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12 Animals That Live in Tropical Rainforests (With Pictures)

Tropical rainforests are some of the most biodiverse habitats on the planet. Many people think of the Amazon Rainforest when they think of a tropical rainforest, however tropical rainforests can be found in Africa, Southeast Asia, and of course, South America. In this article, we will cover some of the animals that live in the tropical rainforest.

12 Animals that Live in the Tropical Rainforest

By definition, tropical rainforests are forests that occur near the equator and maintain warm temperatures and receive up to 70-100 inches of rainfall throughout the year. Tropical rainforests are also a main sink for carbon dioxide which is crucial for keeping the global climate stable and combating global warming.

It would be impossible to list out all of the animals found in tropical rainforests because there are so many! But here is a list of 12 of some of the more iconic animals that inhabit the world’s tropical Rainforests:

• Harpy Eagles
• Poison Dart Frogs
• Chimpanzees
• Gaboon Vipers

Jaguars are apex predators, meaning they are at the top of the food chain in their environment. Jaguars are amazing hunters that will hunt almost anything found on the forest floor. Not only that, but Jaguars are amazing swimmers and have also been known to eat turtles, fish, and even caimans. 

Where Jaguars are found: Jaguars can be found in Central and South America, including the Amazon Rainforest. 

2. Anacondas

Anacondas are one of the largest snakes in the world by weight. They can also be considered as apex predators and have been known to sit in ambush to hunt rodents, birds, reptiles and even large mammals that come down to water sources to drink before quickly striking and then constricting their prey to death.

Where Anacondas are found: Anacondas inhabit freshwater bodies throughout the Amazon Rainforest and throughout much of South America.

3. Harpy Eagles

Harpy Eagles are the Kings of the bird world, at least in the Amazon Rainforest. They have a broad wingspan up to 6.5 ft long, enormous talons similar in size to grizzly bear claws, and a very large, sharp beak. They are effective hunters and can take down other birds, small to midsize mammals and even deer!

Where Harpy Eagles are found: Harpy Eagles can be found in the canopy of the Amazon Rainforest. They are also found from Southern Mexico to Brazil, but need large plots of undisturbed habitat to thrive, meaning that deforested areas are not able to support Harpy Eagles. 

4. Poison Dart Frogs

Poison Dart Frogs are only tiny, but the toxins secreted from poison glands in their skin can pack a powerful punch. There are several species of Poison Dart Frogs, some of them sporting bright blues, yellows, reds and greens and vibrant patterns. 

Where Poison Dart Frogs are found: Poison Dart Frogs spend much of their time on the forest floor where they can be found in tropical Rainforests in central America to Brazil. 

5. Gorillas

Gorillas are revered as the kings of the primate world. They are the largest living primates and are recognized by their large hands that they sometimes beat against their broad chests. There are a handful of species of Gorillas, all of which are found in Africa. 

Where Gorillas are found: Gorillas can be found in the tropical rainforests of equatorial Africa. Specifically, they are found in the Congo, Cameroon and parts of Nigeria.

6. Chimpanzees

Chimpanzees are known for their incredible intelligence, and one has even been sent on a space mission! But in the wild Chimpanzees spend most of their time traversing through the treetops of lush tropical Rainforests in equatorial Africa. They have been known to use tools, such as sticks to fish termites out of ant hills and leaves to soak up drinking water.

Where Chimpanzees are found: Chimpanzees inhabit tropical rainforests and wet savannas of West and Central Equatorial Africa.

7. Gaboon Vipers

Gaboon Vipers are one of the largest venomous snakes in the world by mass. Their fangs, the longest of any snake, can measure up to 2 inches in length and inject a large amount of venom, second only to the King Cobra. Gaboon Vipers, like the primates on this list, are from Africa where they can be found in fallen leaf litter, waiting to ambush their prey. 

Where Gaboon Vipers are found: Gaboon Vipers are found in tropical rainforests along equatorial Africa. They tend to be found in rainforests in East and West Central Africa. 

Tigers , the biggest cats in the world, can be found in a handful of different habitat types including tropical rainforests. Tigers can be territorial and need extremely large areas of land to fulfill their biological needs. With rates of deforestation increasing, Tiger populations have unfortunately suffered greatly.

Where Tigers are found: There are several species of Tigers which can be found in Southeast Asia, and parts of Asia, including Russia. 

9. Orangutans

Orangutans, with their long, orange fur are an amazing species of primate. They are unlike many other primates in the sense that they are typically solitary animals. Orangutans have a limited distribution and have been greatly impacted by deforestation, which has led to them being critically endangered.

Where Orangutans are found: Orangutans have a small distribution and can only be found in the tropical rainforests on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra in Southeast Asia. 

10. Hornbills

Hornbills are a group of large, impressive birds, known for their large beaks that look like two bills stacked on top of each other. There are several species of Hornbills that inhabit the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia. Hornbills feed on fruit and are absolutely critical for seed dispersal, and therefore very important for fruiting trees in tropical forests. 

Where Hornbills are found: There are actually many species of Hornbills, most of these species are in Asia but some are also found in Africa. In Asia, Hornbills can be found in tropical rainforests and in Africa, Hornbills commonly inhabit savannahs. 

Tapirs are large, strange looking mammals. They almost look like what you would get if you mixed an anteater with a pig, but actually they are closely related to Rhinos and Horses. Tapirs use their prehensile trunks to pick forest fruit and they love spending their time in water or in mud.

Where Tapirs are found: Tapirs are found in tropical rainforests in both South America and Southeast Asia. However, in both regions of their range, Tapirs are considered rare due to their decreasing populations from poaching and hunting.

12. Pangolins

Pangolins are mid-sized scaly mammals with large keratin scales that give them a suit of armor and help protect them from predators. When they feel threatened, they will curl into a ball and use the sharp points on their scales for protection. Pangolins feed primarily on termites and ants found on the forest floor of tropical rainforests. 

Where Pangolins are found: Pangolins are found in tropical forests in parts of Southeast Asia, however there are also species of African Pangolins as well.

Patricia is a wildlife enthusiast that loves traveling and learning about wildlife all over North America and the world. Aside from being writer for Wildlife Informer, she’s an avid bird watcher as well as the owner of several pet reptiles. She enjoys visiting national parks and seeing new sights in her free time.

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Biology library

Course: biology library   >   unit 28.

• How biodiversity is distributed globally
• Why biodiversity is distributed unevenly
• New localities lead to new biodiversity
• Tolerance ranges of species

Tropical rainforest biomes

• Biodiversity

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Rainforests, Explained

Rainforests play an invaluable role in sustaining life, but every year, large portions of them are cut down for logging, mining, and cattle ranches.

Biology, Ecology, Conservation, Geography, Physical Geography

Black Mandibled Toucans

While most of a rainforest's animals, live in the upper canopy, these Costa Rican black mandibled toucans (Ramphastos ambiguus), are dwelling in its uppermost, or emergent, layer.

Photograph by Lin Kuczera

Found on every continent except Antarctica, rainforests are ecosystems filled with mostly trees that typically receive high amounts of rainfall. Tropical rainforests are found near the equator, with high average temperatures and humidity, while temperate rainforests lie mostly in coastal, mountainous areas within the midlatitudes. A rainforest is typically made up of four key layers: emergent, upper canopy , understory, and forest floor. In the top emergent layer, trees as tall as 60 meters (200 feet) grow far apart and tall, their branches reaching above the canopy . The upper canopy , a deep layer of vegetation roughly six meters (20 feet) thick, houses most of the rainforest 's animal species and forms a roof that blocks most light from reaching below. Below the canopy , the understory is a low-light layer dominated by shorter plants with broad leaves, such as palms and philodendrons. On the dark forest floor, few plants are able to grow and decaying matter from the upper layers is prevalent, feeding the roots of the trees. Why "Rain" Forests?’ Rainforests are often partly self-watering. Plants release water into the atmosphere through a process called transpiration . The moisture helps create the thick cloud cover that hangs over most rainforests . Even when it's not raining, these clouds keep the rainforest humid and warm. Rainforest Loss Driven by logging, mining, agriculture, and ranching, deforestation  is endangering rainforests worldwide. About 17 percent of the Amazonian rainforest has been destroyed over the past 50 years, and losses recently have been on the rise. Tropical rainforest now covers about six percent of Earth's land surface. Two countries accounted for 46 percent of the primary (meaning old-growth, undisturbed) tropical rainforest loss in 2018. These are South America's Brazil, which is home to more than half the Amazon, and Southeast Asia's Indonesia, where forests are cut down to make way for producing palm oil, which can be found in everything from shampoo to saltines. In other countries, such as Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, loss rates are rising considerably. In many cases, such as logged areas, the soil damage makes it difficult for rainforests to regenerate, and the biodiversity found in them is irreplaceable.

Rainforest Benefits When we lose rainforests , we lose an important natural resource. Tropical rainforests are centers of biodiversity , holding an estimated half the world’s plants and animals, many of which have yet to be catalogued (some scientists estimate that it’s two-thirds of the world's plants). Rainforests produce, store, and filter water, protecting against soil erosion, floods, and drought. Many of the plants found in rainforests are being used to make medicine, including anti-cancer drugs, along with beauty products and foods. One drug under development for treating HIV, Calanolide A, is derived from a tree discovered on Malaysian Borneo. And Brazil nut trees will not grow anywhere but in undisturbed sections of the Amazon rainforest . There, the trees are pollinated by bees that also visit orchids, and their seeds are spread by agoutis, small, tree mammals. Rainforests are also home to endangered or protected animals, such as Sumatran rhinos, orangutans, and jaguars. Forest trees also absorb carbon, an important function needed as human-caused greenhouse gas emissions stoke climate change . Rainforest loss is a double-whammy for the climate: It contributes emissions while removing a future potential source of carbon storage. Human activity has caused tropical rainforests to emit more carbon dioxide than they absorb at this point, according to one study. Rainforest Protection Organizations and governments around the world are engaged in trying to protect rainforests . In Indonesia, notes Global Forest Watch, primary forest loss in 2017 dropped to its lowest rate since 2003 after the government enacted policies to protect certain areas. Conservation groups, activists, and Indigenous communities also play an important role. National Geographic Explorer Topher White, for example, has come up with a way to use recycled cellphones to monitor for chainsaw use. Other groups, including the Rainforest Action Network and Conservation International, are working to monitor forests and create economies that thrive by protecting these ecosystems rather than destroying them, such as through local tourism and sustainable products. In Brazil, thousands of Indigenous people have staged demonstrations to reinforce their claim to threatened lands, arguing that they are often better stewards of rainforests and the wildlife they contain than national governments. Other efforts focus on reforestation, planting trees, and reintroducing wildlife—in the Amazon, for example, a large-scale project announced in 2017 aims to plant 73 million trees. You can help too. Support conservation efforts, consider ecotourism vacations, and look for sustainable products and meats where possible, using certifications and ratings from nonprofit groups, such as the Forest Stewardship Council, the Rainforest Alliance, and the World Wildlife Fund.

