Tropical Rain Forest Manland relationship Oxford University Press

Tropical Rain Forest Man-land relationship © Oxford University Press 2009

2 The natural TRF – 3 How does it look like? © Oxford University Press 2009

How does a tropical rainforest look like? Evergreen Layered structure Rich diversity of plant species (Credit: David Woodfall / WWI / Still Pictures) © Oxford University Press 2009 What characteristics of the tropical rainforest can you identify in this photo?

What are the characteristics of tropical rainforests? 1 Evergreen Tropical rainforests are evergreen. They grow continuously throughout the year An aerial view of the tropical rainforest in Brazil (Credit: Jim Zuckerman/Corbis) © Oxford University Press 2009

What are the characteristics of tropical rainforests? 2 Layered structure Emergent layer Canopy layer Tropical rainforests Young tree layer generally consist of _______ layers. five Shrub layer Undergrowth and ground layer © Oxford University Press 2009

What are the characteristics of tropical rainforests? 3 Trees with special characteristics of roots and leaves (Credit: Gary Braasch/Corbis) Broad-leafed Buttress roots above the soil Leaves with thick waxy surface and drip-tips (Credit: Jacques Jangoux/Photo Researchers, Inc. ) © Oxford University Press 2009 Shallow roots in the soil

What are the characteristics of tropical rainforests? 4 Rich diversity of plant species Tropical rainforests are famous for their rich and luxuriant plant species. Trees are mostly hardwoods. Apart from trees, there are many other plants in a rainforest. (Credit: Panorama Stock Photo Co. Ltd. ) © Oxford University Press 2009

What are the characteristics of tropical rainforests? 4 Rich diversity of plant species A Epiphytes Small shrubs or herbs attaching themselves to trunks and branches, e. g. orchids Grow in canopy layer and capture sunlight Harmless to the host (Credit: H. Brehm / Blickwinkel) © Oxford University Press 2009 Have aerial roots to capture moisture from the air

What are the characteristics of tropical rainforests? 4 Rich diversity of plant species B Climbers Woody plants that climb along the trees to reach the canopy layer for sunlight, e. g. lianas (Credit: Pietro Cenini/Panos Pictures) © Oxford University Press 2009

What are the characteristics of tropical rainforests? 4 Rich diversity of plant species (Credit: Ron Hayes/World of Stock) C Saprophytes Plants that feed on dead or decaying organic matter such as dead leaves and old wood, e. g. fungi Found in places where sunlight cannot penetrate (e. g. forest floor) © Oxford University Press 2009

What are the characteristics of tropical rainforests? 4 Rich diversity of plant species D Parasites Do not produce their own food Grow on other host plants and live by taking nutrients from the host plants, e. g. ‘corpse flowers’ ‘Corpse flower’ (Credit: COMPOST/Peter Arnold Inc. ) © Oxford University Press 2009

What are the characteristics of tropical rainforests? 4 Rich diversity of plant species E Stranglers Start their life as epiphytes and send roots down to the ground, e. g. strangling fig Eventually block the sunlight and kill the host tree Strangling fig (Credit: F. Poelking/Blickwinkel) © Oxford University Press 2009

What is the climate of tropical rainforests? 1 Temperature patterns High annual mean temperature, about _____°C 27 Located at low latitudes, tropical rainforests receive ( low / high ) input of solar radiation. Hot throughout the year © Oxford University Press 2009

What is the climate of tropical rainforests? 1 Temperature patterns High annual rainfall, usually over _______ 2, 000 mm Intense sunlight during daytime causes _____ convection rain in the afternoon. Rainstorm in a rainforest © Oxford University Press 2009

How do tropical rainforests look like? Why do tropical rainforests look like this? This reflects their adaptation to the equatorial climate: 1 Evergreen Plants grow luxuriantly under high temperatures and with abundant rainfall 2 Layered structure Competition for sunlight results in different layers of plants © Oxford University Press 2009

How do tropical rainforests look like? 3 Trees with special root and leaf characteristics 4 Rich diversity of plant species © Oxford University Press 2009 Why do tropical rainforests look like this? • Buttress roots: strong mechanical support for tall trees • Shallow roots: take nutrients up from the topsoil • Leaves have a thick waxy surface and/or drip-tips: to shed excess water from leaves A hot and wet climate results in a rich diversity of plant species

What animals can we find in tropical rainforests? Mammals Birds Reptiles Amphibians Insects © Oxford University Press 2009

Where do animals live in the rainforest? The animals tend to live in a particular layer in the rainforest. Drag the animal on the left onto the layer it lives. If the game cannot work properly, click here to download the latest Adobe Flash Player. © Oxford University Press 2009

What animals can we find in tropical (Credit: Frans rainforests? Lanting/Corbis) Many rainforest animals use different ways to protect themselves. Camouflage: in order to hide (Credit: Michael & Patricia Fogden/Corbis) © Oxford University Press 2009 Special structure: in order to escape Bright colour: to indicate poisonous (Credit: Rhett A. Butler/mongabay. com)

© Oxford University Press 2009

© Oxford University Press 2009

2 Layered structure Emergent layer Height: up to _____ 50 metres Tall, straight and smooth trunks Umbrella shape for full exposure to sunlight © Oxford University Press 2009

2 Layered structure Canopy layer Height: ranging from _____ 20 to _____ 35 metres Oval-shaped crowns Close and continuous canopy blocks sunlight from penetrating down to the forest floor © Oxford University Press 2009

2 Layered structure Young tree layer Height: seldom exceeds _____ 15 metres Conical-shaped crowns Trees die easily due to insufficient sunlight © Oxford University Press 2009

2 Layered structure Shrub layer Height: less than ____ 5 metres Mostly woody shrubs Heliconia is found in the shrub layer in tropical rainforests © Oxford University Press 2009

2 Layered structure Undergrowth and ground layer Only little undergrowth, e. g. mosses and fungi Little availability of sunlight Mushrooms are a kind of fungus found on the forest floor © Oxford University Press 2009

© Oxford University Press 2009