Extension post 1

Deforestation
Deforestation is the process of clearing trees, by cutting, burning or to use the land for another purpose.
Deforestation affects the rainforest in many ways some include:

• less biodiversity
• less oxygen more carbon dioxide
• pollution

Many affects lead on to other problems which can affect the whole world. For example pollution can lead to Ozone depletion.

I just made a new Voki. See it here:

Why are Rainforests so important?

Rainforests are important  in many ways, some include:

• trees supply oxygen
• rainforests are home to many of the worlds plants and animal life
• they help sustain the world ecosystem
• supply/provide food and medicine
• prevent enviromental issues (global warming)

What plants live in the rainforest? (There are 4 main types of plants ­ list them all and give examples of each)

There are many species of plants in a rainforest here are an example of a Few:

• Strangler fig
• stilt/prop roots
• Carnivorous plants
• Saprophytes

The Four main types of plants in a rainforest are Epiphytes, Lianas, Buttress Roots and Mangroves.

Epiphytes

Epiphytes include: bromeliads,orchids, cacti, bromeliads, aroids, lichens, mosses and ferns. They are air plants that are found everywhere but mostly on branches and tree trunks.

Lianas

Lianas are vines, there are a lot in tropical rainforests. They wrap themselves around other branches or trunks. They are a type of climbing vine with thick woody stems.

Butress Roots
There are many different types of roots or tree trunks in a rainforest the main one is butress roots. Butress roots are thick, big, and long. They are special roots that can grow and be above the ground, they are like this to support the larger trees.

Mangroves
Mangroves are a type of tree, they grow near the waters edge. The soil is wet and muddy there so they have different ways in which they sustain in those conditions. They have several extensions which reach down from the trunk of the tree into the soil to help support it.

Where are Rainforests found in the world? Use a world map to illustrate

 Rainforests can be found all in a few different places around the world, there used to be alot more rainforests but due to deforestation they are disapearing rapidly. Some places they can be found include:

Central America

Africa

Southern Asia

Australia and New Zealand

info and image from http://www.srl.caltech.edu/personnel/krubal/rainforest/Edit560s6/www/where.html

What Animals live in a rainforest? Which layer of the Rainforest do they live in? Select one animal, find a picture of it and include it in your blog, and describe it`s habitat

There are a lot of animals in a rainforest some include: snakes, lizards, insects, spiders, birds, howler monkeys, two-toed sloths, jaguars e.t.c The animals in a rainforest have adapted to the conditions there, they need the same conditions to survive.

The Emergent Layer- eagles, bats, birds, and butterflies.

The Canopy- snakes, toucan, tree frogs, howler monkeys, sloths, monkeys.

The Understory- jaguars, insects, red-eyed tree frogs, leopards.

The Forest Floor- giant anteaters, millipedes, centipedes, termites, cockroaches, slugs, worms, beetles, armadillos and tigers.

Two-Toed Sloths
Two-toed sloths live in the canopy, they hang from branches in the trees. They move so slowly insects can live and breed in its fur. It often hangs in the same tree for a long time and rarely moves from its tree. Its claws are similar to hooks which keeps a good grip on he branch it is hanging from. It lives in the canopy where there are many plants and other animals.

info from http://www.srl.caltech.edu/personnel/krubal/rainforest/Edit560s6/www/whlayers.html

 imge from http://m.123rf.com/photo-5534865-two-toed-sloth-in-slow-motion.html

Describe the layers in a rainforest illustrate your work

There are four layers of a rainforest they are the forest floor, understory, canopy and the emergent layer.

Each layer is home to wide variety of plant and animal life. Certain animals travel through the layers in search of food and a home.

The Forest Floor

The forest floor is the botom of a rainforest it is very dark and damp, you can see lots of roots and tree trunks there is also many species of fungi. As a result of the darkness things begin to decay very quickly.

The Understory

The understory is the second lowest layer from the forest floor so, it recieves little light aswell. The plants grow bigger and taller leaves so that they may reach some sunlight. Many animals live on this layer including leopards and tree frogs. There is also many insects.

The Canopy

The Canopy forms a roof over the other layers below. It is also home to many animals including toucans and snakes. There are alot of branches and leaves all twisting and winding around eachother.

The Emergent Layer

The Emergent layer is the top layer where you can see the top of the tallest trees. Some of the trees are 200 feet tall. Animals like birds bats and monkeys hang around here. There is plenty of warmth and sunlight.

                                                 Info from

http://www.srl.caltech.edu/personnel/krubal/rainforest/Edit560s6/www/what.html
                                           image from http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/rainforest/Strata