Characteristics of a Tropical Rainforest

By Sasha HeathUnit Plan

Facts about Rainforests.

DID YOU KNOW…? - Rainforests are amongst the oldest

environments in the world. - It takes 100 million years to make a

rainforest. - Up to 90% of all animal and plant species live

in the rainforest and nowhere else. - At the current rate of destruction, experts

believe all rainforests will be gone by the year 2030.

Tropical Rainforests: why are they hot and wet?

Hot?☼ Sun’s rays hitting the earth have a smaller area to heat than at higher latitudes.☼ Sun’s rays have not travelled as far so have more heat in them.

Wet? Convectional rainfall occurs when warm, moist air is heated when it moves over a hot surface on earth. Air rises, condenses and rain occurs – most often in the afternoons.

How does the climate of a rainforest differ from Melbourne’s?

MELBOURNE MANAUS (Brazil)

☼ defined seasons – summer, autumn, winter, spring.

☼ average monthly temperature range 11oC

☼ hot all year around

☼ average monthly temperature range 2oC

Quite constant rainfall amounts - averaging between 40-65mm per yearPeriods of higher rainfall in winter and spring

Fluctuating rainfall amounts – averaging between 30-200mm per year

Extremely high periods of rainfall from December - April

Comparison of Climates

0

100

200

300

mm

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10

20

30

40

°C

MelbourneRainfall

Manaus Rainfall

MelbourneTemperature

ManausTemperature

Characteristics of rainforests – layers

Emergent

Canopy

Mid storey/under storey

Forest Floor

Characteristics of rainforests – layers

Emergent

Tallest trees, towering like chimneys above the forest. Leaves are broad and get lots of sunlight.

Canopy

Forms the “roof’ of the forest. A maze of branches and leaves. Lots of animals found here.

Mid Storey

Smaller plants with broad leaves because of very little sunlight

Forest Floor

Very dark and damp so almost no plants grow here. Lots of decaying plant and animal matter. Recycling of nutrients happens here.

What plants are found in a rainforest?

Tropical plants comprise about 160,000 of the estimated 250,000 species of

plants on Earth.

Some interesting plants include: ferns, kapok trees, orchids, palm trees, rubber trees, banyan tree, vines, strangler fig. And the most interestingly named Idiot

Fruit!

Works CitedBliss, Susan, and John Paine. GeoActive 1. Milton: Jacaranda, 1998.

Learning about Rainforests• http://www.srl.caltech.edu/personnel/krubal/rainforest/Edit560s6/www/whlayers.html

I obtained the layers of the rainforest images (slide 2,3,4,5) from this website.

Learning about Rainforests• http://www.srl.caltech.edu/personnel/krubal/rainforest/Edit560s6/www/where.html

Blue Planet Figures• http://www.usd.edu/esci/figures/158280.JPG

I obtained images for slide 3 from this website

Tropical Rainforest Plants – Missouri Botanic Gardens• http://mbgnet.mobot.org/sets/rforest/plants/

I obtained facts about rainforest plants from this site.

Daintree Rainforest• http://www.daintreerainforest.com/flora.html

I obtained information about interesting plants from this site.

Plant life in the Rainforests• http://www.abcteach.com/RainforestFacts/plants.htm

I obtained information about interesting plants from this site.

"Making a difference: An appeal to Corporate Leaders to Save Our Rainforest" • http://www.waterbirthinfo.com/makingdiff.html 21 Jul. 2003 <Rainforest Action Network>

I obtained the “Did you know…?” facts from this site.

World Climate• http://www.worldclimate.com

I obtained the climate comparison data from this site.

© State of Victoria 2003  This work has been created by the teacher/s listed below as

employees of the Department of Education and Training, Victoria and copyright is owned by the Crown in right of the State of Victoria. It may be reproduced in whole or in part for study or training purposes, subject to the inclusion of an acknowledgment of the source and no commercial usage or sale. Reproduction for the purposes other than those indicated above requires the written permission of the Department of Education and Training. Requests and enquiries concerning reproduction and copyright should be addressed to the Liability Management Manager, Department of Education and Training, 2 Treasury Place, Melbourne, VIC, 3002

The State of Victoria accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of any part of this material and bears no responsibility for any modifications made.

List of teachers name and materials produced – S. Heath - ‘Tropical Rainforests of the World’ Unit Plan & Multimedia presentation.