Rainforest Notes:

A ___________is a forest that grows in an area with a high rainfall. Most

__________________ receive over 2,000 mm (80 in.) of rain every year.

What are the two types of Rainforests?

1.

2.

The Tropical Rainforest:

Climate:
__________ & humid
___________due to the rainfall - Rainfall year-round - Little to no dry seasons
Temperature (on average) 70 to 85F
Does not have a major change in ______________.

Location:
Tropical rainforests are found in the worlds ________________ and _____________
areas, normally those closest to the equator.

South America (the Amazon)

Lowland regions of Africa
The islands off of Southeast Asia
Animals of the Tropical Rainforest:
Rainforests are extremely ____________________habitats which basically
means that a large number of species live in them.
Tropical rainforests are home to ________ the plant and animal species on
Earth.

Examples: Monkeys, gorillas, orangutans, rhinoceros, leopards, sloths, snakes

(large boa constrictors), insects, rodents, frogs, and birds (toucans).

The Temperate Rainforest:

Climate:

________and Wet
__________ temperature than ______________Rainforests
Seasons: does not have typical 4 seasons (spring, summer, winter, fall), it
has the dry and the wet seasons (both lasting about 6 months each)
o The temperature is almost always cool, but in the Summer, it can get
quite hot and in the winter quite cold (near freezing).

Location:
Temperate forests are in both the ___________________ and
__________________ hemispheres between the tropics and the polar regions.
Located on coasts along temperate zones.
The temperate rainforest is mainly located on the Northern Pacific Coast of North
America (from Oregon to Alaska)
There are also Temperate Rainforests in Chile in South America, Russia, China,
New Zealand, and Australia.

Temperate Rainforest Animals:

In temperate rainforests youll find a different set of amazing animals. Most of
these animals live on, or near the forest floor where they are protected from the
wind and rain by the trees above.
Examples: Deer, Cougars, Bobcats, Black Bears, Mountain Lions, Timber-
wolves, Hawks, and Elk.
Plants of the Rainforest:
The plants of the forests grow in different layers:

______________________ the highest level of the rainforest. A roof formed

by the branches and leaves of the areas largest trees. Most of the trees
reach over 120 ft high
o Examples: Evergreen trees, orchids, and moss.
______________________ includes mid-range trees and smaller plants. Even the
largest plants in this area dont typically grow over 10 feet.
o Examples: shrubs, vines, herbs, and the strangler fig.
The strangler fig: This plant is able to take root on the host tree
branch, drop a long root to the ground, and eventually strangles
the host tree as it grows, by taking over its sunlight.
__________________________ includes all of the vegetation that receives the
least amount of light and is lowest to the ground. You will find few plants on the
bottom layer of forest due to lack of sunlight.
o Examples: Fungus is the most common plant life at the ground level,
because fungus is able to thrive in dark, moist areas.

Plants of the Rainforest: Temperate

There are about 10 - 20 species of trees in temperate rainforests that are mostly
coniferous (meaning they have needles).
Trees in temperate rainforests can live much longer than humans, some live for
up to 1000 years!
Moss
Ferns

Epiphytes

Plants of the Rainforest: Tropical

Hundreds of species of trees in tropical rainforests
Flowers including ____________ and ____________grow in tropical rainforests.
The Rubber Tree - produces latex
_________________ - most common plant (plants growing on tree trunks &
branches)

Pitcher Plants - Carnivorous insects

Why are Rainforests Important?
Rainforests are extremely important because the water they produce
is evaporated and then used as rain in other areas.
Rainforests provide people with many cooking spices such as vanilla
and black pepper.
Because of the amount of trees in tropical rainforests, it is responsible
for the majority of the ____________ production in the air that we
breathe.

Rainforests play a crucial role in regulating the earths

_____________ and weather patterns.

Why are rainforests disappearing, and how can we save

them?
Rainforests are disappearing/ being cut down because

wood for both timber and making fires;

agriculture for both small and large farms;
land for poor farmers who dont have anywhere else to live
grazing land for cattle;
pulp for making paper;
road construction
extraction of minerals and energy

**Rainforests are also threatened by _____________ change.

We can save them by

Teaching others about the importance of the environment and how they can help
save rainforests.

Restoring- planting trees on land where forests have been cut down.

Encouraging people to live in a way that doesn't hurt the environment

Establishing parks to protect rainforests and wildlife

Supporting companies that operate in ways that minimize damage to the

environment

Use less paper or buy environment-friendly paper.