CFE Rain Forest 1 - Physical Characteristics

Only Brazil has a climate suitable for rain forests to grow

The weather each day is very similar to the next. This is an ideal climate for vegetation to grow all the time.

Rain Forests are natural regions or biomes where all organic things depend on each other to survive

Rain forests grow where the climate is hot and wet along the equator

Being near the equator, the sun is overhead for most of the year giving hot temperatures and high evaporation which causes heavy rainfall.

Plants compete for light as the vegetetion is so dense that some parts of the forest get very dark

The canopy and under canopy block out most of the light from the forest floor.

Tallest trees emerge above the canopy layer

Rain forests have five layers. Each layer has its own unique characteristics and supports a diverse range of plant and animal species. The layers include the emergent layer, canopy layer, understory layer, shrub layer, and forest floor. The emergent layer consists of the tallest trees that rise above the canopy. The canopy layer is made up of interconnected treetops that form a dense covering. The understory layer is characterized by smaller trees and plants that grow in the shade of the canopy. The shrub layer consists of low-lying plants and shrubs. Finally, the forest floor is the bottom layer, covered in decomposing leaves and rich in nutrients.

The Nutrient cycle shows the flow of nutrients from falling leaves, decomposing to humus, mixing with mineral matter to become soil then being taken up again by trees.