TROPICAL RAINFOREST Forest of tall trees in a region of year-round warmth. An average of 50 to 260 inches (125 to 660 cm.

) of rain falls yearly. The temperature- higher than 93 F (34 C) or drops below 68 F (20 C); average humidity is between 77 and 88%; rainfall is often more than 100 inches a year.

 Rainforests

now cover less than 6% of Earth's land surface. Tropical rainforests produce 40% of Earth's oxygen. A tropical rain forest has more kinds of trees than any other area in the world. About 1/4 of all the medicines we use come from rainforest plants.

to a huge number of different plants and animals. All tropical rainforests are endangered. There are four layers of rainforest: (emergent, upper canopy, understory/lower canopy, forest floor)
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 Tropical rainforests are found between latitudes 10 N and 10 S. This includes the Amazon Basin of South America, the Zaire Basin of Africa and the islands and peninsulas of South-east Asia. In Southeast Asia, the tropical rainforests are found in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Burma and Papua New Guinea. Zaire basin in Africa contains the largest patch of Tropical Rainforest in Africa and about one-tenth of the worlds rainforest.

The distribution of the tropical rainforest in S.E.A, is indicated by the green areas distribution of the tropical rainforest in S.E.A, is indicated by the green areas

South East Asia

Australia

Africa

NOTE : The distribution of T.R.F is indicated by green areas

In Southeast Asia, the tropical rainforests are found in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Burma and Papua New Guinea. India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are in small patches and strips, Indonesia contains one-tenth of the worlds rainforest and 40% of all Asian rainforests.  About four-fifths of Malaysia are covered by tropical rainforest. But now has lost about two third of its lowland forest to plantations.  Papua New Guinea still has areas of rainforest yet to be disturbed, due to its mountainous terrain. Papua New Guinea is home to many amazing animals, one being the largest butterfly in the world; the Queen Alexandras birdwing. Its wing span can reach up to 10 inches wide!

About four-fifths of Malaysia are covered by tropical rainforest. But now has lost about two third of its lowland forest to plantations. Rainforest Malaysia located near equator are blessed with tropical rainforest. Tropical Rainforest Malaysia also known as tropical moist broadleaf forest Lowland tropical rainforests, are forests which receive high rainfall (more than 2000 mm, or 80 inches, annually) throughout the year. Tropical Rainforest Malaysia are mostly dominated by trees from the Dipterocarpaceae family.

 Rainfall

occur along year comprise about 160,000 of the estimated 250,000 species of plants on Earth Mostly have buttress root, large leaves in lower layer & drip tips Exceptionally thin bark 1 to 2 mm thick Large fleshy fruits attract birds, mammals, and even fish as dispersal agents

Banyan tree

Talipot palm

Peacock plant

Giant bamboo

Emergent Layer
     

Top layer Tallest tree (200 feet above) with around 16 feet trunks Broad-leaved, hardwood evergreens Small, pointed and waxy leaves more exposed to drying wind Shallow root system , buttress root to protect against strong wind Their seeds spread all over the forest

Get greatest amount of sunlight but also must endure high temperatures, low humidity & strong winds  Most of animal found never touch the ground


Kapok tree

Toucan

They eat: Fruits, insects, lizards, small birds, eggs, berries, and rodents. Enemies (Predators): Humans, larger birds, alligators, and jaguars. Interesting Facts: o live in the holes of decayed trees o bill is frightening to other birds and small animals o 2 toes forward and 2 toes backwards to gives an excellent grip on trees o Feathered tongue o one of the noisiest birds in the world o blind when born & open their eyes around 3 weeks.

eat: The juice from dying fruits and flowers. Enemies (Predators): Birds, big bugs, big insects, and humans. Interesting Facts:
They
o o

Morpho butterfly

o o o o

Spends the night hanging from trees or the underside of leaves. Folds up bright wings when sleeps 17 kinds of Morpho butterflies Some have tan & white wings most have blue wings It loves to sit in the sun lives for only a short time, from a few days to about 8 months.

Canopy Layer  Layer

under emergent, umbrella shaped  60 to 130 foot trees  Accept 80% of sunlight and leaves are dense  Higher photosynthesis rate yield more fruits, seeds, flowers and leaves attract and support a wide diversity of animal life  Bromeliads cup like plant provide drinking pool for animal & breeding location for tree frogs

 Branches

often densely covered with other plants (epiphytes) and tied together with vines (lianas)  Leaves - smooth, oval leaves that come to a point & form drip tips allow water flow off the leaves to prevent mosses & fungi growth  Provides shelter under trees from harsh weather  Most rainforests animal stay in this layer

Macaw

Spider monkey

Tree frog

Understory Layer (low canopy)

Known as shrub layer  60 foot trees  Receiving only 2-15% of the sunlight  Have large broad leave to absorb light


BANANA TREE The bananas that we eat grow on trees in the understory layer rainforest. This tree has very large leaves. This is so the leaves can capture as much sunlight as possible.

