What would happen if you put a tree from a
rain forest into a desert? What would
happen if you put a cactus from a desert
into a rain forest? The plants would not be
able to survive long in their new habitats!
Plants can survive only in places that meet
their needs. Plants need sunlight, air, water,
and nutrients. The plants in different
ecosystems have adaptations that help
them to meet their needs.
Rain forests are warm areas that receive
plenty of rain. Many rain forest plants have
broad, waxy leaves that help water run off
more easily. The shape of the leaves helps
keep rain from weighing the plant down.
The plant life in rain forests is very dense,
so there is competition for sunlight. The large leaves of rain forest
plants help the leaves get as much sunlight as possible for
photosynthesis. Some plants, such as orchids, grow on the tops of
trees to get sunlight.
The soil in a rain forest is often soft and wet. Many trees in the rain
forest have some roots above the ground to support them in the wet
soil. Most rain forest plants have shallow roots to get the nutrients
that are found only in the top layer of soil.
The climate of a desert is hot and dry.
Most of the adaptations of desert plants
help them get and store water. Desert
plants, such as the cactus, have tiny, thin
leaves. This leaf shape helps the plants
lose less water. A cactus also has a waxy
covering that keeps moisture inside the
plant. A cactus can also store water in its
stem. Some desert plants have shallow,
spreading roots. When it rains, the roots
can get water from a large area. Some
large desert plants have very long roots.
The mesquite tree has roots up to 24
meters deep. This allows it to get water
from deep underground.
What would happen if we moved a tree from the rain forest to the
desert? The broad leaves would cause the plant to lose too much
water. The sunlight might even be too strong. The tree would not do
well in the desert. Most of its adaptations help it survive in the rain
forest where there is abundant water. These same adaptations
would be a disaster in the desert!
Would the adaptations of a cactus help or hurt it in the rain forest?
You decide!