Plants and animals of the rainforest
how climate prevails in the rainforest;
that throughout the year, similar conditions prevail in the rainforest;
what are the layers of the rainforest.
recognize examples of rainforest plants;
exchange adaptations of climbing plants for life in the rainforest;
recognize selected species of animals living in the rainforest.
Plants of the rainforest
It is difficult to accurately indicate the number of species of plants living on Earth. However, it is estimated that more than half, or even 2/3 of all planetary species of our planet occur in evergreen, humid rainforestsrainforests.
The largest of them are trees. In the canopy layer of densely growing tree crowns, for example, we encounter American mahogany, whose wood is very valuable due to its hardness, durability and beautiful color. Among the tall trees of the rainforest are also many palms. In the understory layer grow fig trees which supply edible fruit and cocoa, whose seeds can be used for making cocoa and chocolate products. There also grow species having a hard and heavy wood, called ebony. It is used for the production of furniture, aviation propellers or artistic products. Some herbaceous plants size and shape resemble trees, such as tree ferns and banana trees.
Very popular in rainforests are various vines, that climb the trunks of the trees so that their highest leaves have access to light. Some of them have thick, woody and long dozens or even hundreds of meters stems. We call them lianaslianas. There are many species of philodendrons, which are grown in our apartments at 1 - 2 meters in height, and in the rainforest they can even reach several dozen meters in length.
Many species epiphytesepiphytes grow on tree bark or branches, a among them ferns, mosses and beautifully blooming orchids. There is very little sunlight reaching the forest floor, which is why there are few plants there.
Find out what products are made from plants growing in the rainforest.
Rainforests currently occupy an area of about 6 - 7% of the land area, that is, less than 2% of the surface of the Earth, and they house more than half of all known species of plants, fungi and animals.
Rainforest animals
Rainforest animals are very diverse. In addition, most of them are represented by more species than anywhere else. Mostly invertebrates live here. Among them are thousands of species of butterflies that reach up to a 25 cm wingspan. Numerous spiders live here, including large tarantulas that sometimes measure up to 30 cm.
Rainforests are also a great place to live for many vertebrates. Numerous species of monkeys living in treetops are characteristic for these regions. There are large predatory cats here too, the jaguar in South America, leopard in Africa and tiger in Asia. In Africa there are apes: chimpanzees, orangutans and gorillas, and in Asia, orangutans. 75% of all known bird species live here. Their representatives are for example parrots, toucans and hummingbirds. Many amphibians, often colorful, live on the trees and river banks, and the rivers are full of fish. Crocodiles and snakes also live in rivers, often reaching large sizes.
Indicate the adaptations of two selected species of rainforest animals to the conditions prevailing there.
Match the pairs: English words with Polish definition.
długie pnącza o zdrewniałych łodygach, spotykane w wilgotnych lasach tropikalnych, najwyższe piętro składa się z pojedynczych, olbrzymich drzew, które osiągają wysokość 60, a nawet więcej metrów i wystają wyraźnie ponad otoczenie., roślina rosnąca na powierzchni innej rośliny, w szczelinach jej kory lub w rozgałęzieniach, czerpiąca wodę wprost z powietrza lub opadów deszczu
| epiphyte | |
| equatorial forest | |
| lianas |
Summary
Each layer of the rainforest consists of plants adapted to the conditions prevailing there.
Characteristic elements of rainforests are vines and epiphytes.
The rainforests are the environments with the largest diversity of animals in the world.
Cutting down rainforests is a serious threat to the Earth.
Present the diversity of species of the selected area of humid rainforests.
Keywords
equatorial forest, epiphyte, monkeys
Glossary
epifit – roślina rosnąca na powierzchni innej rośliny, w szczelinach jej kory lub w rozgałęzieniach, czerpiąca wodę wprost z powietrza lub opadów deszczu
las równikowy – najwyższe piętro składa się z pojedynczych, olbrzymich drzew, które osiągają wysokość 60, a nawet więcej metrów i wystają wyraźnie ponad otoczenie.
liany – długie pnącza o zdrewniałych łodygach, spotykane w wilgotnych lasach tropikalnych