Species Diversity
Quick Facts
•
The tropical rainforest has more species of plants and animals than any other part of the
world, with a significantly fewer amount of each
• Plants adapt to rain by shedding water off their leaves quickly so the branches don't get
weighed down and break
• Over 2,500 species of vines grow in the rainforest and make up 40% of the canopy leaves
• Trees of the same species are very seldom found growing close together which prevents
mass contamination from disease or insect infestation
• There may be 40 to 100 different species of animals in 2.5 acres (1 hectare) of a tropical
rain forest
Plants:
Bromeliads, Carnivorous Plants
(like Pitcher Plants), Epiphytes
(air plants that grow on branches
high in the trees), Lianas (woody
vines), Orchids, Saprophytes,
Stilt / Prop Roots, Strangler Fig,
Bengal Bamboo, Bougainvillea,
Curare, Coconut Tree, Durian,
Jambu, Kapok Tree, Mangrove
Forests, Tualang
Animals:
Africa Forest Elephant, Bengal Tiger,
Chimpanzee, Common Palm Civet or
Musang, Dawn Bat, Golden Lion
Tamarin, Jambu Fruit Dove, King Cobra,
Kinkajou, Linn's Sloth, Orangutan,
Proboscis Monkey, Red-shanked Douc
Langur, Silvery Gibbon, Slender Loris,
Sumatra, Rhinoceros, Toco Toucan,
Vampire Bat, Wagler's Pit Viper
Important Information
Temperature:
The average annual temperature is
77°F. The average minimum monthly
temperature is a humid 64°F.
Solar Insolations (seasons):
Temperature and rainfall are both high
and even throughout the year, which is
what classifies a tropical rainforest as
such.
Limiting Factor:
Sunlight is a major limiting factor.
Beneath the canopy, there is a low
intensity of light that plants and animals
must adapt to in order to survive.
Precipitation:
Tropical Rainforests can average as
little as 6 feet, or as much as 30 feet, of
rainfall per year. What distinguishes a
true rain forest is the distribution of
precipitation throughout the year—there
are no dry seasons. They receive at
least 4 inches per month, but usually
more. If a rain forest does have dry
periods, they are usually short and
unpredictable.
Food Chain
It is important to know that throughout the food chain, energy is constantly being released!
Energy from the sun
Bromeliads
Ant
Producers
Primary Consumer
Fungus
Decomposer
Jaguar
Tertiary Consumer
Sloth
Secondary Consumer
The Four Layers of the Rainforest
Emergent Layer•Tallest trees are the emergents, standing as high as 200 feet above the
forest floor with trunks that measure up to 16 feet around.
•Most of these trees are broad-leaved, hardwood evergreens
•Much sunlight since it is the top layer of the rainforest
Canopy Layer•Primary layer of the forest, forms a roof over the two lower layers
•Most canopy trees have smooth, oval leaves that come to a point…
there are a maze of branches in this layer
•Many animals live in this area since food is abundant
Understory Layer•Little sunshine reaches this area so the plants must grow larger leaves to
reach the sunlight
•The plants in this area rarely grow to reach 12 feet
•Many animals and insects live here
Forest Floor•Very dark down here, since it is the lowest layer
•Almost no plants grow in this area
•Since hardly any sun reaches the forest floor things begin to decay quickly