Topic 3: The Tropical Rainforest

Create a cover page with the title ‘Topic 3: The
Tropical Rainforest

You may want to include images that come to mind
when you think of Rainforests.
Ecosystems
•
L.O: Be able to define what an ecosystem is,
describe the key components of food webs
and describe the key characteristics of
different Biomes.
What do these images have in common?


They are all ecosystems.

Can you and your partner come up with a definition for
‘ecosystems’?

Start your sentence with ‘I think an ecosystem is…’
Copy and complete the following definition:
An ecosystem is any ………. unit made up of biotic (living
things) such as ……….., animals and bacteria and an abiotic
(non-living) environment such as air, ……….., soil, climate;
the living things depend on each other and on the …………. .
Words:
natural
water
plants
environment
Food Chain

A Food Chain is a line of linkages between producers
and consumers.
Create a food chain
Read each description below and decide where
each component belongs in the food chain.
• Place the following animals in the food chain
• Snail
• Fox
• Green leaf
• Thrush
Green leaf
Snail
Thrush
Fox
• When your web is complete, colour code each component to identify
whether it is a producer or a consumer
What do these Ecosystems
have in Common?
Pond
Hedgerow
Sand Dune
Woodland
Think of…
• Their size
• Their location
• Are there many
of them?
They are…
• Small
• Local
• They can be
found in many
places
What do these Ecosystems
have in Common?
Desert
Savanah
Rainforest
Think of…
• Their size
• Their location
• Are there many
of them?
They are…
• Large
• Global
• Not often found
• Biomes
Polar
What is a Biome?

A large ecosystem is called a biome. A biome
contains particular plant and animal groups,
which are adapted to that particular
environment.

For example:

Tropical rainforest

23.5° north - 23.5° south of the equator.

Hot and wet all year.

Rich in plants and animals.

Poor soils.
Task

In Pairs, read through your card pack and decide which
statement describes each Biome.

You will have 2 minutes to use the card pack to create a
fact file for each biome.

You can discuss your work in pairs, but everyone must
have completed a fact file each.
Located at the Arctic and Antarctic.
There are very low temperatures and
dry conditions. The main polar
regions are Antarctica and
Greenland where temperatures can
fall below -50°C.
Found at 60° north where winter temperatures are
extremely cold . Due to the earth’s tilt there is no
sunlight for some months of the year. Coniferous
trees have needles instead of leaves that reduce
moisture and heat loss during the cold dark winter
months. This biome is found in Canada, Russia and
Finland.
These grow further north from the Equator. Found in
Western Europe, where rain storms are common.
There are also small parts in the east coasts of Asia,
North America and New Zealand. The suns rays are
weaker at this latitude. As a result of these
conditions, deciduous trees are found here which
are trees that loose their leaves in winter.
These areas are found at the Arctic Circle to about
60-70° north, such as Canada, Russia and other parts
of northern Europe. Temperatures are below freezing
for most of the year. Only tough, short grasses can
survive there. The plants and grasses that live in the
tundra are adapted to retain heat and moisture in
the cold, windy and dry conditions.
Located about 30-40° north and south of the
Equator. Inland away from coasts, with hot summers
and cold winters. This includes the vast areas of
temperate grassland in North America (prairies) and
Eastern Europe. These areas experience warm, dry
summers and cold winters. It is found in southern
Russia, Ukraine and South Africa.
Located roughly 30° north and south of the Equator
close to the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.
Deserts cover one fifth of the world’s land surface.
Large hot deserts can be found in India and the
USA. Sinking air stops clouds from forming, resulting in
high day time temperatures, low nighttime
temperatures and low rainfall. Plants and animals
have to be well adapted to survive in these
conditions.
Located close to the equator. The tropical rainforest
has high temperatures and heavy rainfall, creating
good conditions for plants to grow . Rainforest
covers 6% of the Earth’s surface and lots can be
found in Malaysia and Brazil. More than half the
world’s species of plants and animals live in this
global ecosystem. A quarter of all medicines come
from rainforest plants.
Located between 15-30° north and south of the
Equator. The tropical climate in these areas means
that there are both wet and dry seasons. The dry
season can be very hot and wild fires can break out.
Violent thunder storms can occur during the wet
season. Large herds of animals graze on these
grasslands. Savanna biome is common in Africa.
Polar
•
•
•
Located at the Arctic and
Antarctic.
Very low temperatures and
dry conditions.
The main polar regions are
Antarctica and Greenland
where temperatures can
fall below -50°C.
•
•
•
Deciduous Forest
Grow further north from the Equator.
Found in Western Europe, where rain storms
are common. There are also small parts in the
east coasts of Asia, North America and New
Zealand. The suns rays are weaker at this
latitude.
As a result of these conditions,
deciduous trees are found here.
Tropical rainforest
•
•
•
•
Tundra
Found at the Arctic Circle to about
60-70° north e.g. Canada, Russia and
other parts of northern Europe.
Temperatures are below freezing for most of
the year.
Only tough, short grasses can survive there.
The plants and grasses are adapted to
retain heat and moisture in the cold, windy
and dry conditions.
Desert
•
•
•
•
•
Located close to the equator.
Has high temperatures and
heavy rainfall, creating good
conditions for plants to grow.
Rainforest covers 6% of the
Earth’s surface and lots can be
found in Malaysia and Brazil.
More than half the world’s
species of plants and animals
live in this global ecosystem.
A quarter of all medicines
come from rainforest plants.
Tropic of
Cancer
•
•
•
Found at 60° north where
winter temperatures are
extremely cold .
Due to the earth’s tilt
there is no sunlight for
some months of the year.
Coniferous trees have
needles instead of leaves
that reduce moisture and
heat loss during the cold
dark winter months.
Found in Canada, Russia
and Finland.
•
Tropic of
Capricorn
•
Savana
Coniferous Forest
•
•
The
Equator
Located roughly 30° north and
south of the Equator close to the
tropics of Cancer and Capricorn
e.g. India and the USA.
Deserts cover one fifth of the
world’s land surface
Sinking air stops clouds from
forming, resulting in high day time
temperatures, low nighttime
temperatures and low rainfall.
Plants and animals have to be
well adapted to survive in these
conditions.
Temperate grassland
Do you know any additional information
about any of the biomes?
•
•
•
•
•
Located between 15-30°
north and south of the
Equator e.g. Africa
The tropical climate in these
areas means that there are
both wet and dry seasons.
The dry season can be very
hot and wild fires can break
out.
Violent thunder storms can
occur during the wet
season.
Large herds of animals graze
on these grasslands.
•
•
•
Located about 30-40° north
and south of the Equator
e.g. vast areas of grassland
in North America (prairies)
and Eastern Europe
(Southern Russia and
Ukraine).
Inland away from coasts,
with hot summers and cold
winters.
These areas experience
warm, dry summers and
cold winters.
Where are Biomes Located?
True or False

A Secondary Consumer is the animal which eats the
producer False

Organisms such as bacteria that break down plant and
animal material are decomposers True

A biome is a small, local ecosystem

Tropical rainforests are found near the polar areas False
False