Biotic Descriptors
Plant Life
Flora:
Lianas start off as small shrubs on the forest floor. To reach the sunlight, they send our vines to grab onto sapling trees which grow with the vines, allowing the vines to reach the sun. Because of the large amount of rain per year, many plants have adapted for raindrops to slide off their leaves instead of weighing them down and causing their branches to break.
The main plants in this biome are trees. Dominant species include broad-leaf deciduous trees such as oak, hickory, maple and beech.
Flora:
Lianas start off as small shrubs on the forest floor. To reach the sunlight, they send our vines to grab onto sapling trees which grow with the vines, allowing the vines to reach the sun. Because of the large amount of rain per year, many plants have adapted for raindrops to slide off their leaves instead of weighing them down and causing their branches to break.
The main plants in this biome are trees. Dominant species include broad-leaf deciduous trees such as oak, hickory, maple and beech.
Animal Life
Fauna:
Insects make up the largest group on animals in the rainforest. Along side them, fungi and bacteria break down dead leaves and wastes in the forest floor. Adaptations include life in trees, diet of fruit, and bright colors to scare enemies.
Fauna:
Insects make up the largest group on animals in the rainforest. Along side them, fungi and bacteria break down dead leaves and wastes in the forest floor. Adaptations include life in trees, diet of fruit, and bright colors to scare enemies.
Primary Consumer - Earthworms
Earthworms play a major role in the rainforest. They effectively recycle nutrients from rotting material. They aerate the soil and help incorporate leaf litter into the upper layers of the soil, which encourages fungi and bacteria to decompose the material. Some earthworms can digest cellulose.
Earthworms are found under objects such as logs and rocks. During drier periods, they are usually found in moist areas. But they are mostly found in the first 40 centimeters of soil. In rainforests, earthworms are the most important organism in terms of biomass and the third most important in terms of abundance. But scientists do not yet know how many different earthworm species are actually living in the tropical rainforest.
Earthworms are found under objects such as logs and rocks. During drier periods, they are usually found in moist areas. But they are mostly found in the first 40 centimeters of soil. In rainforests, earthworms are the most important organism in terms of biomass and the third most important in terms of abundance. But scientists do not yet know how many different earthworm species are actually living in the tropical rainforest.
Secondary Consumer - Frogs
Tropical frogs belong to the animal class of amphibians
and make up about 88% of all amphibian species. They form a very important part of our ecological system.Most of more than 5,000 known species of frogs live in tropical rainforests.
The tropical areas of Latin America and West Africa are the places with highest global diversity of amphibians. Brazil has the biggest number of amphibian species, with 751.
Tropical frogs are specialised animals and are very sensitive to changes in their environment. Quite often they can only live in specific habitats and depend on them for their survival. Bromeliad plants seem to be a popular habitat for rainforest frogs. They use water-filled bromeliads for keeping their tadpoles in until they metamorphose into young adults. Leaf litter is also a very good example of tropical frogs' habitats. It is not only a fantastic shelter for them but also a source of food (for example, the insects decomposing the litter).
These tropical animals play a very important role in ecosystems that they belong to. For example, they consume large quantities of insects and other prey, and in turn they are consumed by other animals, in endless food webs of rainforests.
and make up about 88% of all amphibian species. They form a very important part of our ecological system.Most of more than 5,000 known species of frogs live in tropical rainforests.
The tropical areas of Latin America and West Africa are the places with highest global diversity of amphibians. Brazil has the biggest number of amphibian species, with 751.
Tropical frogs are specialised animals and are very sensitive to changes in their environment. Quite often they can only live in specific habitats and depend on them for their survival. Bromeliad plants seem to be a popular habitat for rainforest frogs. They use water-filled bromeliads for keeping their tadpoles in until they metamorphose into young adults. Leaf litter is also a very good example of tropical frogs' habitats. It is not only a fantastic shelter for them but also a source of food (for example, the insects decomposing the litter).
These tropical animals play a very important role in ecosystems that they belong to. For example, they consume large quantities of insects and other prey, and in turn they are consumed by other animals, in endless food webs of rainforests.
NPP:
Very high
GPP:
High
Biodiversity:
Only makes up 6% of land, but holds 4/5 of all plant species and nearly half of all animal species. Very biodiverse
Very high
GPP:
High
Biodiversity:
Only makes up 6% of land, but holds 4/5 of all plant species and nearly half of all animal species. Very biodiverse