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Tropical Rainforest Animals and Plants with Pictures and Names

Tropical rainforests contain rich biodiversity of animals and plants, many of which are unique to these ecosystems. Animals in tropical rainforests can be as diverse as exotic birds, colorful frogs, large insects, and large cats. Rainforest plants such as large trees, beautiful orchids, strange-looking flowers, and tasty fruits just add to the rainforest biome.

The tropical rainforest biome is the flora and fauna that make up the ecosystem. Some estimates say that between 50 and 75% of all plants, animals, and organisms are indigenous to rainforests. Rainforests are found in countries such as Brazil, Peru, the Philippines, Indonesia, Congo, and Papua New Guinea.

The tropical rainforest animals (fauna) live in different layers (strata) of the jungles. The forest floor is generally dark and damp and is home to many plants, insects , amphibians, spiders , small mammals, and lizards. The understory layer could be described as the middle part of the flora system. This is a forest habitat for birds, lizards, snakes, and large predatory cats. The canopy layer is the richest part of the rainforest ecosystem and is between 98 and 148 ft. (30 – 45 m) above the forest floor. This is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna and is said to contain 50% of all plant species in the world.

Tropical Rainforest Plants

There are many types of plants that are only found in rainforests in tropical regions of the world. It is estimated that these contain around 170,000 of the world’s plant species.

On the forest floor, the lack of light means that it is difficult for many species of plants to survive. Plants such as ferns and fungi thrive in the damp humid environment in rainforests. Higher up in the understory, you will find exotic orchids , climbing plants, and types of ficus plants .

Tropical rainforests are also the perfect environment for some of the coolest and most unusual plants in the world. For example, carnivorous plants, corpse plants, and kissing lips are just some of the interesting plants you will find.

Of course, large broadleaf types of trees dominate the forest biome. Trees such as rubber trees, giant Shorea trees, banana trees, cecropia trees, and giant red cedars are some impressive rainforest trees.

Plants of the rainforest also have an important role in animal life. Apart from being a source of food, plants provide animals shelter and a place to hide from predators.

Tropical Rainforest Animals

There are far too many tropical rainforest animals to list in this article. Read on to learn about some of the most beautiful and exotic birds, insects, amphibians, and mammals that live in tropical rainforests.

Macaws are parrots that live in rainforests and are identified by their bright colors, large strong bills, and long tail feathers.

Macaws belong to the family Psittacidae and there are 6 genera in this group. In the wild, macaws are an endangered species that are found in the rainforests of South America.

There are 19 species of macaws and their colors can be bright blue, golden yellow, and red. Although difficult to keep in captivity, many people enjoy having macaws as a pet bird .

Toucans ( Ramphastidae ) are another type of tropical bird native to the rainforest canopies of Central and South America.

There are around 43 species of these distinctive birds which are known for their large colorful bills. Some species of toucans have bills that are more than half the length of their bodies. These are also social birds and are often seen flying in small flocks in tropical areas of the world.

These tropical birds are omnivores and consume plants, fruits, snakes, and small types of mammals .

Jaguars ( Panthera onca ) are the largest of the big cats native to North and South America.

These majestic cats prefer the habitat of tropical rainforests. They are excellent swimmers, they climb trees, and are masters at stalking their prey on the forest floor. Jaguars are generally tawny yellow with leopard-like markings. One of the most striking species of jaguar is the black panther.

Jaguars are on the top of the food chain and play an important role in tropical rainforest ecosystems. Despite these large cats being a top predator, their existence in the wild is near threatened.

Lemurs belong to the order Primates and the superfamily Lemuroidea and are native to the rainforests of Madagascar.

These small monkey-like creatures are recognized by their small size, long tails, and dark coloring around their eyes. Some of the most iconic species of lemurs are the ring-tailed ones.

Due to human activity and environmental problems, lemurs are on the list of critically endangered animals

The aye-aye ( Daubentonia madagascariensis ) is a species of lemur that, like other lemurs, are only found in Madagascar. Rainforest aye-ayes live in the canopy areas and only come out a night.

These nocturnal primates are an endangered species for the same reason other lemurs are. Aye-ayes are about 3 ft. long, have a long tail, and scruffy blackish fur. One of the identifying features of aye-ayes is their long middle finger that they use to extract grubs out of holes.

Anteaters ( Vermilingua ) are forest dwellers and also feel at home on tropical grasslands. Their scientific name literally means “worm tongue” and they use this to feed on ants and other small insects.

The natural habitats of anteaters are tropical rainforests, dry forests, savannas, and grasslands. There are 4 species of anteaters and they range in size from the size of a small cat to the giant anteater which is over 7ft. (2.17 m) in length.

Anteaters usually roam the forest floor and grasslands looking for ants and termites. However, they also climb trees to search out insects for food.

Poison Dart Frogs

Poison dart frogs are a group of colorful amphibians in the superfamily Dendrobatoidea . As their name suggests, they contain high levels of toxins that are poisonous to humans. There are around 170 species of these poisonous frogs in the rainforests.

The bright colorful patterns really make these small frogs stand out in the rainforest. However, their brightly-colored bodies act as a deterrent to warn predators away. Poison dart frogs get their name from Amazonian natives who would use the poison from them to create lethal blowdarts.

Some of the fascinating color combinations are bright yellow and black, orange and black stripes, and turquoise and black leopard patterns.

Goliath Beetles

Goliath beetles (genus Goliathus ) live up to their name of being a huge species of beetle living in the tropical jungles of Africa. These large anthropoids can grow up to 4.3” (11 cm) long and, as larvae, they can weigh as much as 3.5 oz. (100 g).

There are 5 species of Goliath beetles that live in tropical rainforests. The male beetles can be black , brown, or white. All species of Goliath beetles are flying insects and have striking white markings.

Giraffe Weevil

Weevils are also a member of the beetle family (order Coleoptera ) and the long-necked giraffe weevil lives in Madagascar’s rainforest. The giraffe weevil ( Trachelophorus giraffa ) is identified by its bright red body and long giraffe-like neck.

There are over 97,000 species of weevils, and the giraffe weevil is one of the many flying ones. Similar to lemurs, giraffe weevils are only found in Madagascar.

Ants are a type of insect that are found in most countries and red fire ants (genus Solenopsis ) live in the South American rainforests. The common names of these stinging insects are connected with their body’s color.

It is not just the rainforests in the Amazon basin where red ants live. The ant species Solenopsis invicta is now an invasive ant species in many countries. This is a reason why the ant is also referred to as the red imported fire ant. The resilience of these red ants means that there is no danger of them becoming extinct in the near future.

Arrau Turtles

Amazon rainforest animals also include a number of ones that live in freshwater. One of the largest turtles in rainforest biome is the Arrau turtle ( Podocnemis expansa ). Also called the giant Amazon river turtle, these huge shelled reptiles can weigh up to 200 lb. (90 kg).

Arrau turtles are found in and around the Amazon and Orinoco rivers. They feed on a mixture of tropical plant leaves , seeds, fruits, and algae. Their conservation status is considered low-risk but conservationists are concerned about their dwindling numbers.

Boa Constrictor

The snake’s scientific name is the same as its common name, Boa constrictor . The large South American reptile is at home in tropical rainforests and deserts. However, the damp rainforest biome and foliage create the best living environment for these huge snakes.

Boa constrictors can grow up to 13 ft. (4 m). Although they are not poisonous, their strong bite can be very painful. These heavy-bodied snakes eat their prey by crushing and then swallowing them whole. Because of their weight, boas tend to spend most of their time among vegetation on the forest floor and rarely venture up trees.

Anacondas are in the family Boidae and their scientific name is Eunectes murinus. The species of green anaconda is one of the largest snakes in the world.

Also called water boas, these ginormous snakes spend most of their time in rivers and lakes in the Amazonian rainforest. They live in freshwater and on land where they feed on tropical fish , caimans, wild pigs, birds, and rodents.

Caimans ( Caiman latirostris ) are small crocodiles belonging to the family Alligatoridae . These reptiles are found in the Amazon basin rainforests in lakes and rivers.

Among the animals of the tropical Amazon rainforest, the only predators of caiman are jaguars and anacondas. There are 6 species of these small crocodiles and they feed on fish, small mammals, and insects.

Another reptile that thrives in the rainforest ecosystem is the iguana. These large lizard-like reptiles generally live in the rainforest canopy and they will come down from trees to lay eggs or mate.

The green iguana ( Iguana iguana ) is the most common of the 2 species of iguana. These reptilian creatures grow up to 50 ft. (15 m) long and are popular household pets. The other species, the Lesser Antilles is on the endangered species list due to habitat destruction.

Green iguanas thrive in the wet environment of Brazilian rainforests. They camouflage well in the forest canopy and have a good sense of hearing and smell.

One of the most unusual types of animals living in tropical rainforests is the capybara ( Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris ). These are a type of large rodent that feels just at home in water as it does on land. In fact, its scientific name literally means “water hog.”

Capybaras can grow up to 4ft. (1.3 m) long, they have reddish-brown fur and live on a diet of plants and grasses. Their preferred habitat in rainforests is beside rivers, swamps, ponds, and lakes. Because they adapt well to different environments, there is no risk of their extinction.

Goliath Birdeater

The world’s rainforests are home to a large number of spiders. The Goliath birdeater spider ( Theraphosa blondi ) is a type of spider that evokes feelings of fear and panic.

As its name suggests, the Goliath birdeater is a huge species of spider and can have a leg span up to 12” (30 cm). Although also called a “bird eater,” this type of spider only rarely preys on birds. Its main diet consists of rodents, insects, snakes, and amphibians.

