CLIMATE DETAILS
Every year, the average tropical rainforest receives around 250cm of rain a year. If you compare this to Adelaide’s average annual rainfall of 55.3cm per year, you begin to understand how much rain tropical rainforests get. This explains why they are so humid.
Tropical rainforests have about the same temperature all year round. The temperature never drops below 16C and rarely exceeds temperatures above 26C. These rainforests stay warm all year round as they are found near the equator. The closer you are to the equator, the more solar radiation there is. Tropical rainforest only have 2 seasons, summer and winter. There is no autumn or spring as the dry season and wet season are basically the same. The dry season still receives a large amount of rainfall. There is also no spring as tropical rainforests don’t have particular ‘growing seasons’.
Tropical rainforests have about the same temperature all year round. The temperature never drops below 16C and rarely exceeds temperatures above 26C. These rainforests stay warm all year round as they are found near the equator. The closer you are to the equator, the more solar radiation there is. Tropical rainforest only have 2 seasons, summer and winter. There is no autumn or spring as the dry season and wet season are basically the same. The dry season still receives a large amount of rainfall. There is also no spring as tropical rainforests don’t have particular ‘growing seasons’.
FLORA AND FAUNA FOUND IN THIS BIOME
Tropical rainforests contain millions of different types of flora and fauna, which all have their own unique features. The Amazon Rainforest alone contains around one-third of entire world’s bird population, and more than half of the world’s animal population. Over two thirds of the world’s plant species are found in tropical rainforests. They provide food and shelter for the animals that live there and also provide much of the world’s oxygen supply.
Macaw
There are 16 different types of macaws and these are capable of growing from 1-3 feet in length, which makes them the largest of all parrots. They can be found in Central and South America, especially in the Amazon Rainforest. They spend most of their lives in the canopy and emergent layers. Macaws are also one of the smartest birds on earth and are capable of speaking/repeating different languages. This is one of the main reasons that they are caught and sold as pets.
Poison-arrow Frog
Poison-arrow frogs can be found in Central and South America, in the Amazon Rainforest. They are known for their bright colours which warn predators that they are extremely poisonous if eaten. Its poison is the most powerful known on earth and can cause death. It is so strong that one millionth of an ounce can easily kill a dog and a drop of its poison the size of a grain of sand can kill a human. One frog has enough poison to kill a hundred men.
Lianas (far right)
Lianas are a type of climbing vine found in nearly every tropical rainforest. They begin life on the forest floor, but depend on tall trees so that they can climb upwards towards sunlight. They can grow over 1km in length, which helps them achieve this.
Strangler figs (right)
Most stranglers are members of the fig family. Strangler figs can be found in most tropical rainforests. They provide many animals, such as birds and monkeys, with food. The seedling of this tree send long roots to the ground where it begins to surround the host tree. It grows very quickly and also kills the host tree by suffocating it. By killing the host tree, strangler figs avoid fighting for sunlight and also nutrients.
Macaw
There are 16 different types of macaws and these are capable of growing from 1-3 feet in length, which makes them the largest of all parrots. They can be found in Central and South America, especially in the Amazon Rainforest. They spend most of their lives in the canopy and emergent layers. Macaws are also one of the smartest birds on earth and are capable of speaking/repeating different languages. This is one of the main reasons that they are caught and sold as pets.
Poison-arrow Frog
Poison-arrow frogs can be found in Central and South America, in the Amazon Rainforest. They are known for their bright colours which warn predators that they are extremely poisonous if eaten. Its poison is the most powerful known on earth and can cause death. It is so strong that one millionth of an ounce can easily kill a dog and a drop of its poison the size of a grain of sand can kill a human. One frog has enough poison to kill a hundred men.
Lianas (far right)
Lianas are a type of climbing vine found in nearly every tropical rainforest. They begin life on the forest floor, but depend on tall trees so that they can climb upwards towards sunlight. They can grow over 1km in length, which helps them achieve this.
Strangler figs (right)
Most stranglers are members of the fig family. Strangler figs can be found in most tropical rainforests. They provide many animals, such as birds and monkeys, with food. The seedling of this tree send long roots to the ground where it begins to surround the host tree. It grows very quickly and also kills the host tree by suffocating it. By killing the host tree, strangler figs avoid fighting for sunlight and also nutrients.