Forests Under Threat

Question 1

What is the structure of the rainforest?

Answer 1

Emergent 30-40m (birds and flowers)
Canopy 20-30m (mammals like sloth and monkey)
Under-canopy 10-20m (insects, snakes and frogs)
Forest floor 0-10m (rodents, large mammals and decomposers)

Question 2

Plant adaptations of the rainforest- butress roots.

Answer 2

Large, above ground roots at the base of large tropical trees.
* Trees are adapted to the nutrient deprived soils by developing roots above ground
* They help keeo the tree stable

Question 3

Plant adaptations of the rainforest- leaf structure.

Answer 3

Adapted to the heavy and constant rainfall by developing ‘drip tips’
* tapered end allows excess water to quickly drip off
* If the leaf was too wet, it would rot

Question 4

Plant adaptations of the rainforest- lianas.

Answer 4

Woody vines that are adapted to the lower dark levels of the rainforest
* The roots in the ground have access to the nutrients on the forest floor
* The vines up high have access to sunlight in the canopy

Question 5

Animal adaptations of the rainforest- poisons and venoms.

Answer 5

Adapted to the threat of being eaten
* Some spiders, frogs and snakes can paralyse and kill other animals
* Some are poisonous to eat

Question 6

Plant adaptations of the rainforest- epiphytes.

Answer 6

Plants that live on the surface of other plants to receive nutrients from them
* adapted to growing on trees high up in the canopy to receive more sunlight

Question 7

Animal adaptations of the rainforest- physical characteristics.

Answer 7

Animals that live in trees are adapted to move around and find food
* Primates (e.g. spider monkeys) have long limbs and strong tails to swing between trees and avoid predators
* Some also have strong claws for climbing like sloths

Question 8

Animal adaptations of the rainforest- camouflage.

Answer 8

To hide from predators, some animals camouflage by blending in with sticks and vegetation.
Leaf-tailed geckos have a tail that looks like a leaf to camouflage from predators.

Question 9

Animal adaptations of the rainforest- size.

Answer 9

For animals to move through the dense vegetation- adapted to be a smaller size so they can move through the growth easily.
Jaguars found in tropical rainforests are significantly smaller than jaguars found elsewhere in the world.