Being a member of the tarantula family, these the Goliath birdeaters have fangs that can inflict a nasty, but non-lethal bite.

Rainforest Monkeys

Howler monkey

Monkeys usually live in the uppermost parts of the rainforest canopy and there are a number of species in rainforests. Monkeys are among the 430 species of mammals that live in the Amazon rainforest.

Here are a few species of monkeys that you can see in South American and Asian rainforests:

Howler monkeys . These are considered to be the loudest animals in the world. They are also the largest type of monkey in the Amazon rain forest.

Spider monkeys . Due to their long limbs, these primates have the name spider monkeys. All of the 7 species of spider monkeys are under threat.

Capuchin monkeys . These monkeys are some of the cutest and most intelligent monkeys in the rainforest.

Orangutans . Native to the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra, orangutans are a large type of ape that is on the critically endangered list.

Sloths ( Folivora ) spend most of the time in the rainforest canopy hanging upside down and only moving when they have to. There are 6 species of sloths and they all live in South or Central American forests.

Sloths are well-known for their slow deliberate movements and living almost exclusively in trees. Although they don’t move well on the ground, they are can swim if they have to. Another of the interesting features of sloths is that algae grow on their gray fur. This helps to camouflage them from predators and also provide nutrients.

Blue Morpho Butterflies

Some of the most beautiful butterflies in the world are morpho butterflies that belong to the butterfly family Nymphalidae . These large flying insects have wings that are iridescent shades of metallic greens or blues.

There are 6 species blue morpho butterflies that have amazing brilliant blue wings. These shimmering butterflies are seen fluttering around the understory of rainforests in Brazil, Central America, and Peru. These butterflies also fly high above the forest canopy in large groups.

The Amazon River is also home to a number of freshwater tropical fish , with the piranha being the most feared. Piranhas belong to the family Characidae which means they are related to popular aquarium fish such as tetras and silver dollar fish.

Piranhas are omnivorous fish that can grow to between 5” and 14” (12 – 35 cm) long. They feed on other fish and freshwater plants. Contrary to popular belief, piranhas rarely attack humans and may only do so when stressed. Usually, any injuries from bites are minor.

Related articles:

• Types of Spiders and How to Identify Them
• Types of Beetles with Pictures
• Types of Birds with Their Picture

Smithsonian Voices

From the Smithsonian Museums

NATIONAL ZOO AND CONSERVATION BIOLOGY INSTITUTE

How Scientists Are Uncovering the Secrets of Life in the Rainforest Canopy

Camera trap photos show arboreal animals living hundreds of feet above the ground

Ashley Goetz

A hundred feet above the forest floor and dense with leaves and plants, the rainforest canopy is a challenging place to study. It’s hard to observe from the ground and difficult for researchers to access, so conservation biologist Tremie Gregory learned to climb trees.

In the Peruvian Amazon, Gregory tests strategies that can help protect wildlife impacted by pipelines and other major projects. Her research focuses on animals that live almost exclusively in treetops, such as monkeys, kinkajous and opossums. Few people get to experience the tropical forest canopy firsthand. “It’s so multidimensional. There’s life springing out of every tree hole and every leaf,” says Gregory.

Species that occupy this part of the forest rarely visit the ground. Instead, they rely on connecting branches to navigate from tree to tree. These treetop pathways can be knocked down when trees are cleared for roads and pipelines. When they disappear, animals that live in the canopy lose access to parts of their territories.

“Animals know the areas they live in really well,” Gregory explains, “It’s like how we know where the grocery store is, where the drug store is, where we go to work.” Some monkey species, for example, revisit the same fruiting trees year after year to feed. When an animal gets cut off from its usual food source, it has to search for another. That takes time and energy, and it can lead to conflict among groups that must resort to competing for resources in a smaller area. Animals can also lose access to rare resources, such as salt and clay licks where they get minerals, trees where they sleep, and even potential mates.

But what if some of the treetop pathways that cross over pipeline clearings could be left intact, forming what Gregory calls “natural bridges”? With an altered landscape and fewer branches, would animals still use the bridges? Determined to find out, Gregory got to work on a new strategy of observing species that rarely step foot on the ground.

Repurposing the Camera Trap

She first considered tracking individual monkeys using radio collars to see if they would use the bridges, but ultimately ruled that out. Using radio collars to track animals is a common practice, but catching and collaring monkeys would not be easy. Researchers would first need to locate the monkeys in the canopy and then dart them to safely attach the collars. If that was successful, the data would still only reveal the use of the bridges by those few monkeys. Gregory wanted a full picture of how many different animals would use them to cross a pipeline clearing.

She found a previous study where researchers sat under natural bridges for 10 hours a day and recorded the animals they saw, but this too had its drawbacks. It seemed challenging to ask anyone to sit in the rainforest and monitor a single spot for hours at a time. It would also be difficult for a person on the ground to observe what was happening hundreds of feet above ⁠— and almost impossible at night.

Eventually, Gregory and her team settled on using camera traps. A camera trap is a small device that snaps a photo when its infrared sensor is triggered. The sensor can “see” when an animal passes in front of the camera because of the heat coming from the animal’s body. When it moves in front the sensor, the camera takes a series of photos.

Camera traps had been used on the ground for decades, but at the time, a large-scale study with cameras placed high in the rainforest canopy had never been attempted. It introduced a new set of obstacles. How do you get a camera onto a tree branch 100 feet above the ground? How do you select the right branch? Will the technology stand up to the humidity, rain and heat of the rainforest? How will animals react?

Gregory was determined to make it work. She and her colleague Farah Carrasco Rueda, a conservation biologist, flew to Panama for a tree-climbing course, where they learned how to safely navigate the canopy. She even enlisted her dad’s wisdom. Traditional camera trap mounts are intended for use on the ground, where cameras can be attached to tree trunks. That same setup won’t work high up in the trees. So, Gregory and her dad designed and built a new mount that could securely attach to a branch.

After nearly 18 months of careful planning, Gregory and her team were ready to test their method in the field. Construction of a new pipeline was scheduled to begin in April 2012, and the construction company agreed to preserve a set of natural bridges for them to study.

The research team consisted of Gregory, Carrasco Rueda, local indigenous community members and first aid nurses. They often built their own field camps, so sometimes a cook, a safety officer, and on at least one trip, a lighting-rod installer joined the crew. They planned to set up camera traps in 13 bridges and hope to see animals crossing. They would also place some camera traps on the ground for comparison.

Climbing into the Canopy

Setting up camera traps in the canopy is arduous work. On some expeditions, team members carried 50 pounds of equipment over miles of hilly, muddy terrain just to reach a set of study trees. They used a gigantic slingshot to send a weight attached to a string up, up, up into the canopy. If everything went as planned, the weight would swing over the target branch and slide back down to the ground where they could use it to set up a climbing rope. That process alone could take three to four hours.

The team also had to remember to keep their wits about them in the canopy, where there are ants, wasps, and other pesky, potentially dangerous distractions. Stingless bees would sometimes gather and find their way under a climber’s mosquito head-net. “You start to get really flustered and tired and sweaty,” explains Gregory. “You don’t want to drop the camera down 100 feet, so it’s really important to take a deep breath, gather your patience and keep a clear head.”

A lot can go wrong in field research, so Gregory emphasized using checklists. Did you turn the camera on? Did you test the sensor and check the photos to make sure it’s pointed at the right branch? Did you remember to replace the memory card? Still, there were some hiccups the team couldn’t anticipate, like mischievous porcupines forcing cameras open. “We’d get up there and months of data would be lost, because the camera would be flooded with water,” says Gregory.

They also learned that warm leaves could blow around in the windy canopy and trigger a camera, filling a memory card with thousands of unusable photos. So, they made it a practice to start clearing the leaves in front of each camera trap.

Gregory had set out to learn whether preserving some natural bridges over pipeline clearings would give animals to continued access to their home ranges. Even with many months of planning and weeks spent setting up camera traps, she wasn’t sure it would work. “Any time you use a new method, there’s a chance for failure,” she says, “but what’s interesting about science is that if you design a question properly, even if you don’t get the response that you expected, it will still be informative.”

Luckily, not only did animals use the bridges — they crossed 200 times more frequently over branches than they did on the ground. That surprised even her. The team documented 25 species and more than 3,100 crossings in the canopy, but just 16 crossings on the ground.

Picture This

The team returned to the rainforest to collect memory cards from cameras and review photos every few months. Sometimes, they could identify individual animals based on markings or injuries. They saw animals with scarring, broken bones, bot fly infections and even a one-eyed kinkajou.

Photos also showed animals grooming each other, making threatening faces, eating and possibly even mating. They also frequently captured animal families crossing bridges together. A tamandua already carrying a big baby on her back appeared to be pregnant in one image. In another, an olingo held its offspring in its mouth to carry it safely across the branches.

A series of photos showed a group of night monkeys crossing with their babies, too. Over time, researchers could see the infants getting bigger and bigger — first hanging on to the belly of a parent, then riding on their back, and eventually growing big enough to follow behind on their own.

They counted more reptiles than they thought the cameras would capture, including a species called Uracentron flaviceps ⁠— a lizard scientists don’t know much about because it can spend its entire life very high up in a single tree. The camera traps even caught a few photos of owls and other birds.

The research team shared the photos they collected with everyone involved, including the pipeline construction teams. “I always felt like it was important to share our results with the people engaged in the construction process, because they were the ones leaving the canopy bridges and they were the ones that really were making conservation choices every day,” says Gregory.

The study took years to develop and was only possible because of collaborations with fellow researchers, pipeline developers and the local community. With ingenuity, grit and a lot of patience, the work paid off. The research showed that preserving even a few natural bridges over a pipeline can prevent animals from becoming restricted to parts of the rainforest.

The data also revealed more about the elusive animals that live in the canopy, such as their health, infant development, group size and behavior. The collection can continue to be used for generations to come. A couple of similar studies took place around the same time as Gregory’s, further demonstrating that camera traps are an effective tool for studying the tropical forest canopy. Since then, the field of canopy camera trapping has taken off. Dozens of projects around the world are now using camera traps in treetops, and the information they uncover is painting a clearer picture of life in the canopy.

