Transcript Emergent Layer - gozips.uakron.edu

Miss Beltram
Grade Two
Where Can We Find
Rainforests?
Rainforests can be found all over the world, from
Alaska and Canada to Asia to Africa..
Andrea Beltram
Rainforests
• Cover less than 2% of the earth’s
surface, but are home to more than
50% of the world’s plant and animal
species!
• Are found on every continent on earth
except Antarctica.
• Are characterized by ninety plus inches
of rain and constant temperatures in the
80’s!
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Layers of the Rainforest
Layers of the Rainforest are called
“Strata”
There are four layers :
Emergent Layer
Canopy
Understory
Forest Floor
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Layers of the Rainforest
Emergent Layer
The tallest trees
can grow up to
200 feet high!
Birds and monkeys
Live here
This layer gets the
Most sun and wind
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Layers of the Rainforest
Canopy
The trees of
canopy can
60 to 90 feet
Tall.
• Many of the trees
Branches are
Intertwined.
• The majority
Of the rainforest
Animals live here because
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There is sunlight
Layers of the Rainforest
Understory
Very little
sunlight and
it is very dark
and humid
• Bats, frogs, snakes
And butterflies
Live here
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Layers of the Rainforest
Forest Floor
Very dark and
Humid
• mostly sticks and
animal debris
• Insects, termites,
Beetles and ants
Live here
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How does the Rainforest Help
us?
We get food, medicine, and lumber
from the rainforests
The rainforests helps to control the
world’s temperature and climate.
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Foods
Bananas, pineapple, oranges,
lemons, coconuts, corn, rice,
vanilla, chocolate, cocoa,
avocados, sugar, cinnamon, ginger,
cola, popcorn, salsa
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Medicines
 many of the medicines we use every day
Most of the cancer treating medicine is found
in the rainforests
Less than 1% of the rainforests have been
explored for medicines, but that equals 25%
of all of the worlds medicines!
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Why would anyone want to hurt
the rainforests?
People are destroying the
rainforests at a rapid rate.
They do this in order to create
farmland, make money from
lumber, cattle ranching, to
make roads, and for mining.
Every second we lose the equivalent to a
football field of rainforest….
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At this rate, there may be no rainforests left
in less than 40 years…
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Let’s Review!
• The rainforest is a wooded landmass
with average rainfall of 100 inches
every year, very hot and humid.
• There are rainforests on every continent
except Antarctica.
• They are home to more than 50% of
the world’s animals and plant life.
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Strata of the Rainforest
• Emergent layer: trees can be as tall as 200
feet! Birds, butterflies and monkeys live here.
• Canopy: trees are 60 to 90 feet tall. This
area has the most wildlife, because it has the
most sunlight. The trees are often
intertwined.
• Understory: Small trees and bushes are here,
it is the home of snakes, bats, and frogs to
name a few. It is very humid.
• Forest Floor: It is dim, dark and wet here.
The floor is covered by animal debris, sticks,
and dead leaves. Andrea Beltram
Emergent Layer
Canopy
Understory
Forest floor
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Why are rainforests important
to us?
• They contain half of the world’s species
of plants and animals
• They help regulate the climate
worldwide
• They are an endless supply for the
medicines we need
• There are many people who call the
rainforest their home
• They provide us with the foods we love
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How are they being
destroyed?
•
•
•
•
For cattle ranching
For mining
For logging/lumber
For road construction
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Rainforests are an important part of
our world and they need our
protection.
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References
All images retrieved on 8/12/06 from
http://www.google.com/images
Facts and Information about the
Rainforest.
http://www.nature.org/rainforests/explor
e/facts.html
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