rainforestecosystem

Ecosystems: Rainforests of the World: 

Ecosystems: Rainforests of the World A presentation by: Carol Cleveland NSF NMGK-12 Fellow 2000-2001

2 Kinds of Rain Forests: 

2 Kinds of Rain Forests Tropical Coastal Temperate

What is a Rain Forest?: 

What is a Rain Forest? 3 Main Layers of the Forest (Emergent) Canopy Understory Forest Floor Over 100 inches of rain in a year (we get about 60 inches)

Where do you find rainforests?: 

Where do you find rainforests?

Where do you find rainforests?: 

Where do you find rainforests? Tropical rainforests are mostly around the equator. 50% are in South America.

Tropical Rainforests: 

Tropical Rainforests Near equator Warm Temperature (70-80oF) Rainy - 2 inches/hour sometimes Up to 400 inches rain in a year Many species of plants and animals In danger from people

Tropical Rainforest Animals: 

Tropical Rainforest Animals

Tropical Rainforest Animals: 

Tropical Rainforest Animals

Tropical Rainforest Plants: 

Tropical Rainforest Plants

Coastal Temperate Rainforests: 

Coastal Temperate Rainforests Scattered around the world Mostly on Pacific West coast of North America

Coastal Temperate Rainforests: 

Coastal Temperate Rainforests Alaska to Oregon 35 to 80oF - not extremes Rain - 140-167 inches per year Trees can grow to 300 feet high and 23 feet in diameter

Coastal Temperate Rainforest Animals: 

Coastal Temperate Rainforest Animals

Coastal Temperate Rainforest Plants: 

Coastal Temperate Rainforest Plants

Why shouldn’t we cut down rainforests?: 

Why shouldn’t we cut down rainforests? Rainforests - very high diversity of animal and plant life (lots of different kinds) Very difficult to replace - not many nutrients in the soil so once the plants are gone it is hard to grow any plants in that area Add oxygen to the atmosphere (40%) but also use much oxygen by decay