Soon after publishing the results from their first study , Gregory and her colleagues at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute followed it with another . In their next study, they plan to place camera traps in branches over a pipeline before and after it’s completed, to see how the use of natural bridges changes over time. They also plan to add video to future research, so they can learn even more about the Peruvian rainforest’s arboreal animals.

Ashley Goetz | READ MORE

Ashley Goetz is a web content writer at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, where she translates animal care research and conservation science into compelling stories.

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RAINFOREST INFORMATION

By Rhett A. Butler  Last updated Aug 14, 2020

A Place Out of Time: Tropical Rainforests and the Perils They Face - information on tropical forests, deforestation, and biodiversity

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE RAINFOREST

Rainforests are forest ecosystems characterized by high levels of rainfall, an enclosed canopy and high species diversity. While tropical rainforests are the best-known type of rainforest and the focus of this section of the web site, rainforests are actually found widely around the world, including temperate regions in Canada, the United States, and the former Soviet Union.

Tropical rainforests typically occur in the equatorial zone between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn, latitudes that have warm temperatures and relatively constant year-round sunlight. Tropical rainforests merge into other types of forest depending on the altitude, latitude, and various soil, flooding, and climate conditions. These forest types form a mosaic of vegetation types which contribute to the incredible diversity of the tropics.

The bulk of the world's tropical rainforest occurs in the Amazon Basin in South America. The Congo Basin and Southeast Asia, respectively, have the second and third largest areas of tropical rainforest. Rainforests also exist on some the Caribbean islands, in Central America, in India, on scattered islands in the South Pacific, in Madagascar , in West and East Africa outside the Congo Basin, in Central America and Mexico, and in parts of South America outside the Amazon. Brazil has the largest extent of rainforest of any country on Earth.

Rainforests provide important ecological services, including storing hundreds of billions of tons of carbon, buffering against flood and drought, stabilizing soils, influencing rainfall patterns, and providing a home to wildlife and Indigenous people. Rainforests are also the source of many useful products upon which local communities depend.

While rainforests are critically important to humanity, they are rapidly being destroyed by human activities. The biggest cause of deforestation is conversion of forest land for agriculture. In the past subsistence agriculture was the primary driver of rainforest conversion, but today industrial agriculture — especially monoculture and livestock production — is the dominant driver of rainforest loss worldwide. Logging is the biggest cause of forest degradation and usually proceeds deforestation for agriculture.

Organization of this site

The rainforest section of Mongabay is divided into ten "chapters" (the original text for the site was a book, but has since been adapted for the web), with add-on content in the form of special focal sections (e.g. The Amazon, the Congo, REDD , New Guinea , Sulawesi , Forests in Brazil , etc), appendices, and other resources.

There is also a version of the site geared toward younger readers at kids.mongabay.com .

ABOUT THE RAINFOREST (SUMMARY)

Rainforest distribution and characteristics.

• Location: rainforests lie in the tropics.
• Rainfall: rainforests receive at least 80 inches (200 cm) of rain per year.
• Canopy: rainforests have a canopy, which is the layer of branches and leaves formed by closely spaced rainforest trees some 30 meters (100 feet) off the ground. A large proportion of the plants and animals in the rainforest live in the canopy.
• Biodiversity: rainforests have extraordinarily highs level of biological diversity or “biodiversity”. Scientists estimate that about half of Earth's terrestrial species live in rainforests.
• Ecosystem services: rainforests provide a critical ecosystem services at local, regional, and global scales, including producing oxygen (tropical forests are responsible for 25-30 percent of the world's oxygen turnover) and storing carbon (tropical forests store an estimated 229 - 247 billion tons of carbon) through photosynthesis; influencing precipitation patterns and weather ; moderating flood and drought cycles ; and facilitating nutrient cycling ; among others.

The global distribution of tropical rainforests can be broken up into four biogeographical realms based roughly on four forested continental regions: the Afrotropical, the Australiasian, the Indomalayan/Asian, and the Neotropical. Just over half the world's rainforests lie in the Neotropical realm, roughly a quarter are in Africa, and a fifth in Asia.

These realms can be further divided into major tropical forest regions based on biodiversity hotspots, including:

• Amazon : Includes parts of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela
• Congo : Includes parts of Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Republic of Congo
• Australiasia : Includes parts of Australia, Indonesian half of New Guinea, Papua New Guinea
• Sundaland : Includes parts of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore
• Indo-Burma : Includes parts of Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam
• Mesoamerica : Includes parts of Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama
• Wallacea : Sulawesi and the Maluku islands in Indonesia
• West Africa : Includes parts of Benin, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Togo
• Atlantic forest : Includes parts of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay
• Choco : Includes parts of Colombia, Ecuador, Panama
• Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

Other countries that have large areas of rainforest include Bolivia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Ecuador, Gabon, Guyana, India, Laos, Malaysia, Mexico, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Congo, Suriname, and Venezuela.

Cover and loss by rainforest region

Tropical forest cover and loss by country

RAINFOREST STRUCTURE

Rainforests are characterized by a unique vegetative structure consisting of several vertical layers including the overstory, canopy, understory, shrub layer, and ground level. The canopy refers to the dense ceiling of leaves and tree branches formed by closely spaced forest trees. The upper canopy is 100-130 feet above the forest floor, penetrated by scattered emergent trees, 130 feet or higher, that make up the level known as the overstory. Below the canopy ceiling are multiple leaf and branch levels known collectively as the understory. The lowest part of the understory, 5-20 feet (1.5-6 meters) above the floor, is known as the shrub layer, made up of shrubby plants and tree saplings.

RAINFOREST BIODIVERSITY

Tropical rainforests support the greatest diversity of living organisms on Earth. Although they cover less than 2 percent of Earth’s surface, rainforests house more than 50 percent of the plants and animals on the planet.

THE RAINFOREST CANOPY

In the rainforest most plant and animal life is not found on the forest floor, but in the leafy world known as the canopy. The canopy, which may be over 100 feet (30 m) above the ground, is made up of the overlapping branches and leaves of rainforest trees. Scientists estimate that more than half of life in the rainforest is found in the trees, making this the richest habitat for plant and animal life.

The conditions of the canopy are markedly different from the conditions of the forest floor. During the day, the canopy is drier and hotter than other parts of the forest, and the plants and animals that live there have adapted accordingly. For example, because the amount of leaves in the canopy can make it difficult to see more than a few feet, many canopy animals rely on loud calls or lyrical songs for communication. Gaps between trees mean that some canopy animals fly, glide, or jump to move about in the treetops. Meanwhile plants have evolved water-retention mechanisms like waxy leaves.

Scientists have long been interested in studying the canopy, but the height of trees made research difficult until recently. Today the canopy is commonly accessed using climbing gear, rope bridges, ladders, and towers. Researchers are even using model airplanes and quadcopters outfitted with special sensors — conservation drones — to study the canopy.

The rainforest floor

The rainforest floor is often dark and humid due to constant shade from the leaves of canopy trees. The canopy not only blocks out sunlight, but dampens wind and rain, and limits shrub growth.

Despite its constant shade, the ground floor of the rainforest is the site for important interactions and complex relationships. The forest floor is one of the principal sites of decomposition, a process paramount for the continuance of the forest as a whole. It provides support for trees responsible for the formation of the canopy and is also home to some of the rainforest's best-known species, including gorillas, tigers, tapirs, and elephants, among others.

Rainforest waters

Tropical rainforests support some of the largest rivers in the world, like the Amazon, Mekong, Negro, Orinoco, and Congo. These mega-rivers are fed by countless smaller tributaries, streams, and creeks. For example, the Amazon alone has some 1,100 tributaries, 17 of which are over 1,000 miles long. Although large tropical rivers are fairly uniform in appearance and water composition, their tributaries vary greatly.

Rainforest waters are home to a wealth of wildlife that is nearly as diverse as the biota on land. For example, more than 5,600 species of fish have been identified in the Amazon Basin alone.

But like rainforests, tropical ecosystems are also threatened. Dams, deforestation, channelization and dredging, pollution, mining, and overfishing are chief dangers.

Rainforest people

Tropical rainforests have long been home to tribal peoples who rely on their surroundings for food, shelter, and medicines. Today very few forest people live in traditional ways; most have been displaced by outside settlers, have been forced to give up their lifestyles by governments, or have chosen to adopt outside customs.

Of the remaining forest people, the Amazon supports the largest number of Indigenous people living in traditional ways, although these people, too, have been impacted by the modern world. Nonetheless, Indigenous peoples' knowledge of medicinal plants remains unmatched and they have a great understanding of the ecology of the Amazon rainforest.

In Africa there are native forest dwellers sometimes known as pygmies. The tallest of these people, also called the Mbuti, rarely exceed 5 feet in height. Their small size enables them to move about the forest more efficiently than taller people.

There are few forest peoples in Asia living in fully traditional ways. The last nomadic people in Borneo are thought to have settled in the late 2000's. New Guinea and the Andaman Islands are generally viewed as the last frontiers for forest people in Asia and the Pacific.

Deforestation

Every year an area of rainforest the size of New Jersey is cut down and destroyed, mostly the result of human activities. We are cutting down rainforests for many reasons , including:

• wood for both timber and making fires;
• agriculture for both small and large farms;
• land for poor farmers who don’t have anywhere else to live;
• grazing land for cattle (the single biggest driver of deforestation in the Amazon);
• plantations, including wood-pulp for making paper, oil palm for making palm oil, and rubber;
• road construction; and
• extraction of minerals and energy.

In recent decades there has been an important shift in deforestation trends. Today export-driven industries are driving a bigger share of deforestation than ever before, marking a shift from previous decades, when most tropical deforestation was the product of poor farmers trying to put food on the table for their families. There are important implications from this change. While companies have a greater capacity to chop down forests than small farmers, they are more sensitive to pressure from environmentalists. Thus in recent years, it has become easier—and more ethical—for green groups to go after corporations than after poor farmers.

Rainforests are also threatened by climate change, which is contributing to droughts in parts of the Amazon and Southeast Asia. Drought causes die-offs of trees and dries out leaf litter, increasing the risk of forest fires, which are often set by land developers, ranchers, plantation owners, and loggers.

Rainforest importance

While rainforests may seem like a distant concern, they are critically important for our well-being. Rainforests are often called the lungs of the planet for their role in absorbing carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, and producing oxygen, upon which all animals depend for survival. Rainforests also stabilize climate, house incredible amounts of plants and wildlife, and produce nourishing rainfall all around the planet.

