The Tropical Rain Forest Ecosystem

The dark green areas on the map show the locations of tropical rain forests. Click on image for full size (49K JPG) Windows Original

Tropical rain forests are one of the most important areas on Earth. These special ecosystems are homes to thousands of species animals and plants. You may think you know a lot about the rain forest. But what you see in the movies isn't always the real thing!

Contrary to popular belief, rain forests are not only densely packed plants, but are also full of tall trees that form a ceiling from the the Sun above. This ceiling keeps smaller plants from growing. Areas where sunlight can reach the surface are full of interesting plants, which we will explore further.

Do you know where rain forests get their name? You guessed it! They are so named because they receive a lot of rain - an average of 80 inches a year! The temperature doesn't change very much during the year. It is always warm and muggy.

The famous Amazon jungle is located in Brazil, in South America. This particular forest is called the Neotropics. Other large blocks are located in Central and West Africa.

Now we can explore the tropical rain forest even further. Click on insects, birds, mammals, reptiles and primates.

The dark green areas on the map show the locations of tropical rain forests. Click on image for full size (49K JPG) Windows Original

Tropical rain forests are one of the most important areas on Earth. These special ecosystems are homes to thousands of species animals and plants. You may think you know a lot about the rain forest. But what you see in the movies isn't always the real thing!

First of all, rain forests are not only densely packed plants, but are also full of tall trees that form a ceiling from the the Sun above. This ceiling keeps smaller plants from growing. Areas where sunlight can reach the surface are full of interesting plants, which we will explore further.

Do you know where rain forests get their name? You guessed it! They are so named because they receive a lot of rain - an average of 80 inches a year! The temperature doesn't change very much during the year. It is always warm and muggy.

Now we can explore the tropical rain forest even further. Click on insects, birds, mammals, reptiles and primates.

The dark green areas on the map show the locations of tropical rain forests. Click on image for full size (49K JPG) Windows Original

Have you ever been to a rain forest? Rain forests have very different trees than the ones you might climb in your yard. Thousands of species of plants and animals live in the rain forests of the world. But what makes them so different?

Rain forests get 80 inches of rain a year! That is a lot compared to the rest of the world. The temperature almost never changes. It is always warm and muggy!

You have probably seen a movie where people are walking through the jungle. There are all kinds of plants in the way. But in the real rain forests, tall trees take up most of the space. They block out the Sun, so other plants can't grow below them.

Now we can explore the tropical rain forest even further. Click on insects, birds, mammals, reptiles and primates.