RAINFORESTS, PLANTS AND ANIMALS

Tropical rainforests support the greatest diversity of living organisms on Earth. Although they cover less than 2% of Earth's surface, rainforests house more than 50% of plants and animals on Earth. Here are some examples of the richness of rainforests:

 Rainforests have 170,000 of the world's 250,000 known plant species.
 The United States has 81 species of frogs, while Madagascar which is smaller than
Texas, may have 300 species.
 Europe has 321 butterfly species, while a park in the rainforest of Peru (Manu
National Park) has 1300 species.

Rainforests have an abundance of plants and animals for the following reasons:

1) Climate: because rainforests are located in tropical regions, they receive a lot of sunlight. This sunlight is converted to energy by plants through the process of photosynthesis. Since there is a lot of sunlight that means there is a lot of energy in the rainforest. This energy is stored in plant vegetation which is eaten by animals. Because there is a lot of food there are many species of plants and animals.

2) Canopy: the canopy structure of the rainforest means there are more places for plants to grow and animals to live. The canopy offers new sources of food, shelter, and hiding places, provides another world for interaction with between different species. For example there are plants in the canopy called bromeliads that store water in their leaves. Animals like frogs use these pockets of water for hunting and laying their eggs.

Where are rainforest???

hai....where are rainforest????do you know that you can find rainforests in South and Central America, Africa, Oceania (the islands around Australia), and Asia. Tropical rainforests cover only about 7% of the Earth's surface. The largest rainforests are in the Amazon River Basin (South America), the Congo River Basin (western Africa), and throughout much of southeast Asia. Smaller rainforests located in Central America, Madagascar, Australia and nearby islands, India, and other locations in the tropics. There are only two seasons in a tropical rainforest, the wet season and the dry season. Temperate rainforests are found along the Pacific coast of the USA and Canada (from northern California to Alaska), in New Zealand, Tasmania, Chile, Ireland, Scotland and Norway. They cover less area than tropical rainforests. The Olympic rain forest (located on the Olympic peninsula in the state of Washington, United States of America) is a temperate rain forest near the Pacific ocean.

Flora and Fauna in Rainforest

Do you know that, within in four mile square area of tropical rainforest u can find over 750 species of trees, 1500 flower plants, 125 species mammals, 400 species of birds, 100 reptiles, 60 amphibians and 150 species butterflies..that's a point rainforest is a good habitat for mana flora and fauna. I have some picture flora and fauna in rainforest..

why are rainforest important??

Do you know,why are rainforest important?? I want tell u function of rainforest.First, they provide a habitat for plant and animal. Amazing, rainforest contains over 30 million species of plant and animal. Second, they regulate our climate, they absorb carbon dioxide and provide oxygen we need to breath. Third, they help to prevent soil erosion. Lastly, they provide a home for indigenious people. many indigenious people have been living in harmony with the rainforest for thousands of years. That's some information i can share with you all

Effects Of Rainforest Disruption

Biodiversity Effect

A tragic effect of the loss of the rainforest is the extinction of plants and animals that could supply us with food, medicine or valuable products. Thousands of species disappear each year. This leads to a poorer world with less biodiversity.

Soils and Nutrients Effect

One surprising result of the destruction of the rainforest is that soils and nutrients are washed away. When the trees are cut down, the soil is exposed to the heavy rain and quickly becomes infertile and useless. The forest cannot grow again, and the people who used the land have to move on.

Global Warming

One of the most serious effects is global warming. When the trees in the rainforest are cut down, carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere. This carbon dioxide acts as a blanket, trapping the sun’s heat and warming the planet. This can have huge consequences for the world’s climate.

The Important Rainforest to Animal and Plant

Rainforests are located across the world, generally around the equator line, between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. Central and South America, Afrika, India, Southeast Asia, part of Indonesia and Australia all contain rainforest.

There are many species of plant and animal in the rainforest. Half of the world's animal species live in rainforest and that 25 percent of the world's medicine is derived from rainforest plants.

Unfortunately, scientist have not been able to reseach and explore the majority of the rainforest to find all of the possible medicines and new species of plant and animal. Opinions differ on exactly how much rainforest is disappearing due to slash and burning farming techniques.

We must protect rainforest altogether because without it, many animals and plants can destroy. if we not protect raiforest start now maybe in future our child only can see animals like elephant. rhinoceros ad tapir, plants like rafflesia, orchid and many timber plant in museum or in book. they cannot look in reality because this animals and plants already extinct.

The Layer of Rainforest

Rainforest have four layer, that is emergent layer, canopy layer, understory layer and forest floor layer. Different layer have different flora and fauna.

Emergent Layer

· The emergent layer contains a small number of very large trees called emergents, which grow above the general canopy, reaching heights of 45–55 m, although on occasion a few species will grow to 70–80 m tall.

· They need to be able to withstand the high temperature and strong winds in some areas.

· Eagles, butterflies, bats, and monkeys leave in this layer.

Canopy Layer

¨ More than half of the largest tree, that is those between 30 and 45 metres tall, are found in this layer.

¨ Home to 50 percent of all plant species in the world.

¨ The animals is same in the emergent layer, but more diverse. That’s mean we can see many type of monkey in canopy layer than only one or two type monkey in emergent layer.

Understory Layer

Ø Between the canopy and the forest floor.

Ø Bushes, shrubs and trees grow there about 15 to 30 metres above the ground. Plants do not grow tall in this layer because it gets very little sunlight.

Ø Bats, birds, snakes, leopard, lizard and insects live here.

Forest Floor Layer

ü The bottom layer of the rainforest has almost no direct sunlight.

ü Contains decaying plants and animal matter, ferns, moss and other plants that don't need as much sun.

ü Many fungi grow here which help decay the animal and plant waste.

ü Beetles, spiders, insects, tapirs and flightless birds live here.

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