover less than 2% of the earth, but
contain over 50% of the earth's plants and animals.
● Many medicines are derived from plants in this biome.
● Rainforests act as a “thermostat”, regulating
temperatures and absorbing carbon dioxide to prevent
greenhouse gases.