Made up of the trunks of canopy trees, shrubs, plants, small young trees and leafy herbaceous plants  Little air movement because have thick layer humidity is constantly high  Constant shade stage


Rely on insects & animals to pollinate their flower  Home to a number of birds, snakes and lizards as well as predators such as jaguars, boa constrictors and leopards


CAPUCHIN MONKEY The capuchin is a small monkey. It is usually dark brown or black. They also like to eat the liquid from inside a cacao pod. Capuchins find shelter in the branches and leaves of branches in the understory.

Blue-tailed Iguana

Boa Constrictor

Coatimundi

Fruit Bat

Green Tree Boa

Leaf Cutter Ants

Margay

Tree Frog

Forest Floor Layer

    

Lowest layer with mud & dirt, completely shaded Receives less than 2% of the sunlight less plant grow & few bushes or herbs can grow Person can easily walk through most parts of a tropical rain forest Important part of the forest ecosystem Decomposition leaves fall & dead animals (nutrient)

Decomposers such as millipedes & earthworms use these nutrients for food  Tree root absorb the nutrient  Many of the largest rainforest animals & thousand of other plant & animal are found


 There

are so many creatures living in the rainforest. So, there is a great deal of competition for food, sunlight and space. Some animals became very specialized They adapted to eat a specific plant or animal that few others eat. For example, parrots and toucans eat nuts, and developed big strong beaks to crack open the tough shells of Brazil nuts. Leafcutter ants climb tall trees and cut small pieces of leaves and carry it back to their nest. The leaf is about 50 times their weight. The ants bury the leaf pieces, and the combination of the leaves and the ants' saliva encourages the growth of a fungus, which is the only food these ants eat.

between plants and animals. trees depend on animals to spread the seeds of their fruit to distant parts of the forest. Birds and mammals eat the fruits, and travel some distance before the seeds pass through their digestive systems in another part of the forest. Problem : if one species becomes extinct, the other is in danger too unless it can adapt in time. Example : dodo and calvaria tree.
Mutualism

 Animal

use camouflage to 'disappear' in the rainforest. Examples : Stick insects, butterflies whose wings look like leaves. Camouflage is useful for predators -can catch prey that hasn't seen them. Example :The Boa Constrictor. three-toed sloth uses camouflage and amazing slowness to escape predators. Green algae grows in the sloth's fur, which helps camouflage it in the forest canopy. other adaptations. snail-like pace movement; it is one of the slowest-moving animals on earth. Predators, do not notice the sloth as it hangs quietly in the trees, high up in the canopy.

 Poisonous

animals-use bright colors to warn predators to leave them alone. Brightly colored poison arrow frogs. Special features : exp- The Woolly Spider Monkey can do wonderful acrobat which can leap six metres from tree to tree. Has a special tail that can be used like a hand to hang from trees or to reach out for fruit (called a prehensile tail).

 In

drier temperate deciduous forests a thick bark helps to limit moisture evaporation from the tree's trunk. Since this is not a concern in the high humidity of tropical rainforests, most trees have a thin, smooth bark. The smoothness of the bark may also make it difficult for other plants to grow on their surface.

 Lianas

are climbing woody vines that drape rainforest trees. They have adapted to life in the rainforest by having their roots in the ground and climbing high into the tree canopy to reach available sunlight. Many lianas start life in the rainforest canopy and send roots down to the ground.

 The

leaves of forest trees have adapted to cope with exceptionally high rainfall. Many tropical rainforest leaves have a drip tip. These drip tips enable rain drops to run off quickly. Plants need to shed water to avoid growth of fungus and bacteria in the warm, wet tropical rainforest.

 Many

large trees have massive ridges near the base that can rise 30 feet high before blending into the trunk. Why do they form? Buttress roots provide extra stability, especially since roots of tropical rainforest trees are not typically as deep as those of trees in temperate zones.

 Prop

and stilt roots help give support and are characteristic of tropical palms growing in shallow, wet soils. Although the tree grows fairly slowly, these above-ground roots can grow 28 inches a month.

 Plants

that live on the surface of other plants, especially the trunk and branches. They grow on trees to take advantage of the sunlight in the canopy. Most are orchids, bromeliads, ferns, and Philodendron relatives. Tiny plants called epiphylls, mostly mosses, liverworts and lichens, live on the surface of leaves.

Some grow in the ground, like pineapple, but most species grow on the branches of trees. Their leaves form a vase or tank that holds water. Small roots anchor plants to supporting branches, and their broad leaf bases form a water-holding tank or cup. The tank's capacity ranges from half a pint to 12 gallons or more. The tanks support a thriving eco-system of bacteria, protozoa, tiny crustaceans, mosquito and dragonfly larvae, tadpoles, birds, salamanders and frogs.

 On

tropical deltas and along ocean edges and river estuaries, trees have adapted to living in wet, marshy conditions. These trees, called mangroves, have wide-spreading stilt roots that support the trees in the tidal mud and trap nutritious organic matter.

