The Rainforest Ecosystem

Learning objectives:

• To describe the characteristics of the tropical rainforest

• Explain how the rainforest ecosystem works including the layers of the rainforest

• Explain how plants and animals are adapted to the tropical rainforest ecosystem

To Start – How would you describe the Tropical Rainforest?

HJH 2013

What may be good words to use….

Link back to climate graph for the rainforest

• What is the climate of the tropical rainforest like?

How may the climate link to the characteristics of the rainforest shown in this image?

The soilThe vegetation which grows in TRFs has to contend with several problems. There are two main ones. Any ideas?

Temperature (ºC)

20222426283032

Rainfall (mm)Very Hot!

Very Wet! Very thin and unfertile

The Nutrient cycle

Nutrient Cycle

Twigs and leaves fall to the ground and become ‘litter’

Decomposition (breaking down) of litter by termites, fungi and bacteria

Nutrients enter the soil

Soil is fertile

Dense vegetation

Copy this diagram. Try to add some sketches to help you remember this.

Links within the ecosystem • Using the information from the previous 4

slides explain how the climate, soils and vegetation are linked

Words that could help you:Humid, hot, nutrients, decomposers, dense, dark, sunlight, unfertile, thin

•Describe the global distribution of tropical rainforests (3)

Task 4 – A Rainforest Country or not? Using your completed world map with all the rainforests marked on decide which countries have

tropical rainforests.

1. Brazil2. Thailand3. Sudan4. Cameroon5. Indonesia6. Chile7. United

Kingdom8. Madagascar9. Angola10. Cambodia11. Cuba12. Japan

BrazilThailandSudanCameroonIndonesiaChileUnited Kingdom MadagascarAngolaCambodiaCubaJapan (RED = YES)

LO2. To describe where tropical rainforests are found. LO3. To illustrate the location of tropical rainforests

The rainforest canopy

Key Words

CanopyUnder CanopyShrub LayerEmergent

Structure of Tropical Rainforests

Structure of Tropical Rainforests

Task 1Write these termsin the correct place.•Under- canopy•Canopy•Emergent Trees•Forest Floor

CANOPY

UNDER-CANOPY

FOREST FLOOR

EMERGENT TREES

The Forest FloorThe Forest Floor

The CanopyThe Canopy

Emergent tree

The tropical rainforest canopy

• Plants have had to adapt to living in tropic conditions (hot and wet).

• Plants grow well in the damp heat – so well that they have to fight for sunlight.

The tropical rainforest canopy

• One way to win is to grow tall and straight.

• Trees battle to reach above the canopy for more sunlight.

Layers of the rainforest

Watch the planet earth DVD

• Watch the BBC Planet Earth Jungles DVD using the worksheet to help your structure your notes

Adaptation“Something that is changed or changes to become suitable to a new or special situation.”

Think SharePair

TRF Trees

• Trees are branchless.• Trunks are tall and thin.• Trees are evergreen.• Leaves are waxy and have drip

tips.• Some trees have large

buttress roots.• Creeping lianas climb high

into the canopy, dropping their roots down to the ground.

• Epiphytes are plants that grow in the branches of trees – they use the tree for support, not for food.

A Rainforest TreeWhy are they so special?

Tom Abbott, Biddulph High School and made available through

www.sln.org.uk/geography and only for non commercial use in schools

Strong scent and bright colours of flowers attract insects which assist in pollination

Strong scent of fruits attracts animals, which feed on the fruit and assist in dispersal of the seeds

Thick, waxy surface of leaves protects against hot sun, heavy rain, and strong winds Aerial roots of

epiphytes absorb moisture from the air

Tall straight trunks no side branches

Thin, smooth bark

Buttress roots Shallow spreading root system

How have plants adapted to the conditions of the rainforest?

• Thick vines loop around the tree trunks to reach sunlight.

• Air plants perch up high on branches.

• Ferns adapt to life in the shade.

• Roots grow close to the surface to get nutrients.

Tom Abbott, Biddulph High School and made available through

www.sln.org.uk/geography and only for non commercial use in schools

Rainforest plants And the enormous the number of different species of plants grow in rainforests, with many species occurring only in one particular region. Unlike other forests, rain forests have an abundance of :

Epiphytes plants which live above the ground growing on tree trunks and branches, Example orchids,

ferns, mosses

Climbing plants including large woody climbers called lianas which are rooted in the soil and usually reach thecanopy. The climbers twist around the tree trunks, and loop from one tree to another in the canopy, binding the trees together.

Tom Abbott, Biddulph High School and made available through

www.sln.org.uk/geography and only for non commercial use in schools

Orchid - sun-loving roots attached themselves to branches and absorb nutrients

Pitcher plant - a carnivorous plant.

slippery rim

tendril

Insects falling into the pitcher are digested, and nutrients which are released are absorbed by the plant.

Parasitic plant

Can you find any adaptations on the

animals you have been given?

Stick Insect

Poison Arrow Tree Frog

Mimic Poison Arrow Tree Frog

Toucans

Three-toed Sloth

African Forest Elephant

Decide what part of the rainforest your animal will live in

Butterhummingfrog

This is a butterhummingfrog. It lives in the Brazilian rainforest. It cannot fly, but uses its wings to attract insects and butterflies to eat. It has a pointed beak to drink nectar from flowers. It likes to live in dark, moist environments like a pond or stream. Its toes have suction cup pads to help in climbing and clinging to leaves and branches.

Use at least 3 adaptations for the animal

Describe your animal, giving reasons for its adaptations linked to the conditions within the

forest

Give your animal a name

Describe your animal’s environment and the layer that the animal lives in

Put your animal in a food chain, using other imaginary animals from the rainforest.

Homework:

Draw an annotated sketch of your animal.

Things to think about...

Use at least 3 adaptations for the animal

Describe your animal, giving reasons for its adaptations linked to the conditions within

the forest

Give your animal a name

Describe your animal’s environment and the layer that the animal lives in

Put your animal in a food chain, using other animals from the rainforest.

© Cable Educational 2006

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Reveal Answers

Reset Page using the Reset Button on YOUR board

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In the table below, highlight the odd one out in each line.

Amazon Xingu Thames Negro

93

The Odd One Out

Argentina Brazil USA Peru

Rio de Janeiro Brasilia Sao Paulo Lima

Cold Hot Wet Humid

Buttress root Saguaro cactus Lianas Canopy

Monkey Anaconda Butterfly Polar bear

Coffee Potato Sugar cane Cocoa

© Cable Educational 2006

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Summary Tropical Rainforests Odd One Out

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Reveal Answers

Reset Page using the Reset Button on YOUR board

Home

NextPrevious

Amazon Xingu Thames Negro

95

The Odd One Out Answers

Argentina Brazil USA Peru

Rio de Janeiro Brasilia Sao Paulo Lima

Cold Hot Wet Humid

Buttress root Saguaro cactus Lianas Canopy

Monkey Anaconda Butterfly Polar bear

Coffee Potato Sugar cane Cocoa

WELL DONE!

© Cable Educational 2006

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