Tropical Rainforests

• Tropical Rainforests: Found near the Equator, high temperatures and heavy rainfall because of a low pressure belt.
• They are not seasonal
• The soil is infertile
• Trees have very shallow roots
• decomposition is quick
• Leaching: The removal f nutrients from the soil
• Trees are tall and smooth to allow rapid growth
• Lianas have roots in the ground, epiphytes don't.
• The main nutrients are:

  • Nitrogen
  • Phosphorus
  • Potassium
• Biomass is the Biggest store because it is a continuous growing cycle that contains all living things.
• Litter is the smallest store - it is dead organisms such as leaves
• Soil is the middle store
• The nutrient cycle is fastest in the rainforest (fast transfer) because it has good conditions
• Toucan:

  • Bill is frightening to other birds
  • They are camouflaged
  • Large beak to crack open nuts
  • 2 front facing and 2 backwards claws for good grip on branches
• Sloth:

  • Very slow
  • Relatively buoyant
  • Hangs by its claws
  • Thick fur is rough and greenish because of the algae growing on it
  • Fur provides camouflage
• Drip-tip leaves:

  • leaves grow very big to absorb as much sunlight as possible
  • Leaves are waxy to stay dry and prevent mould growing on the leave so it doesn't rot
  • Drip-tip channels the water off the leaf
  • Leaf angling lets the leaf move to find sunlight
• Butrus Roots:

  • very wide
  • shallow roots that support the tree and absorb nutrients
• Liana's:

  • Grow up from the forest floor
  • Tendrils to attach to trees
  • Don't take nutrients rom the tree
  • Dependent on their host tree
• Epiphytes:

  • Get moisture from the air through specially adapted leaves
  • Roots absorb nutrients from decaying leaves that fall into the crevices of the host tree