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Tropical Rainforest Biome (Plant Adaptations (Strangler Figs (Seeds will…
Tropical Rainforest Biome
Conditions
Temperature
: 20˚-25˚C
Precipitation
: 2,000-10,000mL
Sunlight
: less than 12 hours per day; sunlight does not usually reach the ground, less than 2%
Vegetation
Rainforest is composed of 3 layers
Canopy
Layer below the emergent layer, absorbs any remaining light not absorbed by the emergent layer. The canopy absorbs 75-98% of all available light
Plants
Trees
rubber trees
banana trees
xate trees
teak
ceiba
cecropia
Epiphytes: plants that live in other plants
orchids
epiphyte cactus
aracae family "creepers"
king ferns
scaly tree ferns
basket ferns
Bryophytes: non-vascular plants
spanish mosses
leafy liverworts
thalloid liverworts
Understory
Receives 2-15% of available light; plants in this layer do not grow as tightly together as they do in the emergent and canopy layers
Plants
zebra plants
ferns
philodendrons
prayer plants
The majority of the plants in this layer can be grown as houseplants
Moss fungus and algae grow on trees in this layer
Climbing plants do well here; they will germinate on the forest floor and grow alongside other plants
Ground Layer
Plants in this layer are spread apart and adapted to thrive with low levels of sunlight
Plants
ferns
ginger
mushrooms
strangler fig
Emergent Layer
Large trees that form a mushroom-like dome over other plants, getting the most sun
trees have long skinny trunks and waxy canopy shaped leaves
the waxy leaves help rain fall from them
Plants
orchids
kapok tree
provides shelter to emergent layer birds and trees
brazil nut tree
Plant Adaptations
Plants must be adapted to survive dense shade
Strangler Figs
Seeds will die in dense forest without sunlight. Plant has adapted so its sees are deposited onto the branches of host trees by birds and other animals.
When the seeds sprout, the roots travel down to the ground, increasing in diameter to compete with other plants.
Leaves eventually sprout and grow above the host tree, blocking sunlight from the host tree. In addition, more roots grow, strangling the host tree, eventually killing it.
Bark
: thin and smooth to prevent other plants from growing on a tree's surface
Lianas
: woody vines adapted to grow their roots downwards
Drip Tip Leaves
: leaf shape allowing rain to quickly fall off the leaves, preventing bacterial and fungal growth, keeping the plant healthy
Buttresses
: large outgrowths of trees providing additional stability to the tree
Prop and Stilt Roots
: the shape of the roots provides stability to the tree
Sources
http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/rforestP.html
https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/experiments/biome/biorainforest.php
http://www.mbgnet.net/sets/rforest/plants/adapt.htm
https://sciencing.com/plants-live-canopy-layer-6950342.html
https://tropical-rainforest-facts.com/Tropical-Rainforest-Layer-Facts/Tropical-Rainforest-Understory-Layer-Facts.shtml
https://tropical-rainforest-facts.com/Tropical-Rainforest-Layer-Facts/Tropical-Rainforest-Floor-Layer-Facts.shtml
https://tropical-rainforest-facts.com/Tropical-Rainforest-Layer-Facts/Tropical-Rainforest-Emergent-Layer-Facts.shtml