• Help stabilize the world’s climate: Rainforests help stabilize the world’s climate by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Scientists have shown that excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from human activities is contributing to climate change. Therefore, living rainforests have an important role in mitigating climate change, but when rainforests are chopped down and burned, the carbon stored in their wood and leaves is released into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change.
• Provide a home to many plants and animals: Rainforests are home to a large number of the world’s plant and animals species, including many endangered species. As forests are cut down, many species are doomed to extinction.
• Help maintain the water cycle: The role of rainforests in the water cycle is to add water to the atmosphere through the process of transpiration (in which plants release water from their leaves during photosynthesis). This moisture contributes to the formation of rain clouds, which release the water back onto the rainforest. In the Amazon, 50-80 percent of moisture remains in the ecosystem’s water cycle. When forests are cut down, less moisture goes into the atmosphere and rainfall declines, sometimes leading to drought. Rainforests also have a role in global weather patterns. For example researchers have shown that forests in South America affect rainfall in the United States , while forests in Southeast Asia influence rain patterns in southeastern Europe and China. Distant rainforests are therefore important to farmers everywhere.
• Protect against flood, drought, and erosion: Rainforests have been compared to natural sponges, moderating flood and drought cycles by slowing run-off and contributing moisture to the local atmosphere. Rainforests are also important in reducing soil erosion by anchoring the ground with their roots. When trees are cut down there is no longer anything to protect the ground, and soils are quickly washed away with rain. On steep hillsides, loss of forest can trigger landslides.
• Are a source for medicines and foods and support forest-dependent people: People have long used forests as a source of food, wood, medicine, and recreation. When forests are lost, they can no longer provide these resources. Instead people must find other places to get these goods and services. They also must find ways to pay for the things they once got for free from the forest.

Rainforest conservation

Rainforests are disappearing very quickly. The good news is there are a lot of people who want to save rainforests. The bad news is that saving rainforests will be a challenge as it means humanity will need to shift away from business-as-usual practices by developing new policies and economic measures to creative incentives for preserving forests as healthy and productive ecosystems.

Over the past decade there has been considerable progress on several conservation fronts. Policymakers and companies are increasingly valuing rainforests for the services they afford, setting aside large blocks of forests in protected areas and setting up new financial mechanisms that compensate communities, state and local governments, and countries for conserving forests. Meanwhile, forest-dependent people are gaining more management control over the forests they have long stewarded. Large international companies are finally establishing policies that exclude materials sourced via deforestation. People are abandoning rural areas, leading to forest recovery in some planes.

But the battle is far from over. Growing population and consumption means that rainforests will continue to face intense pressures. At the same time, climate change threatens to dramatically alter temperatures and precipitation patterns, potentially pushing some forests toward critical tipping points.

The Latest News on Rainforests

#AllEyesonPapua goes viral to highlight threat to Indigenous forests from palm oil (Jun 7 2024) - Two Indigenous tribes from Indonesia’s Papua region are calling for public support as the country’s Supreme Court hears their lawsuits against palm oil companies threatening to clear their ancestral forests. - Large swaths of Awyu customary forest lie inside three oil palm concessions that are part of the Tanah Merah megaproject, in Boven Digoel district, while part of the forest of the Moi tribe falls within a concession in Sorong district. - The cases now being heard mark the latest chapters in long-running legal battles by the tribes to prevent the concession holders from clearing the forests to make way for oil palms. - Using the hashtag #AllEyesonPapua, in a nod to the #AllEyesonRafah campaign, the tribes and their supporters have gone viral with their cause as they seek to save the forests on which their livelihoods — and lives — depend.

Unrest and arrests in Sumatra as community fights to protect mangroves (Jun 5 2024) - Police in Indonesia’s Langkat district, North Sumatra province, arrested three people in April and May over alleged criminal damage linked to a conflict over a local mangrove forest. - Civil society organizations in North Sumatra allege that local elites have established oil palm plantations on scores of hectares zoned as protected forest. - They also allege that these individuals have hired thugs to intimidate local residents who oppose the clearing of mangrove forests to plantations.

Amazon deforestation threatens one of Brazil’s key pollinators, study shows (Jun 5 2024) - Orchid bees, which help pollinate species from at least 30 plant families and play a big role in Brazil’s agriculture, have long been under threat from land-use change. - Data from 1996-1997 from the Amazonian state of Rondônia show the twin spread of deforestation and agriculture drove down orchid bee abundance and diversity in this region. - Analyzed in a recent study, the data suggest that bee diversity and abundance decline after only a decade of land-use change. - Scientists revisited the past data collected from more than 130 sites to provide a more comprehensive baseline of orchid bee biodiversity as the region continues to face deforestation.

A tale of two frogs: The tough uphill battle for rediscovered species (Jun 4 2024) - Some scientists worry that widespread enthusiasm over rediscovering lost or presumed-extinct species can underplay the rocky road to recovery that these species often face. Research suggests many rediscovered species have restricted ranges and small populations and remain highly threatened after their rediscovery. - Rediscovered amphibians are particularly at risk due to their often-small ranges and risk of amphibian disease. A recently rediscovered harlequin frog species in Ecuador (tentatively identified as Atelopus guanujo), exemplifies challenges which can include intense funding competition and little legal protection or government support for imperiled species. - The story of the rediscovered dusky gopher frog in the U.S. state of Mississippi illustrates how amphibians can benefit from strong conservation laws and government funding. Thanks to a long-term effort to conserve the dusky gopher frog, the species is now enroute to population recovery. - Globally, rediscovered species face a range of outcomes — from full recovery to declines so severe populations aren’t genetically viable, or risk extinction due to single events. Outcomes vary based on funding, interest in conserving a particular species, and how much communities and institutions get involved in conservation.

How real action on environmental justice comes from Latin America’s community alliances (commentary) (Jun 3 2024) - Despite the regional Escazú Agreement coming into force in 2021 to ensure the protection of the environment and its defenders in Latin America, it is not being enacted and has still not been ratified by countries such as Peru, Brazil and Guatemala. - Real action for environmental justice is rather coming from self-governed media and activism alliances forged between communities in different regions of Latin America, like the Black and Indigenous Liberation Movement (BILM), an Americas-wide network of grassroots groups working together to fight extractivism. - “While we wait for states to act on environmental protection and to implement existing mechanisms like the Escazú Agreement and UNPFII goals, regional autonomous alliances like BILM are crucial for pushing this agenda forward and ensuring that strategies come from the grassroots,” a new op-ed argues. - This post is a commentary, the views expressed are those of the authors, not necessarily Mongabay.

Narco activity takes heavy toll on Colombia’s protected forests, satellite data show (May 31 2024) - Deforestation inside protected areas in central Colombia appears to be picking up pace this year, suggesting the steep drop-off from 2022-2023 was just a blip, according to satellite data. - The most affected areas include Llanos del Yarí Yaguara II Indigenous Reserve, two national natural parks — Sierra de la Macarena and Tinigua — and the surrounding La Macarena Special Management Area. - Threats to the region and its protected areas include agricultural expansion, along with the cultivation of illegal crops such as coca and marijuana, and illegal gold mining. - The region’s protected areas are increasingly falling under the control of armed groups emboldened and funded by the drug industry, according to monitoring agencies and local residents interviewed by Mongabay.

‘Non-market’ solutions to deforestation need more support, advocates say (May 31 2024) - In a report released May 29, three environmental groups called for a shift away from carbon markets and toward “non-market” solutions to deforestation. - The Paris Agreement has a clause calling for such solutions, which the groups said could include financing for Indigenous groups, payment for ecosystem services, and debt relief. - The report criticized carbon markets, saying incentives for brokers and project developers are misaligned with global environmental priorities.

Elusive jaguarundi inspires biologists to share data across Latin America (May 30 2024) - The jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi) is a little-known small felid with a range extending from northern Argentina to Mexico. The last confirmed sighting in the United States was in 1986. - H. yagouaroundi is found in a variety of habitats, but is thought to occupy mostly rugged areas with good shrub cover, including near agricultural lands. Unlike most other felids, the jaguarundi is active during the day, which can easily bring it into conflict with farmers who don’t appreciate its habit of raiding chicken coops. - Like most small, noncharismatic cat species, there’s little funding to learn more about the jaguarundi. But researchers are developing new tools, for example pooling sparse “bycatch” data gathered by many biologists from camera traps in widely scattered places and modeling it to predict habitat use and population size. - An ongoing IUCN jaguarundi assessment is using a Google Forms questionnaire to reach out widely to researchers, governments and NGOs, while also using easily shared social media tools. A detailed understanding of jaguarundi behavior is needed to assure it is conserved both inside and outside protected areas.

Indigenous people and NGO grow a wildlife corridor in the world’s oldest rainforest (May 30 2024) - Environmental charity Climate Force is collaborating with the Eastern Kuku Yalanji people and rangers to create a wildlife corridor that runs between two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Australia: the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef. - Wildlife habitats in this region have become fragmented due to industrial agriculture, and a forested corridor is expected to help protect biodiversity by allowing animals to forage for food and connect different populations for mating and migration. - The project aims to plant 360,000 trees over an area of 213 hectares (526 acres); so far, it has planted 25,000 trees of 180 species on the land and in the nursery, which can also feed a range of native wildlife. - The project is ambitious and organizers say they’re hopeful about it, but challenges remain, including soil regeneration and ensuring the planted trees aren’t killed off by feral pigs or flooding.

Analysis: Michelin’s no-deforestation claims in Indonesia rubber plantation a stretch (May 30 2024) - Rubber manufacturer Michelin claims to have avoided millions of tons of carbon emissions and saved thousands of hectares of primary forest in a sustainable rubber plantation project in Indonesia. - Michelin joined the project in 2014 after buying a stake in the Indonesian rubber company RLU, which in 2018 raised $95 million in green bonds. In 2022, Michelin became RLU’s sole shareholder, and repaid the green bonds raised by the project. - Reporting by independent media outlet Voxeurop, published in 2022, revealed that deforestation in the RLU concession surged immediately before the company made no-deforestation commitments in 2015, resulting in the loss of critical wildlife habitat. - In this analysis, Voxeurop reporter Stefano Valentino looks at what has happened with the project since Michelin made its no-deforestation commitments, finding ongoing loss of forest within the company’s concessions.