 Pitcher

plant vines in the family Nepenthaceae have leaves that form a pitcher, complete with a lid. Sweet or foul-smelling nectar in the pitcher attracts insects, especially ants and flies, that lose their grip on the slick sides and fall into the liquid. Downward-pointing hairs inside the pitcher prevent the insects' escape. The insects are digested by the plants and provide nutrients. Pitcher plants are not epiphytes but climbers rooted in the soil.

1. Logging - For their timber felling selected tree, tears down with it climbers, vines, epiphytes & Lianas. extreme soil disturbance by building of roads.

2. Agriculture shifted cultivators People moves into rainforest & established small-scale farming operations.

3. Agriculture cash crops & cattle Ranching - Undisturbed and logged rainforest areas are being totally cleared to provide land for food crops, tree plantations or for grazing cattle (Colchester & Lohmann).

6. Mining & industry - Lead to direct forest loss due to clearing of land to establish projects. 5. Large dams - Downstream ecosystems are damaged by dams which trap silt, holding back valuable nutrients.

4. Fuelwood - The United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organisation estimates that '1.5 billion of the 2 billion people worldwide who rely on fuelwood for cooking and heating are overcutting forests'.

1. For all purposes for which tropical timber is used, other woods or materials could be substituted.

6. Local campaigns against mining and industrial development, and the campaigns to reform the large aid agencies which fund such schemes, should be supported.

2. Land reform is essential if this problem is to be addressed.

Ways to preserve and conserve

3.Reducing the demand for Southern-produced agribusiness crops and alleviating the pressure from externally-financed development projects and assistance 4. involve a return to local peoples' control of the forests they depend on.

5. Aid organisations like the World Bank have traditionally favoured spectacular largescale irrigation and hydroelectric projects.

Economic and Medical values

TRF have very rich fruits trees. Supplied 250 cultivated kind of fruits. Ex: yam, coffee, cocoa, banana, papaya, mango, macadamia, avocado, sugarcane. TRF products such as rattans, resins, gaharu, damar and timbers. For trades TRF animals such as deer, birds, catfish

Avocado Macadamia nuts BreadfruitManioc/tapiocaBrazil nuts Mayonnaise (coconut oil) Cane sugar (Saccharin officious, indigenous to the Far East) Okra Cassava Papaya Chayote Passion fruit Chewing gum (chicle latex) Plantain Eucalyptus oil (cough drops, perfumes) Star anise Guava Tolu balsam oil (cough drops, confections, soap, cosmetics) Hearts of palm Vermouth (cascarilla oil)

Teak Rosewood Sandalwood Mahogany Balsa

Anthurium Philodendron Bromelaids Rubber trees (Ficus sp.) Croton Sanserveria Dieffenbachia Schefflera Dracena Spathiphullum Fiddle-leaf fig Swiss Cheese Plant Parlor Ivy Zebra Plant

Bamboo-Furniture, baskets Jute/ hemp-Rope, burlap Kapol-Insulation, soundproofing, lifejackets Raffia-Rope, Cord, Baskets Ramie-Cotton-ramie fabric, fishing line Rattan-Furniture, wickerwork, baskets, chair seats

Bay Oil-Perfumes Camphor Oil-Perfumes, soap, disinfectant, deodorant Cascarilla Oil-Confections, beverages Coconut Oil-Suntan lotion, candles Eucalyptus Oil-Perfumes, cough drops Guaic Oil-Perfumes Palm Oil-Shampoo, detergents Patchouli Oil-Perfumes Rosewood Oil-Perfumes, cosmetics, flavorings Sandalwood Oil-Perfumes Oil of Star-Anise-Scenting, confections, beverages, cough drops Tola Balsam Oi-lConfections, soaps, cosmetics, cough drops Ylang-ylang-Perfumes

Chicle latex-Chewing gum Copaiba-Perfumes, fuel Copal-Paints and varnishes Gutta percha-Golf ball covers Rubber latex-Rubber products Tung oil-Wood finishing

TRF are called the world largest pharmacy Due to the large amount of natural medicines discovered. Examples: roots of climber (Chondrodendron tomentosum)- muscle relaxant in surgery leaves of Erythroxylum coca- cocaine yam (Dioscorea)- diosgenin (steroid)

roots of a shrub (Rauvolfia)- reserpine to reduce high BP and treat mental illness seeds of Moreton Bay Chestnut (Castanospermum australe) from Australia TRF -discovered to contain drug that might help combat AIDS. Chemical (emitine) in Cephaelis ipecacuanha- induce vomiting from swallowed poisonous or harmful substances. More than 1400 varieties of TRF plants- potentially to cure cancers.

Annato-Red dye Curare-Muscle relaxant for surgery Diogenin-Arthritis and Asthma treatments, steroids, birth control pills, sex hormones Quassia-Insecticide Quinine-Anti-malarial treatment, pneumonia treatment Reserpine-Sedative, tranquilizer Strophanthus-Heart disease Strychnine-Emetic, stimulant Tuba root-Rotenone, flea dip