Rainforests in the Community

Rainforests are precious, as they are being logged in a massive degree. Every minute, an area of rainforest the size of a football field is cut down.

Rainforests take in Carbon Dioxide and let out pure Oxygen which humans and animals need to breathe.

Rainforests are home to many species of animal which may be wiped out if mass logging continues. Plants are also in danger.

                                                             Who would want to make this

                                                                               extinct?

                     We must protect Rainforests so that future generations can enjoy their endless beauty!   

Rainforests in the world

As many people know, there are two types of rainforest in the world. They are classified as Temperate and Tropical. Tropical rainforests are found in the area between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. The Tropic of Cancer is located 23.5 degrees North of the Equator, while the Tropic of Capricorn is located 23.5 degrees lower than the Equator.

Temperate Rainforests are fewer in quantity because they are outside these Tropics and closer to the cold Polar Ice Caps.

There are many countries containing small Temperate Rainforests, while Tropical Rainforests are found on about every continent. 

Plants in the rainforest

There are 4 main types of plants in the rainforest. These are Ferns, Nonvascular plants, Flowering plants and Gymnosperms.

Gymnosperms are naked seed bearing plants, that are closed during pollination.

Nonvascular plants are plants without a vascular system.

Flowering Plants are similair to Gymnosperms, except that they bear flowers and fruit that spread their seeds.

Ferns are vasculsar plants that reproduce using spores.

Animals in the Rainforest

Many families of animal live in the rainforest, in an even wider range of habitats and locations.

The Capuchin monkey is part of the Cebus Genus and lives mainly in Central and South American forests. It swings from tree to tree in the Understory and sometimes is found in the canopy. It has many Predators but it's main predator is the dangerous Harpy Eagle. It is a brave species of monkey that guards it's nest and is considered the smartest New World Monkey. It was also seen being cheeky in Ben Stiller's 'Night at the Museum'!

The layers in a Rainforest

There are four layers in a rainforest: The Forest Floor, The Understory, The Canopy, and The Emergent Layer.

The Floor is usually muddy and filled with moisture. It is mostly the home of insects and a few species of amphibians like frogs and toads.

The Understory is the home of smaller and weaker trees competing for the scraps of light left over from the taller trees of the canopy. They are home to small birds, frogs, snakes and lizards, and sometimes it is used as a resting spot for a big cat like a cougar, puma or jaguar.

The Canopy is the roof of the Rainforest.It holds the most species of trees and most species of animal. It holds birds escaping from predators that can't climb or glide so high. It also holds medium sized primates like monkeys or orangutans that swing from tree to tree. It is the Rainforest Hotel.

The Emergent Layer is quite boring. It holds the strongest of trees that have reached stardom in the tree world.

What is a Rainforest?

A rainforest is a natural environment that is very scarce. It is very damp and often foggy. It is inhabited by a varied group of ancient and rare plants and animals. There are temperate rainforests and tropical rainforests. To be classified as tropical, a rainforest must be found within the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. These are usually warmer. There are fewer Temperate rainforests because they are located closer to the polar ice caps.