The harpy eagle (harpia harpyja) is one of the world’s most powerful species of eagles, and has adapted to the conditions of the rainforest. With a wingspan of nearly seven feet, the harpy eagle possesses wings designed for speed and swift manoeuvrability specifically for flying through the dense layers of the rainforest. These very wings may allow the eagle to exceed speeds of 50 mph. With five inch long claws that make hunting an efficient task, the harpy eagle preys upon small animals inhibiting the higher levels of the rainforest, such as sloths, monkeys, and other birds. The fact that the eagle may carry prey up to three quarters of its own body weight also indicates its fearsome hunting prowess.
The tropical rain forest primarily consists of four distinct layers: the emergent, upper canopy, understory, and forest floor:
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Emergent trees are spaced wide apart, and are 100 to 240 feet tall with umbrella-shaped canopies that grow above the forest. Because emergent trees are exposed to drying winds, they tend to have small, pointed leaves. Some species lose their leaves during the brief dry season in monsoon rainforests. These giant trees have straight, smooth trunks with few branches. Their root system is very shallow, and to support their size they grow buttresses that can spread out to a distance of 30 feet.
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The upper canopy of 60 to 130 foot trees allows light to be easily available at the top of this layer, but greatly reduced any light below it. Most of the rainforest's animals live in the upper canopy. There is so much food available at this level that some animals never go down to the forest floor. The leaves have "drip spouts" that allows rain to run off. This keeps them dry and prevents mold and mildew from forming in the humid environment.
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The understory, or lower canopy, consists of trees of up to 60 feet. This layer comprises the trunks of canopy trees, shrubs, plants and small trees. There is sparse air movement, and as a result, the humidity is constantly high. This level remains under shade.
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The forest floor is usually completely shaded, except where an opening is created by the fall of a canopy tree. Most areas of the forest floor receive so little light that few bushes or herbs can grow there. Less than 1 % of the light that strikes the top of the forest penetrates to the forest floor. The top soil is very thin and of poor quality. A lot of litter falls to the ground where it is quickly broken down by decomposers such as termites, earthworms and fungi. The heat and humidity further help to break down the litter, which is subsequently absorbed by the trees' shallow roots.
A vast range of flora can be found in the tropical rain forest, namely bromeliads, buttresses, epiphytes, saprophytes, lianas (vines) and orchids. There exists billions of collective species of these plants, and all have adapted to the tropical and humid climate of the tropical rainforest biome.
Curare grows as a large liana, or vine, found in the canopy of the South American rainforest. Lianas are climbing woody vines that festoon rainforest trees. They have adapted to life in the rainforest by having their roots in the ground and climbing high into the tree canopy to reach available sunlight. The vine may get as thick as 4 inches in diameter at its base. It has large alternate, heart-shaped leaves which may be 4-8 inches long and almost as wide, with a 2-6 inches long petiole. The leaves are smooth on top with a hairy white bottom, and deeply indented veins radiating from the leaf base. Clusters of small (1/16-1/8 inches), greenish-white flowers are made up of separate male and female flowers. The fleshy fruits are oval, narrow at the base, and approximately 1-2 mm long.
The Kapok Tree is an emergent tree of the tropical rain forest, and may reach heights up to 150 feet. This species has adapted well to the rainforest environment, by developing various defence mechanisms as well as survival methods. To protect itself from harm, the tree has large spines protruding from the trunk, which may reach diameters of up to 9 feet. The buttress of the tree can extend up to 30 feet beneath the surface of the ground, heavily bracing the tree, mainly due to the condensation of trees in the area, thus making space for roots underneath the ground scarce. The branches of the tree usually extend in horizontal tiers, spreading widely to gather more sunlight, due to their towering presence above the rest of the rainforest. Kapoks are drought deciduous, meaning they shed most or all of their leaves during the tropical dry season. The leaves are compound of 5 to 9 leaflets, each up to 20 cm (8 in) and palm like. Flowers may bloom during the spring season in tight clustered branches. The odor of the flower is pungent, and may be so to attract bats for pollination. The brown seeds of kapok trees are round like peas and are found in pods. They will burst open while still on the tree after the leaves have fallen. Inside exists a whitish cotton-like fiber surrounding the brown seeds. These are carried away with the wind, allowing the seeds to disperse and for the trees to grow in other areas. This is ubiquitous with emergent trees; these trees tend to have wind borne seeds because they rise above the stagnant air of the rainforest and can take advantage of the breezes which blow there. The kapok tree is widely spread around the world and occupies an important niche in the ecosystem of a rainforest. Emergent trees like the kapok rise above the canopy of the rainforest and provide a home for plants dependent on sunlight. Their branches provide a habitat for countless epiphytes, which provide food and shelter for many types or animals. They allow animals to move around the rainforest without coming down to the ground.
Bougainvillea, a tropical plant with epiphytic characteristics, grows in dense forests where it can cling and grab onto other plants to reach the sunlight. It can tolerate semi-shaded areas and it can also tolerate full sun, but when vine-like it tends to climb upward towards the sun. Bougainvilleas are generally not found in swampy areas because of the lack of soil drainage. The plant can reach over thirty feet, taking the form of either vines, trees, or shrubs with sharp thorns. The leaves of the bougainvillea are reminiscent of little hearts with drip tips at the ends, mainly to alleviate rushing water (i.e. heavy rain) fast and not get weighed down by the water. They are dark rich green and look almost like ivy leaves. On the underside of the leaves there are little hairs. The flowers of the bougainvillea can be several different colors, from pink, to red, to orange, to white and yellow. They are small tubes with three papery bracts around them. The flowers grow all over the canes and vines. The root system of the bougainvillea is very fragile and doesn't form a good firm root ball. Bougainvillea has many adaptations to its climate and environment. It has many hooks so it can cling and hold onto other plants for support. Also, it can grow in full sunlight to semi-shade.
The tropical rainforest biome is home to tropical red soil (laterite). The soil is characterizes by its distinct reddish colour as well as a very thin layer of humus. There is heavy capillary action due to the heavy rain.
