Climate:
The tropical rain forest consists of tall trees and a yearly amount of warmth. The average yearly rain in a tropical rain forest is about 50 to 260 inches. As with the temperature, it never exceeds 93 °F or drops below 68 °F. The average humidity is between 77% and 88%. Rainforests only cover less than 6% of Earth's land surface, a small percent as compared to other biomes like the desert. Scientists estimate that more than half of all the world's plant and animal species live in tropical rain forests. Tropical rainforests are important to not only the plants and animals that live there, but all the human beings in the world. Rain forests produce 40% of Earth's oxygen.
The tropical rain forest consists of tall trees and a yearly amount of warmth. The average yearly rain in a tropical rain forest is about 50 to 260 inches. As with the temperature, it never exceeds 93 °F or drops below 68 °F. The average humidity is between 77% and 88%. Rainforests only cover less than 6% of Earth's land surface, a small percent as compared to other biomes like the desert. Scientists estimate that more than half of all the world's plant and animal species live in tropical rain forests. Tropical rainforests are important to not only the plants and animals that live there, but all the human beings in the world. Rain forests produce 40% of Earth's oxygen.
Where are tropical rain forests found?
Most ropical rainforests are located near the equator. An astounding fifty seven percent of all tropical rainforests are found in Latin America. One third of the world's tropical rainforests are in Brazil. Other tropical rainforests are located in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands (25% of the world's tropical rainforests) and West Africa (18%). As one can conclude, rain forests are not as scattered as most biomes.
Most ropical rainforests are located near the equator. An astounding fifty seven percent of all tropical rainforests are found in Latin America. One third of the world's tropical rainforests are in Brazil. Other tropical rainforests are located in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands (25% of the world's tropical rainforests) and West Africa (18%). As one can conclude, rain forests are not as scattered as most biomes.
Layers of a Rain Forest:
- Emergent: This layer includes the tallest trees, which collect the most sunlight. Animals found here are eagles, monkeys and butterflies.
- Canopy: This is the primary layer which covers the two remaining layers. Many animals, such as snakes and tree frogs, live in this layer.
- Understory: Sunlight is scarce in this layer. Plants do not grow as high. There is a large amount of insects in this area.
- Forest: Hardly any sun reaches this area, preventing plants from growing. Giant anteaters live at the bottom.
Animals:
Many species of animal life can be found in the rain forest. Out of both terrestrial and aquatic biomes, rain forests hold the biggest variety of plants. Moreover, insects make up the largest single group of animals that live in tropical forests. They include brightly colored butterflies, mosquitoes, camouflaged stick insects, and huge colonies of ants. Animal life in rain forests range from mammals to reptiles to birds to amphibians. Some animals include Bengal tigers, Harpy eagles, spider monkeys, anacondas, red-eyed tree frogs, lemurs and even aquatic animals like the manatee and piranha.
Many species of animal life can be found in the rain forest. Out of both terrestrial and aquatic biomes, rain forests hold the biggest variety of plants. Moreover, insects make up the largest single group of animals that live in tropical forests. They include brightly colored butterflies, mosquitoes, camouflaged stick insects, and huge colonies of ants. Animal life in rain forests range from mammals to reptiles to birds to amphibians. Some animals include Bengal tigers, Harpy eagles, spider monkeys, anacondas, red-eyed tree frogs, lemurs and even aquatic animals like the manatee and piranha.
Plants:
Rain forests contain an enormous variety of trees. These trees, as well as other plants, have special adaptations to live in such a wet climate. A tropical rain forest has more kinds of trees than any other area in the world. Scientists have counted about 100 to 300 species in one 2 1/2-acre area in South America. Seventy percent of the plants in the rainforest are trees.
Rain forests contain an enormous variety of trees. These trees, as well as other plants, have special adaptations to live in such a wet climate. A tropical rain forest has more kinds of trees than any other area in the world. Scientists have counted about 100 to 300 species in one 2 1/2-acre area in South America. Seventy percent of the plants in the rainforest are trees.
Rain Forest Facts:
- Rainforests are extremely important because the water they produce is evaporated and then used as rain in other areas.
- The rainfall can reach up to 400 inches in one year.
- There are over 2,500 different vine species in the tropical rainforest. Some have a thickness that equals the circumference of a human being.
- About half of all known species of plants and animals live in the tropical rainforest.
- There are some tropical rainforests that have been around since dinosaurs roamed the Earth.
- Most of the animals living in the tropical rainforest live in the trees.
- Some people choose to live in the tropical rainforest and become farmers for the food and spices people eat.
- Because of the amount of trees in the tropical rainforest biome, it is responsible for the majority of the oxygen production in the air that we breathe.