Tropical Rainforests
A Guide to Understanding Rainforests
Rainforest Basics
 3 locations: Latin America, Western Equatorial Africa, SouthEast Asia
 Forest containing thousands of different species
 Fungi, plants, trees, animals
 Has been evolving over millions of years
 Extreme diversity among all species
 Hot and humid climate year round, consists of rain and
sunlight
 Deforestation is a major concern for rainforest’s survival
(IMAX-Presents)
Vertical Structure of the Rainforest
 Ground Level
 Forest floor, little growth and minute amount of light
 Location of extreme decomposition
 Understory
 Layer of lower canopy, varied levels of leaves and branches
 Canopy
 Ceiling of tree branches and leaves, largest amount of vegetation
 Function: conversion of sunlight to energy through photosynthesis
 Overstory
 Highest level of the rainforest, consists
of trees 20 – 100 ft above the canopy
layer
(Pantas)
http://www.monteverdeinfo.com/canopy/canopy-tourcosta-rica.jpg
Deforestation
 The act of cutting down
trees for personal benefits
 Major motivation is for
economic purposes
 Has a global impact on
species, loss of ecosystems,
loss of renewable resources,
and reduction of carbon
sinks (Butler)
 Many federal governments
have stepped in to help stop
(“Preventing Pillage”)
http://rainforests.mongabay.com/0901.htm
“TREES”- Five Basic Steps to Saving
Rainforests
 TEACH others about the environment, why it is important,
and what they can do to help save the rainforests.
 RESTORE the damaged ecosystems by helping replant trees
on land previously cut down.
 ENCOURAGE others to live without harming the rainforest
and environment
 ESTABLISH parks to protect rainforests and wildlife
 SUPPORT companies and organizations that have made a
pledge to help minimize damaging effects to the
environment
(Butler)
Animals of the Rainforest
 Consists of up to 50 million species
(Pantas)
 Over 50% of the world’s species live
in the rainforest
 When deforestation occurs,
animals are forced to either
migrate or they die
http://www.duke.edu/web/nicholas/bio217/jmz28/p
jpg
 Animals have special adaptations
that enable them to live in the
extreme climate
 Ex. Parrots, orangutans, ocelots,
lemurs, gorillas, etc.
(Rainforest)
http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/wes/webquests_themes/animals/r
ainforest_animals/images/ocelot.jpg
Conservation Efforts
 Ecotourism
 Enables locals to raise money themselves by entrance fees,
creating tourism jobs, utilizing accommodations and
amenities by locals
 Bio-prospecting fees
 Giving scientists and other countries the right to use native
plants and species for their own benefit without any harm,
scientists and countries will give country money for
compensation
 Corporate sponsorships
 Enabling companies and individuals to adopt parks
(Butler)
References

Butler, Rhett A. “How to Save Tropical Rainforests - Introduction.” Mongabay.com / A Place Out
of Time: Tropical Rainforests and the Perils They Face. 9 January 2006.
http://rainforests.mongabay.com/1001.htm.

IMAX Presents - Tropical Rainforest. Dir. Ben Shedd. Perf. Geoffrey Holder. Vista Point Ent, 1992.
Film.

Pantas, Lee James. "About Rain Forests." Liza's Reef -Coral Reef Art. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2009.
<http://www.lizasreef.com/HOPE%20FOR%20THE%20RAIN %20FORESTS/about_rain_forests.htm>

"Preventing pillage in the rainforest." Economist 390.8620 (2009): 39. Academic Search Premier.
EBSCO. Web. 16 Nov. 2009.

"Rainforest." Rainforest Animals. The Animal Spot, n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2009.
<http://www.rainforestanimals.net/rainforest.html>.