New bill to expand farmlands in the Amazon may derail Brazil’s green efforts (May 29 2024) - A bill that would reduce the amount of primary forest that landowners in the Brazilian Amazon must preserve may lead to the deforestation of an area twice the size of Rio de Janeiro state. - The bill has been tailored for the interests of the agribusiness lobby by permitting an increase in legal deforestation and would bring regulation of the Amazon closer to that of the heavily deforested Cerrado savanna biome. - For environmental organizations, its potential approval would undermine Brazil’s stated goals of reducing carbon emissions and putting an end to deforestation by 2030.

Honduran environmental defenders hit hard by human rights crisis, report says (May 28 2024) - A new report from the Organization of American States documents the human rights crisis in Honduras, citing threats and violence against environmental defenders as one of the most alarming problems. - The violence tends to involve agrarian land disputes in areas populated by the over 700,000 Indigenous and Afro-descendant residents of the country, including the Miskitu, Pesh, Tawahka, Nahua, Tolupán, Chortí and Lenca, as well as Garifunas. - The OAS recommended the government improve land titling while strengthening and better organizing institutions that hold violent aggressors accountable.

What’s at stake for the environment in Mexico’s upcoming election? (May 27 2024) - On June 2, in addition to president, Mexico will choose all 500 deputies in the lower house of Congress and all 128 seats in the Senate. - The main presidential candidates are left-wing Claudia Sheinbaum and right-wing Xóchitl Gálvez, with center-left Jorge Máynez representing a third, dark-horse option. - Both Sheinbaum and Gálvez want to invest more in renewable energy, but disagree about some controversial infrastructure projects.

Governments are ramping up actions to fight environmental crime across the Amazon, but is it working? (commentary) (May 27 2024) - In 2023, Amazon deforestation rates declined after years of record-breaking losses, thanks to efforts led by Brazil and Colombia. However, these gains are fragile, and anti-deforestation efforts show signs of weakening, with persistent risks of a tipping point, argues Robert Muggah, Co-Founder of the Igarapé Institute. - Government measures focus on forest conservation, green development, and strengthening the rule of law but face challenges due to underfunding and limited municipal support. Public security forces are overwhelmed by environmental crimes like illegal mining and wildlife trafficking, exacerbating forest and biodiversity loss. - Environmental crime is gaining more attention from decision-makers, law enforcement, and civil society, leading to increased media coverage and public commitments. Despite this, interventions remain fragmented, with inconsistent political backing and funding, writes Muggah. - “Ultimately, Brazil and other countries in the Amazon Basin cannot reverse environmental crime through police and prosecutions alone,” he writes. “A comprehensive strategy that combines law enforcement with nature-based development opportunities is critical.” This post is a commentary, so the views expressed are those of the author, not necessarily Mongabay.

Collective effort monitors Amazon wildlife in heavily logged Brazil state (May 24 2024) - Indigenous communities, the government and civil society organizations are working to identify the status and whereabouts of animals in one of the most deforested states of the Brazilian Amazon. - Devastated by the expansion of cattle ranching and soy farming, Rondônia has seen changes in the composition of its fauna due to alterations in the landscape. - The initiatives for surveying and monitoring Rondônia’s fauna are being carried out in conservation units, Indigenous territories and restored forest areas on private lands; the goal is to guide conservation policies.

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Biotic Factors of the Tropical Rainforest

Reviewed by: BD Editors

Biotic factors are the living things in an ecosystem that have an impact on other living things and/or the environment. The tropical rainforests (also known as tropical wet forests) are found in the equatorial regions of Earth and they contain the oldest major vegetation type still in existence. Flowering plants first appeared in tropical rainforests about 100 million years ago. About 40 million years ago when the climate became cooler and drier, other types of vegetation evolved across larger areas as these forests expanded. Over 50% of the plant and animal species on Earth are found in tropical rainforests.

Biotic factors in any ecosystem are classified as producers (autotrophs), consumers (heterotrophs) and decomposers (detritivores). Plants are mostly producers and the decomposers are organisms like fungi and earthworms. Consumers have to eat other organisms to get their energy.

Animals are consumers and rely on producers to make some of their food, but they eat other consumers, too. Animals that live in the tropical rainforests include birds like parrots, the collared sunbird, the keel-billed toucan, pigeons and the bird of paradise. Other animals are spider monkeys, deer, kinkajou, okapi, Western lowland gorillas, tree kangaroos, pigs, elephants, rhinoceroses, leopards, bandicoots, opossums and the three-toed sloth.

One hectare of tropical rainforest can have over 800 species of trees and 1,500 species of higher plants. Also, about two-thirds of the world’s flowering plants are in tropical rainforests. They include orchids, lilies, heliconia and bromeliads. Tropical rainforests can have various fungi, shrubs, herbs, woody vines, lichens and mosses. The trees making up the rainforest canopy include the tonka bean wood, teak, rubber and several species of evergreens and palm trees.

There can be as many as 42,000 different species of insects in one hectare of tropical rainforest. They include beetles (over 1,000 species), arachnids, scorpions, praying mantises, katydids, weaver ants, bullet ants, butterflies, centipedes, cockroaches, jeweled caterpillars, wasps and bees.

Reptiles and Amphibians

Some of the reptiles and amphibians that live in the tropical rainforest are poison dart frogs, boa constrictors, green anacondas, reticulated pythons, toads, newts, salamanders, turtles, tortoises, lizards, iguanas, chameleons and crocodiles.

Tropical rainforest. (n.d.). In Wikipedia . Retrieved July 3, 2017 from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_rainforest#Biodiversity_and_speciation Tropical rainforest. (2017, July 3). In Encyclopedia Britannica online . Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/science/tropical-rainforest

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Home / Everyday actions / Tropical Forests in Our Daily Lives

Tropical Forests in Our Daily Lives

Filed Under: Everyday actions   |  Tagged: Forests & Biodiversity Last updated October 20, 2023

Do you think of tropical forests as faraway places that have nothing to do with your daily life? Think again. You rely on these amazing places more than you know. 

Even if you’ve never been lucky enough (yet) to visit one of the Earth’s dreamy, mist-enshrouded tropical forests—like the Amazon rainforest or Indonesia’s Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park —we are closely connected to these forests and the people who live there. In fact, we all rely on tropical forests in our daily lives—and in ways that might surprise you! 

That’s why the Rainforest Alliance has made it our mission to protect tropical forests. From Central America to Southeast Asia, we partner with rural and Indigenous communities in the world’s most threatened forest landscapes. Together, we work to promote nature-friendly practices, like regenerative agriculture and agroforestry (where shade loving crops like coffee are grown under the protective canopy of taller trees). Proven solutions like these keep trees standing, ensure healthy soils and clean rivers, and provide welcoming forest habitats for wildlife—and all while helping to advance the rights and well-being of the communities we work with.  

Tropical forests and me  

Another big part of our mission is to show individuals that everyone can do their bit to protect tropical forests. And it doesn’t matter where you live. Small choices can have a big impact: Whether you’re buying bananas at the supermarket or ordering a hot chocolate at your local café, if you choose to buy products that have been grown and sourced more sustainably, then you’re actively encouraging companies to invest in sustainability, and this in turn supports the rural communities working hard to protect our tropical forests.  

Here are just some of the ways that tropical forests feature in our daily lives: 

Did you know the world’s most popular fruit, the banana , originally comes from the rainforest?  Other favorite foods that originate from tropical forests include avocado, citrus fruits, like oranges and lemons, as well as cashews, Brazil nuts , and a certain spice enjoyed by ice-cream lovers the world over—vanilla! And let’s not forget three extremely popular tropical commodities that many of us couldn’t imagine going a day without: coffee , tea , and cocoa .  

If we are not careful, however, our appetites could destroy the forests that gave them to us. Agriculture alone is responsible for more than 90 percent of tropical deforestation —but it doesn’t have to be this way. The Rainforest Alliance partners with more than four million farmers and farmworkers to promote more sustainable growing practices , (like organic composting and rainwater harvesting), while boosting crop yields and helping farmers adapt to climate change.   

Many of the medicines prescribed by doctors today are derived from plants found in tropical forests. Medications to treat or cure inflammation, rheumatism, diabetes, muscle tension, malaria, heart conditions, skin diseases, arthritis, glaucoma, and hundreds of other illnesses, all come from tropical plants. 

Tropical forests yield some of the most beautiful timber in the world, such as teak, mahogany, rosewood, balsa, and sandalwood. These wood products surround us at home and in offices in the form of furniture, cabinets, paneling, and more. But just like farming, logging can either nurture or destroy an ecosystem. That’s why it’s up to all of us—companies, consumers, and forest communities—to support more responsible timber production.  

Our community partners in Guatemala’s Maya Biosphere Reserve prove that it’s possible to develop forest-based enterprises in harmony with nature. In fact, they’ve achieved near net-zero deforestation rates for more than 20 years thanks to their world-renowned community forestry model.  

Cleaning, cosmetics, and more

Tropical forest oils, gums, and resins are used in insecticides, rubber products, fuel, paint, varnish, and wood finishing products. And tropical oils are key ingredients in cosmetics, soaps, shampoos, perfumes, disinfectants, and detergents. 

Climate Control

As we always say: forests are our best defense against climate change. They are one of the world’s primary carbon reservoirs—absorbing carbon dioxide from the air, storing it, and generating oxygen. In fact, the world’s forests store a staggering 861 gigatons of carbon —that’s the same as nearly a hundred years’ worth of annual fossil fuel emissions at the current rate. But by stopping forest destruction, we prevent a huge amount of carbon from going into the atmosphere. And by promoting Earth-friendly planting and management of young forests, we absorb large amounts of atmospheric carbon. 

But that’s not all. Forests are vital to the hydrological cycle (rain and water), and act as the world’s thermostat, regulating temperatures and weather. 

Scientists have recently warned that carbon emissions from tropical deforestation are far higher than previously thought and have actually doubled in the last two decades—and continue to rise. Our world is facing the greatest extinction crisis since the fall of the dinosaurs some 65 million years ago. The future of many of Earth’s plants and animals will be determined within the next few decades. Because we are so dependent on nature’s great bounty, we need to act responsibly, be good stewards of the Earth’s tropical forests, and do all we can to ensure that forests—and their many gifts—are around for future generations. 

