How did the tropical rainforest get like this?
The high rainfall and year-round high temperatures are ideal conditions for vegetation growth. The wide range of plants encourage a huge variety of insects, birds and animals.
Important Facts
Within a four mile square area of a tropical rainforest, you would find:
- Over 750 species of trees
- 1500 different kinds of flowering plants
- 125 species of mammals
- 400 species of birds
- 100 reptiles
- 60 amphibians
- countless insects
- 150 species of butterflies
*Only 1% of these species has ever been studied*
A MAP SHOWING THE WORLD’S TROPICAL RAINFORESTS
Strata of the Rainforest
Different animals and plants live in different parts of the rainforest. Scientists divide the rainforest into zones based on the living environment. Starting at the top, the zones are:
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EMERGENTS: Giant trees that are much higher than the average canopy height. It houses many birds and insects.
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CANOPY: The upper parts of the trees. This leafy environment is full of life in a tropical rainforest and includes: insects, birds, reptiles, mammals, and more.
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UNDERSTORY: A dark, cool environment under the leaves but over the ground.
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FOREST FLOOR: Filled with animal life, especially insects. The largest animals in the rainforest generally live here.
Animals that Live in Rainforests:
Huge numbers of animals live in rainforests, including microscopic animals, invertebrates (like insects and worms), fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals. The different rainforests of the world support different populations of animals.
Why are rainforests being cut down?
Big companies, such as McDonald’s and large logging companies are one of the main reasons rainforests are decreasing. They cut down trees, especially the hardwood trees, to make products such as boxes, furniture and flooring and to make space for cattle ranches so they can farm cows for their beef.
By Matthew Smithies 9M
