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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NextPrevious
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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