Forests Are Falling At An Alarming Rate.

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Tropical Rainforest Biome: Climate, Precipitation, Location, Seasons, Plants and Animals

The earth consists of a myriad of charming places. It’s also home to numerous plant and animal species including humans. This entire species live in completely distinct environments. These distinct environments are known as Biomes . Some of the main biomes of the world include the grassland biome, desert biome, deciduous forest biome, taiga biome, rainforest biome, and aquatic biome. Of all the biomes existing on planet earth, the rainforest biome is home to the most plant and animal species beating other kinds of biome combined. The rainforest biome is further divided into the tropical rainforest biome and temperate rainforest biome.

Tropical rainforest biome is an ecology or ecosystem composed of mainly vegetation communities. The trees are closely spaced, and the crowns interact with each other to result in an unbroken canopy of plants. Tropical rainforests are abundant. Statistically, they cover approximately 7% of the surface of the earth . As its name implies, tropical rainforest experiences a lot of rain during specific seasons, but pleasantly good distribution throughout the year each day and night. Tropical rainforests are extremely vital since the water they generate is evaporated and utilized as rain in other parts of the earth.

Tropical rainforest climate is mainly humid due to warm summers and cold winters. The average temperature is approximately 77 degrees Fahrenheit, and it’s almost the same throughout the year. Tropical rainforests cannot thrive in temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit since the plant life is not well-suited to frosty conditions. The region experiences about 255 days of sunshine annually. Furthermore, the terrain is gentle, so weather conditions are rarely extreme. Even though the climate of tropical rainforests is hospitable, it can be quite challenging to navigate the dense undergrowth.

Temperature

The average temperature in a tropical rainforest is 77 degrees Fahrenheit. However, it is not uncommon for the temperature to range from 68 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature in a tropical rainforest is relatively consistent throughout the year. There is little variation between daytime and nighttime temperatures. The temperature does not typically drop below 68 degrees Fahrenheit or rise above 86 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature in a tropical rainforest is influenced by the location of the rainforest. Tropical rainforests near the equator have a higher average temperature than those located further away from the equator. The elevation of the rainforest can also affect the temperature. Tropical rainforests located at higher elevations tend to be cooler than those at lower elevations.

Precipitation

On average, tropical rainforests receive annual precipitation of more than 150cm. In a single month, the rainforest can receive 4 inches of rain. Tropical rainforest differs from other climates. Evaporation in other climates is transported to fall as rain in other far areas. In tropical rainforests, more than 50% of its precipitation emanates from within the rainforest ecosystem and falls as rain in the same ecosystem .

Tropical rainforests are further subdivided into 4 depending on the amount of precipitation experienced. For example:

• Lowland tropical rainforests: They receive the most rain per year, average annual precipitation of 80 inches. They are quintessentially situated near the equator.
• Highland tropical rainforests: These kinds of rainforests are situated on high peaks and tablelands. They harbor a terrific range of species, most of which are unique to the elevated environments. These areas are significantly colder, and with a substantial increase in altitude, the trees growing here become reduced in stature and their leaves become tougher and smaller.
• Monsoon rainforests: This kind of tropical rainforest occurs in areas that experience strong seasonal wet and dry climates. It primarily consists of small thickets clinging to basins, stream banks, and gorges where the required conditions are available for its survival. Climbers are usually the biggest feature of Monsoon tropical rainforests.
• Subtropical rainforest: It’s a lot similar to tropical rainforests only that it harbors a lesser number of species. Climbers and epiphytes are common here, and most trees are buttressed. Strangling palms and figs are predominant, with palms occurring in widespread colonies.

Tropical rainforests naturally lie in proximity to the equator. Areas near the equator are hot and wet. Equatorial climate means there is a lot of sunlight striking the land and sea than in any other place. The intense heat of the sun warms the sea and land causing evaporation into the atmosphere . The warm air can hold a greater amount of water vapor. As the evaporated air rises to the air, it cools. When it cools, it loses the capacity to hold a lot of water vapor. When warm air meets cold air, condensation occurs.

Condensation transforms the water vapor into droplets leading to the formation of clouds . The clouds fall as rain. Rainfall occurs for more than 90 days in a single year, and the sun normally shines amid the storms. This cycle repeats itself, which is why there is constant rainfall in tropical rainforest biomes.

Tropical rainforests occur in every continent except Antarctica, but the vast majority are situated in South America, with Brazil taking the biggest chunk. They are also located in the Islands off of Southeast Asia and lowland regions in Africa.

Among the world’s largest rainforest biomes include:

• Amazon Rainforest in Brazil: This covers seven million square kilometers
• Daintree Rainforest: Located on the northeast coast of Queensland, Australia along the Daintree River with an area of 2,600 Km Sq
• Sinharaja Forest: Located in Sri Lanka, with an area of 21 km from east to west, and a maximum of 7 km from north to south,
• Monteverde Forest: Located in Costa Rica, and consists of over 10,500 hectares of tropical rainforest
• Southeast Asian: Are not so dense

Tropical rainforests are found near the equator where the climate is warm and humid. The dense vegetation and high rainfall provide rich soil that is ideal for plant growth. The trees anchor the soil and prevent it from washing away. The extensive root systems of the trees help to retain water, fertilize the soil, and moderate temperature fluctuations.

The rainforest canopy blocks most sunlight, which helps to keep the ground cool. This is especially beneficial to plants that require a moderate temperature range. Dense vegetation also helps to regulate humidity, which is important for healthy plants and animals.

Tropical rainforest areas do not experience seasons like summer, winter, spring, or autumn. Instead, seasons in tropical rainforests are categorized into dry and wet seasons. Each season lasts approximately 6 months. In the Amazon, particularly, the most extreme season happens between December and May. The Amazon experiences an extraordinary 6 to 12 feet or even more rainfall. The driest season comes between June and August with an average rainfall of approximately 6 inches.

The huge amount of rainfall experienced in the Amazon in the course of the wet season results in a dramatic rise in river water levels throughout the forest ecosystem. This leads to extensive flooding. Happily, the plant, animal, and tree species here have mastered the art of living with seasonal flooding. During seasons of flooding, aquatic species like fish dolphins, and turtles dive to river depths that are extremely difficult to reach.

While the flooding takes place, filling the entire forest, the animals can maneuver through the rainforest in search of food. Plants have also adapted characteristics to survive flooding. Numerous trees have developed barks that cannot rot whatsoever. Some trees feature buttress roots that grow like tent-frame to help them anchor to the ground to prevent falling. The buttress roots also help them suck up nutrients during this period.

Tropical rainforests in the world harbor an astonishing range of plant species. This is clearly reflected in the Amazon rainforest, which is home to more than 40,000 plant species. The presence of a hot, humid climate enables these plant species to thrive. Some plant species grow pretty quickly; others acquire bigger leaves, while others develop excellent defenses against predators. Some of the most interesting rainforest plants include;

• Epiphytes – plants that grow on other plants. 
• Orchids – one of the most popular rainforest plants. 
• Carnauba Palm (Copernicia prunifera) – a palm-like tree that is endemic to the Amazon rainforest.
• Walking Palm (Socratea exorrhiza), which is also endemic to the Amazon rainforest.
• Amazon water lily (Victoria amazonica) – a water lily that can grow up to 10 feet tall.
• Rubber Tree (Hevea brasiliensis) – one of the most common trees in the rainforest.
• Açai Palm (Euterpe precatoria) – a palm that grows up to 25 feet tall.
• Bromeliads – these are succulent plants that typically have a single large flower.
• Silky Oak (Grevillea robusta) – an oak that grows in the rainforest.
• Corpse Flower (Rafflesia arnoldii)

Tropical rainforests provide homes to many animal species due to their constant warm temperatures, considerable moisture level, and bountiful supply of plant life. In fact, the number of animals living in tropical rainforests is more than in other habitats collectively. Colorful and unique animal species are found here. Almost all kinds of creatures are well-represented in this forest, ranging from tiny insects to large mammals.

Bacteria make the smallest organisms living in this biome. They are chiefly responsible for decomposing fallen wood, leaves, and other dead organic matter. Even though the rainforest is vast and contains many tree species and plants, some animal species that live here never reach the ground layer. They stay in the middle layer and on top of canopies throughout their lifetime.

The diversity of animal life in the tropical rainforest is remarkable. Some of the most common animals include;

• Monkeys – a popular primate species that inhabits the tropical rainforest.
• Jaguars – one of the most dangerous big cats in the world that inhabit this biome.
• Aye-aye – an endangered primate that inhabits the tropical rainforest.
• Bushbaby – a small rodent that lives in the rainforest.
• Toucans – one of the most common avian species found in this biome.
• Sloths – one of the slowest mammals on earth that inhabits the tropical rainforest.
• Harpy Eagle – a large eagle that inhabits the tropical rainforest.
• Tapirs – an herbivorous mammal that inhabits the tropical rainforest.
• Leopard – one of the most common big cats in the world that inhabits this biome.
• Fruit bats – a popular and important species that eat lots of fruit in the rainforest.

Did you know that the tropical rainforest is home to more than half of the world’s animals? That’s right – more than 50% of all animal species on Earth live in this amazing biome. The tropical rainforest is also home to some of the world’s tallest trees, including the kapok tree which can grow up to 200 feet tall!

The tropical rainforest also has a very high moisture content, which is why it’s so dense with plant life. In fact, the moisture level in a tropical rainforest is about 10 times greater than in a regular forest. This high moisture level is why many of the rainforest’s plants are hard to dry out. Below is a list of some other fun facts about the tropical rainforest:

• The tropical rainforest is the most diverse biome on Earth.
• The tropical rainforest is home to more than half of all animal species on Earth.
• The tropical rainforest is the world’s second-largest biome.
• The tropical rainforest provides a wide variety of plant life.
• The tropical rainforest is home to many colorful animal species.
• The tropical rainforest is home to many slow-moving mammals.
• The tropical rainforest is home to many large animals.

If you want to see a truly amazing biome, visit a tropical rainforest!

Photo by: skeeze

I am Sonia Madaan, a mother with a passion for science, computing, and environmental issues. Motivated by my passion and education, I started a website to spread awareness about climate change and its causes, like rising greenhouse gas levels. You can read more about me here .

