What makes tropical rainforests special

Rainforest trees are quite different from trees of temperate forests. In the rainforest, trees grow to gigantic size, supported by strong, strut-like buttresses at the base of the trunk that help to stabilize them in shallow forest soils. Huge creepers twine themselves around the trunks of trees.

A mature lowland tropical forest consists of several layers. The top layer of vegetation consists of scattered tall trees which tower above a closed canopy layer formed by the crowns of other trees. The canopy is the most exciting part of the rainforest; it is here that most of the flowering and fruiting of the trees takes place, attracting a variety of spectacular creatures.

Below the canopy is a third layer, formed by smaller trees whose crowns do not meet. Below that is a layer that's composed of woody and herbaceous shrubs.

Finally, there is the ground layer, which receives very little sunlight. Added benefit: the shade requirements for Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee and cocoa farms also contribute to better quality crops. The Rainforest Alliance works hand-in-hand with indigenous, forest, and farming communities to advance sustainable development initiatives that cultivate rural prosperity, which is key to the successful conservation of standing forests and other natural resources. Learn More ».

Peruvian amazon rainforest in Tambopata reserve. Share Facebook. Sign up for useful tips to green your life and protect our planet. Amazon rainforest. Support Our Work Create a world where people and the planet prosper together. You Might Also Like The biotic or living components of the ecosystem and the abiotic or non-living components of the ecosystem depend on one another - a change in one leads to a change in the other. A tropical rainforest is made up of the following layers:.

Characteristics of tropical rainforests Tropical rainforests have distinct characteristics that support a wide variety of different species. Climate Very wet with over 2, mm of rainfall per year. Tropical rainforests are the most biologically diverse terrestrial ecosystems in the world. It is home to around 40, plant species, nearly 1, bird species, 3, types of fish, species of mammals, and 2. Red-bellied piranhas and pink river dolphins swim its waters. Jewel-toned parrots squawk and fly through its trees.

Poison dart frogs warn off predators with their bright colors. Millions of mushrooms and other fungi decompose dead and dying plant material, recycling nutrients to the soil and organisms in the understory. The Amazon rainforest is truly an ecological kaleidoscope , full of colorful sights and sounds. Temperate rainforest s are located in the mid-latitudes, where temperatures are much more mild than the tropics.

Temperate rainforests are found mostly in coast al, mountainous areas. These geographic conditions help create areas of high rainfall. They are also much less sunny and rainy, receiving anywhere between centimeters inches of rain per year. Rainfall in these forests is produced by warm, moist air coming in from the coast and being trapped by nearby mountains. Temperate rainforests are not as biologically diverse as tropical rainforests. They are, however, home to an incredible amount of biological productivity, storing up to metric tons of leaves, wood, and other organic matter per hectare metric tons per acre.

Cooler temperatures and a more stable climate slow down decomposition, allowing more material to accumulate. The old-growth forest s of the Pacific Northwest, for example, produce three times the biomass living or once-living material of tropical rainforests.

This productivity allows many plant species to grow for incredibly long periods of time. Temperate rainforest trees such as the coast redwood in the U. The animals of the temperate rainforest are mostly made up of large mammals and small birds, insects, and reptiles. These species vary widely between rainforests in different world regions. Bobcats, mountain lions, and black bears are major predators in the rainforests of the Pacific Northwest.

Rainforests have been home to thriving, complex communities for thousands of years. For instance, unique rainforest ecosystems have influenced the diet of cultures from Africa to the Pacific Northwest. The Mbuti, a community indigenous to the Ituri rainforest in Central Africa, have traditionally been hunter-gatherers. Their diet consists of plants and animals from every layer of the rainforest. From the forest floor, the Mbuti hunt fish and crabs from the Ituri River a tributary of the Congo , as well as gather berries from low-lying shrubs.

The giant forest hog, a species of wild boar, is also frequently targeted by Mbuti hunters, although this species is hunted for sale more often than food.

From the understory, the Mbuti may gather honey from bee hives, or hunt monkeys. From the canopy and emergent layers, Mbuti hunters may set nets or traps for birds. Although they are a historically nomadic society, agriculture has become a way of life for many Mbuti communities today as they trade and barter with neighboring agricultural groups such as the Bantu for crops such as manioc, nuts, rice, and plantains.

The Chimbu people live in the highland rainforest on the island of New Guinea. The Chimbu practice subsistence agriculture through shifting cultivation. This means they have gardens on arable land that has been cleared of vegetation.

A portion of the plot may be left fallow for months or years. The plots are never abandoned and are passed on within the family. Crops harvest ed in Chimbu garden plots include sweet potatoes, bananas, and beans. The Chimbu also maintain livestock , particularly pigs. In addition to their own diet, pigs are valuable economic commodities for trade and sale. The temperate rainforest of the northwest coast of North America is the home of the Tlingit.

The Tlingit enjoy a diverse diet, relying on both marine and freshwater species, as well as game from inland forests. Due to bountiful Pacific inlets, rivers, and streams, the traditional Tlingit diet consists of a wide variety of aquatic life: crab, shrimp, clams, oysters, seals, and fish such as herring, halibut, and, crucially, salmon. Kelps and other seaweed s can be harvested and eaten in soups or dried.

In more inland areas, historic Tlingit hunters may have targeted deer, elk, rabbit, and mountain goats. Plants gathered or harvested include berries, nuts, and wild celery. The Yanomami are a people and culture native to the northern Amazon rainforest, spanning the border between Venezuela and Brazil. Like the Chimbu, the Yanomami practice both hunting and shifting-cultivation agriculture.

Game hunted by the Yanomami include deer, tapirs an animal similar to a pig , monkeys, birds, and armadillos. The Yanomami have hunting dogs to help them search the understory and forest floor for game. The Yanomami practice slash-and-burn agriculture to clear the land of vegetation prior to farming. Crop s grown include cassava, banana, and corn. In addition to food crops, the Yanomami also cultivate cotton, which is used for hammocks, nets, and clothing.

Rainforests are critically important to the well-being of our planet. Tropical rainforests encompass approximately 1. Massive amounts of solar radiation are absorbed, helping regulate temperatures around the globe. Rainforests provide us with many products that we use every day. Tropical woods such as teak, balsa, rosewood, and mahogany are used in flooring, doors, windows, boatbuilding, and cabinetry.

Fibers such as raffia, bamboo, kapok, and rattan are used to make furniture, baskets, insulation , and cord. Cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, and ginger are just a few spices of the rainforest. The ecosystem supports fruits including bananas, papayas, mangos, cocoa and coffee beans.

Rainforests also provide us with many medicinal products. According to the U. Rainforest plants are also used in the creation of muscle relaxants, steroid s, and insecticide s. They are used to treat asthma , arthritis , malaria , heart disease, and pneumonia.

The importance of rainforest species in public health is even more incredible considering that less than one percent of rainforest species have been analyze d for their medicinal value. A mushroom discovered in the tropical rainforest of Ecuador, for example, is capable of consuming polyurethane —a hard, durable type of plastic used in everything from garden hoses to carpets to shoes. The fungi can even consume the plastic in an oxygen-free environment, leading many environmentalists and businesses to invest in research to investigate if the fungi can help reduce waste in urban landfill s.