Tropical Rainforest Research Paper

The rainforest is known for its intricate network of lifeforms and its delicate ecological balance. With over 15 million species of animals and plants, its great diversity classifies it as a unique, self supporting environment. It can be found in parts of South and Central America, Southeast Asia, parts of Africa, Southern India, and Northeastern Australia. These locations are all near the equator, in between the Tropic of Cancer (23.5°N) and the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5°S). Since it is located near the equator, it is hot, humid and wet year round. Bacteria and microorganisms thrive in the warmth and humidity of the forest floor, where they can quickly decompose various forms of matter. For example, a leaf in a regular climate might take

However, research shows that left alone, it does a good job of taking care of itself. Animals and plants have adapted over many years to become more efficient and self serving. The toucan is a great example because it has developed to eat things that no other animals can eat. Toucans have adapted to have a large, long bill to reach fruits on branches that are too small to support the bird’s weight. The bill is used to cut the fruit from the tree. Like the toucan, parrots have strong beaks that crack shells of very hard nuts Another animal that has adapted is the poison arrow frogs and the poison dart frogs. Their bright colors serve as a warning to predators not to eat them. This warning should be used because the poison on the frogs is so dangerous that natives use the poison on their arrow heads to make them more lethal. In addition, sloths uses the behavioral adaptation of camouflage. It moves very slowly and hangs upside down from trees allowing a green algae to grow on its fur making it difficult to spot in the trees. Boa constrictors also use camouflage to hide from predators and to hunt prey. For plants, the strangler fig has adapted to survive through the competition for sunlight. Like many other plants, the fig tree needs sunlight in order to reproduce and grow. Due to the infertile soil, the seeds from this tree die when the fall to the ground. To overcome this setback in growth, birds and small animals deposit the seeds they have eaten onto host trees. From there, the seeds sprout and send long roots to the ground in order to obtain proper nutrients and water for the plants. The fig plant then grows bigger and bigger, ultimately overtaking and killing the host tree. Fungus is another plant that has adapted to better itself in the rainforest. It flourishes in warm, dark places created by the canopy and the understory. A third plant adaption is that of the bromeliad whose