Living World summary

Tropical Rainforest background information

.Grow in places that have equatorial climates.

.Tropical rainforest are the most luxuriant vegetation systems.

.Vegetation grows in distinct layers. (shrubs,under-canopy, main canopy, the emergent trees).

.Tree trunks are straight, and branchless in the lower part due to their efforts in growing tall.

.Large butress roots and stand above the ground to give support to the trees.

.Lianas, which are vine-like plants, use the large trees as support in their efforts to reach the canopy and sunlight.

.Leaves have drip-tips to shed heavy rainfall.

.Fallen leaves decay in the hot, wet climate. They make the humus layer.

.Rainforest is a fragile environment, as it relies on the constant recycling of nutrients.

.Once the forest is cleared, then the nutrient cycle is broken. Humus is not replaced and the underlying soil soon becomes infertile and eroded. Not only is the rainforest unable to re-establish itself, but the land becomes too poor to be used for farming.

.Trees have grow rapidly in order to reach sunlight.

Location: Found in three continents of South America, Africa and Asia. South America has the most of any continent, 55%, Brazil has the most as a single country, 35%. Lies mainly just either side of the Equator 0 degrees , but streches north to Tropic of cancer 22 and a half degrees and south to Tropic of capricorn 22 and a half degrees.

Climate: Very hot, always 25 degrees celsius on average every month. Usually varies between 25-28 degrees on average, so very small range of temperature of 3 degrees celsius.Very wet, almost 200mm annual total. Rain is heavy every month, but 4 to 5 months are usually heavier than the others. Months with less rain are called the dry seasons, and heavy rain, wet season.

Vegetation/ Animals

1) Emergents- tall trees…