Location
The Rain forests are located mainly in areas near the equator, such as: Brazil, Central Africa, and South Eastern Asia
Climate
The Rainforests are located in areas near the equator, usually in areas with low altitudes, making the climate of the rainforests extremely hot and humid. This is because the altitude is low, so a lot of water runs down this this area and becomes trapped.
Biotic Factors
Native Species
Species Name: Cocos nucifera
Common Name: Coconut Tree
Description: "The Coconut Tree is a large palm, growing up to 30 m (98 ft) tall, with pinnate leaves 4–6 m (13–20 ft) long, and pinnae 60–90 cm long; old leaves break away cleanly, leaving the trunk smooth. Coconuts are generally classified into two general types: tall and dwarf. On very fertile land, a tall coconut palm tree can yield up to 75 fruits per year, but more often yields less than 30. Botanically, the coconut fruit is a drupe, not a true nut. Like other fruits, it has three layers: the exocarp, mesocarp, and endocarp. The exocarp and mesocarp make up the "husk" of the coconut. The mesocarp is composed of a fiber, called coir, which has many traditional and commercial uses. The shell has three germination pores or "eyes" that are clearly visible on its outside surface once the husk is removed.A full-sized coconut weighs about 1.44 kg (3.2 lb)." [6]
Common Name: Coconut Tree
Description: "The Coconut Tree is a large palm, growing up to 30 m (98 ft) tall, with pinnate leaves 4–6 m (13–20 ft) long, and pinnae 60–90 cm long; old leaves break away cleanly, leaving the trunk smooth. Coconuts are generally classified into two general types: tall and dwarf. On very fertile land, a tall coconut palm tree can yield up to 75 fruits per year, but more often yields less than 30. Botanically, the coconut fruit is a drupe, not a true nut. Like other fruits, it has three layers: the exocarp, mesocarp, and endocarp. The exocarp and mesocarp make up the "husk" of the coconut. The mesocarp is composed of a fiber, called coir, which has many traditional and commercial uses. The shell has three germination pores or "eyes" that are clearly visible on its outside surface once the husk is removed.A full-sized coconut weighs about 1.44 kg (3.2 lb)." [6]
Species Name: Chondrodendron tomentosum
Common Name: Curare
Description: "Curare grows as a large liana, or vine, found in the canopy of the South American rainforest. The vine may get as thick as 4 inches in diameter at its base. It has large alternate, heart-shaped leaves which may be 4-8 inches long and almost as wide, with a 2-6 inches long petiole. The leaves are smooth on top with a hairy white bottom, and deeply indented veins radiating from the leaf base. Clusters of small (1/16-1/8 inches), greenish-white flowers are made up of separate male and female flowers. The fleshy fruits are oval, narrow at the base, and approximately 1-2 mm long." [7]
Common Name: Curare
Description: "Curare grows as a large liana, or vine, found in the canopy of the South American rainforest. The vine may get as thick as 4 inches in diameter at its base. It has large alternate, heart-shaped leaves which may be 4-8 inches long and almost as wide, with a 2-6 inches long petiole. The leaves are smooth on top with a hairy white bottom, and deeply indented veins radiating from the leaf base. Clusters of small (1/16-1/8 inches), greenish-white flowers are made up of separate male and female flowers. The fleshy fruits are oval, narrow at the base, and approximately 1-2 mm long." [7]
Species Name: Pan troglodytes
Common Name: Chimpanzee
Description: "Chimpanzees are about 3 to 5 feet tall and weigh from 99 to 176 pounds. They have black hair. Adults are very often bald, usually a triangle on the forehead of the male, and more complete baldness in females. Their faces are hairless. Infants have pink faces which turn darker with age. Although chimpanzees have no tail, infants have a white tail tuft. The favorite food of chimpanzees are fruits and young leaves, but they like many different types of food. In the dry season they will eat buds and blossoms, soft pitch, stems, galls, honey, bark and resin, seedsand nuts. Insects, like ants and termites are also in their diet. On rare occasions they will hunt small game like monkeys, pigs, and antelopes." [8]
Common Name: Chimpanzee
Description: "Chimpanzees are about 3 to 5 feet tall and weigh from 99 to 176 pounds. They have black hair. Adults are very often bald, usually a triangle on the forehead of the male, and more complete baldness in females. Their faces are hairless. Infants have pink faces which turn darker with age. Although chimpanzees have no tail, infants have a white tail tuft. The favorite food of chimpanzees are fruits and young leaves, but they like many different types of food. In the dry season they will eat buds and blossoms, soft pitch, stems, galls, honey, bark and resin, seedsand nuts. Insects, like ants and termites are also in their diet. On rare occasions they will hunt small game like monkeys, pigs, and antelopes." [8]
Species Name: Panthera tigris tigris
Common Name: Bengal Tiger
