Transcript Where are the Tropical Rainforests

BELL WORK
Do you have an effect on the
Tropical Rainforests?
If yes, how?
If no, why not?
BIOME: Forest; Tropical Rainforest
LAYERS OF A RAINFOREST
EMERGENT LAYER
The tallest trees are the emergent's, towering as
much as 200 feet above the forest floor with trunks
that measure up to 16 feet around. Most of these
trees are broad-leaved, hardwood evergreens.
Sunlight is plentiful up here. Animals found are
eagles, monkeys, bats and butterflies.
CANOPY LAYER
This is the primary layer of the forest and forms a
roof over the two remaining layers. Most canopy
trees have smooth, oval leaves that come to a point.
It's a maze of leaves and branches. Many animals
live in this area since food is abundant. Those
animals include: snakes, toucans and tree frogs.
UNDERSTORY LAYER
Little sunshine reaches this area so the plants have
to grow larger leaves to reach the sunlight. The
plants in this area seldom grow to 12 feet. Many
animals live here including jaguars, red-eyed tree
frogs and leopards. There is a large concentration of
insects here.
FOREST FLOOR
It's very dark down here. Almost no plants grow in
this area, as a result. Since hardly any sun reaches
the forest floor things begin to decay quickly. A leaf
that might take one year to decompose in a regular
climate will disappear in 6 weeks. Giant anteaters
live in this layer.
http://store.discoveryeducation.com/?di=40588027&ti=9000003&ps=879841
Where are the
Tropical Rainforests?
Interesting Facts:
25% of Western pharmaceuticals
are derived from rainforest
ingredients
Less that 1% of these
tropical trees and plants
have been tested by
scientists
Shrinking Rainforests
Rainforests once covered 14% of the
earth's land surface; now they cover 6%
MORE THAN HALF
of the world's plant and animal species
in the Tropical Rainforest
Rainforest Effect
Do you have any
effect on the
Tropical
Rainforest?
Oil Palm Tree
Oil is extracted from the seeds
Native to Africa
Cultivated in Asia.
As of 2007, palm oil is the most widely
produced vegetable oil in the world.
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-palm-oil.htm
Palm (kernel) Oil
Other names for Palm Oil:
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate
A Rainforest Project
An example
from
Ted Talks
Sources:
Caltech
YouTube
ZoomSchool
Mongabay
Wisegeek
Do you have an effect on the
Tropical Rainforests?
If yes, how?
If no, why not?
• EXIT PASS
EXIT PASS