The Rainforest What is a Rainforest Rainforests are

The Rainforest

What is a Rainforest? �Rainforests are the Earth’s oldest living ecosystems. �Rainforests cover 6% of the Earth’s surface yet they contain more than HALF of the world’s plant and animal species! �Described as a tall, dense jungle. �Climate: Very hot and humid �Animals must learn to adapt to this climate

Why is it Called a Rainforest? IT RAINS ALL THE TIME!!

Let’s Talk Layers �There are FOUR layers in a rainforest. �Layer 1 - EMERGENT LAYER � The tallest trees are emergents, 200 feet above the forest floor � Sunlight is plentiful up there � Animals found? Monkeys, Bats, Butterflies � Layer 2 - CANOPY LAYER � Primary layer of forest and forms a roof � Food is abundant in this layer � Animals found? Snakes, Toucans, Tree Frogs

Let’s Talk Layers �Layer 3 - UNDERSTORY LAYER �Little sunlight, plants must grow larger to reach sun �Animals Found? Jaguars, Red-Eye Tree Frogs, Leopards �Layer 4 - FOREST FLOOR �Very dark, most plants can’t survive �Decay comes quickly �Animals Found? Giant anteaters

Rainforest & Us �We eat many foods from the rainforest: �Chocolate �Sugar �Cinnamon �Pineapples �Other Products: �Rubber �Medicine

Why Do We Need Rainforests? �To produce oxygen and clean the atmosphere to help us breathe �Earth’s climate can be affected without Rainforest �So can the Earth’s water cycle

Save The Rainforests �Rainforests are disappearing at a rate of 6000 acres every year! �Plants and Animals are destroyed along with the forests �Why are they disappearing? �Humans cut down trees, destroying homes to these plants and animals

Animals are at Risk �The animals in the rainforests face a very high risk of extinction. �WHAT IS EXTINCTION? �The end of a group of organisms