Tropical Rainforest Plants List, Information, Pictures & Facts Stopping the Insect Apocalypse: Tips on How You Can Help Save Insects, How to Choose More Sustainable Gifts that Support People and the Planet, Use our conservation curricula in your classroom. Impoverished people who live on or near these lands are also motivated to improve their lives by converting forests into subsistence farmland. Trees in the rainforest grow very tall because they have to compete with other plants for sunlight. Its huge leaves can be up to 3 metres (9.8 ft.) in diameter. Thriving in warm, humid regions, rainforests used to cover the majority of the world; 2. Rainforests are crucial for keeping our planet healthy. In Latin American rainforests, you can hear the calls of the black howler monkey. Bats are the most diverse mammal species in most tropical rainforests, and they regularly fly throughout the emergent, canopy, and understory layers. In South-East Asia, alternative medicine uses around. Fact 23: The largest flower in the world The giant rafflesia flower (Corpse lily) is housed in the rainforest. 2. In Australia, ground dwellers such as wallabies, bandicoots, and potoroos (small marsupials that are among Australias most endangered animals) feast on the foods provided by the forest floor. 163.172.42.123 Gorillas, a critically endangered genus of primate, are crucial for seed dispersal. Lets learn more facts about the rainforest and see what you can do to prevent its destruction. We shouldnt underestimate these rainforest habitat facts and stats. Eventually they extend into the canopy, reaching it via the understory and lower canopy trees, and sometimes growing up with their supporting trees. From macaws and toucans to vipers, bats, and howler monkeys, this gorgeous story introduces kids to the almendro tree, home to more than 1000 organisms. Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service. The Brazil nut tree, a vulnerable species, can live up to 1,000 years in undisturbed rainforest habitats. The tallest trees spread their branches and leaves blocking the light from the trees below, and creating a . The general characteristics are as follows: Majority of the trees have tall, slender trunks that do not branch until near the crown. Latin American forests are home to black howler monkeys, whose calls can be heard almost 5km away! (And What Attracts Them? 8. It can take around 100 years for tropical trees to grow 1 cm, Tropical rainforests act as a carbon sink which means they absorb huge amounts of carbon dioxide, African tropical rainforests create one fifth of the worlds oxygen, More than 75% of medicines have been developed from tropical plant extracts, The Amazon tropical rainforest produces approximately 10 billion tonnes worth of fruits, nuts and other useful products every year, Over 400 million people depend on tropical rainforests for their survival, African tropical rainforest lions are the smallest lions in the world, Tropical rainforests play a crucial role in climate regulation, There are over 200 different species of tropical tree per hectare, Malaria is often found within tropical forests, Sustainably harvesting tropical trees can create sustainable livelihoods, Rainforest inhabitants use more than 275 different plants for medicinal purposes, Tropical forest soils are very deep and rich, perfect for growing crops, It would take only 1 football pitch sized area of tropical forest to supply enough oxygen to support 4 adults. If you purchase via links on Pawsome Advice, we may receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Many take advantage of the dimly lit environment for camouflage. There are rows of sharp spines on the undersides of the leaves. Small, waxy leaves help trees in the emergent layer retain water during long droughts or dry seasons. Decomposers, such as termites, slugs, scorpions, worms, and fungi, thrive on the forest floor. From the beginning, our approach has been to work with farmers and indigenous and forest communities to cultivate sustainable rural livelihoods that incentivize conservation. For information on user permissions, please read our Terms of Service. climate change, and help people and wildlife From the forest floor, the Mbuti hunt fish and crabs from the Ituri River (a tributary of the Congo), as well as gather berries from low-lying shrubs. Top 10 Facts About the Rainforest! - Fun Kids - the UK's children's Canopy Layer: A lot of people's livelihoods directly depend on rainforests. Cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, and ginger are just a few spices of the rainforest. There is even a tropical rainforest in Alaska! Fact 21: Many plants in the rainforests tend to have large leaves (particularly those of the understory and midstory sections e.g Banana tree). Development is encroaching on rainforest habitats from all sides. 3. 3. Out of 11,000 endemic plant species on the island, over 1,000 are jasmine, found in abundance in the rainforests. They are, however, home to an incredible amount of biological productivity, storing up to 500-2000 metric tons of leaves, wood, and other organic matter per hectare (202-809 metric tons per acre). Even rainforest fungi can contribute to humanitys well-being. At the current rate of tropical forest loss, 5-10 percent of tropical rainforest species will be lost per decade. The most expensive coffee in the world is made by the elephants in the rainforests of Thailand. Such rapid habitat loss is due to the fact that 40 hectares (100 acres) of rainforest are cleared every minute for agricultural and industrial development. The top layer of the rainforest is the emergent layer. The Amazon rainforest covers an enormous 6.7 million square kilometres. These deter rainforest animals such as manatees from eating them. The rainforest has four layers. Amazon Rainforest Trees | Photos & Info | Thinkjungle.com The rainforest provides shelter and food for animals and plants. The Top Rainforest Layer Is the Emergent Layer. Heres a great video from NatGeo that we think you might like if you enjoyed these facts! Fact 1: Rainforests only cover around 2 percent the total surface area of the Earth and about 6% of the Earth's land surface, but about 50 percent of all known species of the plants and animals on the earth live in the rainforest. Fact 27: The four major levels in a rainforest are: The emergent layer (The topmost), The Canopy layer, The Understory and The forest floor (Lowest level). 15 Fascinating Facts About The Amazon Rainforest Besides admiring their beauty and diversity, people should start worrying about their pollution. Beneath the emergent layer is the canopy, a deep layer of vegetation roughly six meters (20 feet) thick. The tropical rainforest biome covers less than 10% of the Earth's surface but more than half of all terrestrial species live here; Rainfall in tropical rainforests varies between 2000-5000 mm per year but tropical rainforests only have distinct wet and dry seasons
1,000 facts about the rainforest