Description: "The Bengal Tiger is a beautiful animal. The base color is orange/brown, and white on the cheeks, mouth, eyebrows, and stomach. The tiger also has long black stripes on it. The weight of the tiger can be up to 575 pounds. The Bengal tiger is not the biggest tiger in the world, Its cousin the Siberian tiger is the largest tiger. The body of the Bengal tiger is broad with legs that are slender. The fur of the tiger is very fine in texture. The Bengal tiger is very sneaky and quiet. The cubs look the same. The Bengal tiger can get up to ten feet long and three feet tall." [9]
Common Name: Bengal Tiger
Description: "The Bengal Tiger is a beautiful animal. The base color is orange/brown, and white on the cheeks, mouth, eyebrows, and stomach. The tiger also has long black stripes on it. The weight of the tiger can be up to 575 pounds. The Bengal tiger is not the biggest tiger in the world, Its cousin the Siberian tiger is the largest tiger. The body of the Bengal tiger is broad with legs that are slender. The fur of the tiger is very fine in texture. The Bengal tiger is very sneaky and quiet. The cubs look the same. The Bengal tiger can get up to ten feet long and three feet tall." [9]
Invasive Species
Species Name: Anoplolepis gracilipes
Common Name: Yellow Crazy Ant
Description: "Anoplolepis gracilipes, known most commonly as the yellow crazy ant (YCA), is a relatively large, yellow to orange colored ant with long legs, large eyes and extremely long antennal scapes. The yellow crazy ant, is considered to be among the top 100 most destructive invasive species in the world. Its native range is unclear, although it is thought to have possibly come from West Africa. This species has spread to many other localities and is now found in Hawaii. This species has not yet been found in the continental United States, but it is one that is being closely monitored for. When introduced to new ecosystems, it sometimes causes serious problems with devastating consequences. In some localities this species forms super colonies with multiple queens. " [10]
Common Name: Yellow Crazy Ant
Description: "Anoplolepis gracilipes, known most commonly as the yellow crazy ant (YCA), is a relatively large, yellow to orange colored ant with long legs, large eyes and extremely long antennal scapes. The yellow crazy ant, is considered to be among the top 100 most destructive invasive species in the world. Its native range is unclear, although it is thought to have possibly come from West Africa. This species has spread to many other localities and is now found in Hawaii. This species has not yet been found in the continental United States, but it is one that is being closely monitored for. When introduced to new ecosystems, it sometimes causes serious problems with devastating consequences. In some localities this species forms super colonies with multiple queens. " [10]
Species Name: Acer ginnala
Common Name: Amur Maple
Description: "Acer ginnala is a deciduous spreading shrub or small tree growing to 3–10 m tall, with a short trunk and slender branches. The bark is thin, dull gray-brown, and smooth at first but becoming shallowly fissured on old plants. The leaves are opposite and simple, deeply palmately lobed with three or five lobes, of which two small basal lobes and three larger apical lobes; the lobes are coarsely and irregularly toothed, and the upper leaf surface glossy. The leaves turn brilliant orange to red in autumn, and are on slender, often pink-tinged, petioles. The flowers are yellow-green, produced in spreading panicles in spring as the leaves open. The fruit is a paired reddish samara, long with a 1.5–2 cm wing, maturing in late summer to early autumn." [11]
Common Name: Amur Maple
Description: "Acer ginnala is a deciduous spreading shrub or small tree growing to 3–10 m tall, with a short trunk and slender branches. The bark is thin, dull gray-brown, and smooth at first but becoming shallowly fissured on old plants. The leaves are opposite and simple, deeply palmately lobed with three or five lobes, of which two small basal lobes and three larger apical lobes; the lobes are coarsely and irregularly toothed, and the upper leaf surface glossy. The leaves turn brilliant orange to red in autumn, and are on slender, often pink-tinged, petioles. The flowers are yellow-green, produced in spreading panicles in spring as the leaves open. The fruit is a paired reddish samara, long with a 1.5–2 cm wing, maturing in late summer to early autumn." [11]
Abiotic Factors
Average Yearly Percipitation: 50-260 inches
Average Yearly Range of Temperature: 20 C to 34 C
Soil type: Tropical Soils
Approximate Latitude: 23.5 N to 23.5 S
Approximate Altitudes: Around 0 to -500 feet below sea level
Average Yearly Range of Temperature: 20 C to 34 C
Soil type: Tropical Soils
Approximate Latitude: 23.5 N to 23.5 S
Approximate Altitudes: Around 0 to -500 feet below sea level
Human Interaction
Humans can be found in this biome but they have had a very negative effect on rainforest. Humans have found value in the numerous trees the rainforest have to offer so they have for may years cut down these trees which overall lead the the reduction in the size of the rain forests.