AY Honors/Rainforests/Answer Key

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1. Describe a rainforest.

Rainforests are forest communities, which receive heavy rainfall and are home to half of all terrestrial animal and plant species (including two thirds of all flowering plants). The amount of sun in the layers of plants is important to determine what is able to grow.

2. State the two main kinds of rainforests and describe how they are different. Diagram on a map locations of these two main kinds of rainforests identifying these types.

NOTE: For hands-on Pathfinders, have them mark the average depth of rain on the wall for each kind of forest and then stick their hand in a bowl of water that is 45 degrees and 80 degrees to feel the difference in average temperature of each climate.

Temperate rainforests (Tropical dry forest)

A map showing the areas of temperate rainforest

Temperate rainforests receive 55 inches of rain each year with about 6 months of a dryer season. Average temperatures of 39-54F. Leaves often fall off during the dry season. Canopy covers 70 percent of the sky. They are found between polar and equatorial regions.

Tropical rainforest (Tropical wet forest)

A map showing the areas of tropical rainforest

Tropical rainforests receive 78 inches or much more rain each year with average temperatures between 77-84F year round. Vertically layered forest because of competition for light in the thick forest. Trees usually do not lose their leaves. Found mostly in the equatorial regions

3. Explain what causes so much rain to fall in rainforest biome areas.

Atmospheric circulation diagram.

The equator is heated by direct sunlight. As air rises, the water vapor cools and condenses and falls as rain causing the tropical rainforest. This is why tropical rainforests are mostly found along the equator (see the pattern labeled "Hadley cells" in the diagram). The drier air moves north and south of the equator and falls, causing deserts to form. Similar convection currents occur at 60 degrees north and south causing the temperate rain forest. This is why temperate rainforests are mostly found between the poles and the equator (see the pattern labeled "Ferrel cells" in the diagram).

Mountains disrupt the normal precipitation patterns.

Irregularities in the general pattern described above can be caused by mountains and coastlines. Here, the air cools as it rises, allowing water to condense and fall as rain.

4. Draw a diagram showing the vertical layers of plants in a tropical rainforest. Label them.

A. Forest floor, B. Understory, C. Canopy, D. Emergent layer

D. Emergent layer: Trees that grow above the closed canopy to heights of 150-180 (45-55m) and sometimes even 230-260 feet (70-80m)!
C. Canopy layer: trees that cover the 2 lower layers, most diverse layer, about 100-150 (30-45m) feet tall

B. Understory layer: layers of sub-canopy trees with large leaves to capture what little bit of sunlight comes through, shrubs, and woody vines; nothing usually grows more than 10ft (3m) high

A. Forest floor: layers of shrubs and herbs and small non-woody plants. Receives very little sunlight so it’s very clear for animals to move around.

5. Describe, draw, or use a hands-on demonstration to show how rainforests regenerate (replace lost or injured living organisms).

A: Seedlings regenerate in shade and natural openings due to a rich and moist environment.
B: When a tree falls, it can open up a gap in the trees to allow sunlight in to help these seedlings grow taller.
C: Nurse Logs are fallen and decaying trees that provide nutrient-rich locations for new trees to grow.

This YouTube video may help to show how a gap opens up in the forest for sunlight to come in, even though tree cutting isn’t promoted.

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For hands-on learners, try making a nurse log out of clay or some other materials.

6. Be able to identify five birds that live in the tropical rainforest.

There are thousands of species of birds that live in the rainforest. Here are a few:

Yellow-casqued hornbill
Collared sunbird
African grey parrot
Keel-billed toucan
Scarlet macaw
Crowned eagle
Quetzal
Blue-winged kookaburra
Puerto Rican parrot

Here's a video featuring several species:

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7. Be able to identify ten animals that live in the tropical rainforest.

Just as with birds, there are many other animals that live in the rainforest. Here are a few:

Malayan Colugo
Plantain Squirrel
Peninsular Rock Gecko
Okapi
Tapir
Sumatran Rhino
Western Lowland Gorilla
Poison Dart Frog
Three-toed Sloth
Mariana Fruit Bat
Tamandua Anteater

8. List the predominant vegetation in rainforests.

9. What is an epiphyte? Be able to identify from pictures three plant examples.

An epiphyte is a plant that grows on another plant but does not hurt the plant. It gets its nutrients from the air, rain, and sometimes from accumulating debris. These are very common in the rainforest. There is a very diverse variety and they grow in tropical rainforests, often in the canopy and emergent layer.