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The nutrient cycle in the rainforest

Nutrients are rapidly recycled in the rainforest.

The majority of nutrients in the tropical rainforest are stored in biomass. Biomass is all the living things in an ecosystem , including plants and animals.

Nutrients are rapidly recycled in the tropical rainforest biome. The warm, moist climate provides ideal conditions for decomposers to break down organic material in the litter layer quickly. The litter layer is all the dead organic material such as fallen leaves, dead vegetation or dead animals on the soil’s surface. Vegetation takes up dissolved nutrients in the soil.

The soil is formed by mixing dead organic material with weathered bedrock. Soils in the rainforest are mainly thin and poor. Nutrient levels in the soil are low due to the leaching (washing away of nutrients) by the heavy equatorial rain. This leaching means that the lower layers of the soils lack the nutrients and minerals the lush vegetation needs. Also, rainforest vegetation rapidly absorbs nutrients from the soil. Soils are often red in colour as they are rich in iron.

The nutrient cycle in the rainforest is an excellent example of interdependence. The diagram above shows the links between different stores of nutrients in the rainforest. Decomposers rely on fallen leaves, branches and dead animals to thrive. In turn, nutrients from decomposed matter enter the soil, providing nutrients to support the growth of vegetation consumed by primary consumers .

The nutrient cycle in the rainforest is very fragile. If a nutrient flow changes, this can have a negative impact on the ecosystem. For example, when deforestation occurs, the litter layer no longer receives organic matter, and the soil quickly becomes infertile. Because there is no vegetation cover to protect the soil, nutrients are rapidly leached by heavy equatorial rainfall.

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Biodiversity

Carbon sequestration, water and oxygen, pharmaceuticals and other natural products.

• What is the definition of biodiversity?
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Why are rainforests so important?

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The Earth’s magnificent tropical rainforests represent a treasure trove of biological heritage. They not only retain many primitive plant and animal species with incredible and ancient evolutionary lineages but are also communities that exhibit unparalleled biodiversity and a great variety of ecological interactions. The tropical rainforests of Africa , for example, were the habitat in which the ancestors of humans evolved and are where our nearest surviving relatives— chimpanzees and gorillas —live still. Tropical rainforests have long supplied a rich variety of food and other resources to Indigenous peoples, who, for the most part, make use of this bounty without degrading the vegetation or reducing its range. Rainforests provide a wide array of ecosystem services , including the provision of basic human needs, such as timber and food; cultural services with recreational, aesthetic , or spiritual benefits; and vital ecological services, such as nutrient cycling, oxygen production, wildlife habitat, erosion and flood control, water filtration, and carbon sequestration . While it covers just 2 percent of Earth’s surface, the dense vegetation of these forests plays an important role in the health of our planet. Unfortunately, thousands and thousands of acres of the world’s rainforests are destroyed each day, as trees are cut down for wood and land is cleared for agriculture.

Moist tropical forests such as the Amazon Rainforest are considered biodiversity hot spots and have the greatest concentrations of animal and plant species of any terrestrial ecosystem . Perhaps two-thirds of Earth’s species live exclusively in these forests, though only a minority of these species have been formally described and scientifically named. According to some informed estimates, more than a hundred species of rainforest fauna and flora become extinct every week as a result of widespread clearing of forests by humans. Insects are believed to constitute the greatest percentage of disappearing species.

Read Britannica’s essay, “What Happens to Earth if the Amazon Rainforest is Completely Burned?”

Forests of all types are the largest carbon reservoirs on land. In terrestrial communities, up to 80 percent of the aboveground carbon and about a third of belowground carbon are contained within forests. It is estimated that tropical rainforests serve as sinks for more than 50 percent of all atmospheric carbon dioxide absorbed by plants annually. Forests sequester carbon in the form of wood and other biomass as the trees grow, taking up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere ( see carbon cycle ). When rainforests are slashed and burned , their carbon is returned to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide, a potent greenhouse gas that is one of the key drivers of anthropogenic climate change , and the trees are no longer present to sequester more carbon. Deforestation in tropical areas thus has major global implications , and rainforest conservation and reforestation constitute a significant climate-change mitigation strategy.

The role that rainforests play at the global level in weather, climate change, oxygen production, and carbon cycling, while significant, is only just beginning to be appreciated. For instance, tropical rainforests play an important role in the exchange of gases between the biosphere and atmosphere , and their role as “the lungs of the Earth” in terrestrial oxygen production is well known. In the upper Amazon River basin of South America , the rainforest recycles rains brought primarily by easterly trade winds . Indeed, surface transpiration and evaporation supply about half of the rainfall for the entire region, and in basins of dense forest far from the ocean such local processes can account for most of the local rainfall. Should the Amazon Rainforest, which accounts for 30 percent of the land area in the equatorial belt, disappear, drought would likely follow, and the global energy balance might well be affected. Given their incredible biomass, rainforests throughout the world can absorb huge amounts of water. When rainforests are destroyed, the vast amounts of rainfall in those regions cannot be absorbed, resulting in widespread flooding and soil erosion.

Rainforest plants produce an untold number of phytochemicals that may be useful to humans. Numerous medicines, as much as one-quarter of all prescription drugs, have been made from materials gathered in rainforests—including cocaine and quinine —and many more lifesaving pharmaceuticals may await discovery there. Rainforest plants have also been used to make plant-based insecticides that are far less toxic than synthetic , or human-made, chemicals. Many products, such as natural rubber , essential oils used in cosmetics and perfumes, rattan (a material woven together to make furniture), and a number of food products such as acai and Brazil nuts , can be sustainably harvested from rainforests without causing widespread destruction.

Read Britannica’s essay, “No Rainforest, No Brazil Nuts.”

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Science Struck

Landforms in Tropical Rainforests

The rainforest biome is marked by the presence of different landforms such as mountains, valleys, rivers, wetlands, etc. These landforms give rise to a complex ecosystem with varied species. Read to know more in detail.

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The trees in the rainforests are very tall and slender. Most of these trees don’t have branches till atleast 100 feet.

The tropical rainforests are characterized by a variety of landforms which give rise to a complex ecosystem in this region. The tropical rainforests are found in lowland regions. Topographical features of the rainforest regions include the mountains, valleys, streams, wetlands, rivers, etc. A thick forest cover is the prominent feature of tropical rainforests, irrespective of the topography (whether it is plain or mountainous). The forest cover doesn’t allow much light to reach the ground. Less availability of sunlight at the ground level is therefore, responsible for the restricted growth of smaller plants.

A tropical rainforest is a hub of a multitude of ecosystems, which in coherence, facilitate the flourishing and sustenance of various life forms. It is the den of some of the most exquisite types of flora and fauna, whose sheer sight can cause one to skip a beat. Human beings have benefited magnificently from these stretches of tropical rainforests, as they always procured a steady supply of fuel and resources.

There fertile, lush forests are spotted in areas nearest to the equator. The places which are rich in tropical rainforests include, Latin America, Brazil, places in Southeast Asia, the Pacific islands, and some parts in western Africa. The driving factor for the lush green forests is a constant prevalence of high temperatures and high levels of rainfall. This makes the soil immensely fertile, and thus supports an array of green vegetation. The landforms in the tropical rainforests are the most diverse, and this has contributed to the survival of life. In the following paragraphs, we shall look into the major types of landforms that have made up the tropical rainforests like what we have it today. These areas mostly stretch from the areas between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.

Major Landforms in Tropical Rainforests

The tropical rainforest biome is amongst the important ones on this planet. The regions covered by these forests are characterized by different topographical features and landforms. A short account of these landforms can be found below.

A mountain is a topographical feature that rises above surrounding areas and has an altitude higher than a hill. South America, Asia, Australia, Africa and Pacific Islands are the regions where mountains ranges can be found in tropical rainforests. Out of the total mountain cover of the world, 22% is found in South America. Barisan mountains in tropical rainforests of Sumatra Island, Indonesia is one popular example. Mountains are formed by the collision of two tectonic plates. Pico da Neblina which is located in the Amazon Rainforest is counted as one of the highest mountains that is found in a rainforest.

A valley, is also referred to as dale . It is a depression that can take either a ‘U’-shape or ‘V’-shape. Those valleys which provide channels for the flow of rivers are known as ‘vales’. The ‘V’ or ‘U’ shape of valleys change into a flat surface at their bottom. If the bottom region is large enough, it turns into a floodplain.

The soil of wetlands is saturated with water. The different types of wetland regions are marshes, swamps, bogs, etc. The wetlands are saturated with water because their water table is just near the ground surface. The water could be fresh water or saline. The presence of wetlands in the rainforests help in the survival of various species of plants and animals. Antarctica is the only place which is devoid of any wetland. The most prominent wetlands belong to the tropical rainforests. Shallow pools of water are found in wetland regions. Brazil, Chile, Bolivia and Paraguay are the regions in South America where wetlands are commonly found. Largest of all wetlands, the Pantanal is located in Brazil.

Description of the stream can be presented as water current that flows through a path called bed. The stream is referred to by different names such rill, kill, lick, rivulet, etc. The area of biological growth adjacent to streams is known as riparian zone.

Flood Plain

It is a flat and vast area present adjacent to rivers or streams. This region easily gets flooded in times of high discharge. A floodplain is formed of meandering streams or braided rivers. This landform supports the growth of microbes due to the release of nutrients from soil following the high discharge. It is a flat area which has got high areas on the sides. They can sometimes be a part of a bigger valley. These are however smaller in size. These are the storehouse of ample nutrients. In fact, ancient civilizations nested amidst the floodplains.

A stream and river is differentiated on the basis of their size. River is a bigger stream of water that meets a sea or other river. Unlike that of oceans or seas, river is a source of freshwater. Just like streams, rivers are bound by beds or channels. The bed of rivers is wider than that of streams. Rivers carry silt & nutrients and make their beds fertile. Amazon river originates from the Andes mountains, traverses the continent of South America across its width and finally reaches the Atlantic ocean. The approximate length of this second longest river is 4200 miles; it has the largest drainage basin with an area of 2,720,000 sq. miles.

Many different plants and animals thrive in this region owing to the favorable tropical rainforest climate . Leaching of nutrients through soil is however, one of the problems observed in this region. The soil becomes devoid of nutrients due to leaching. There is a lot to study about the various landforms in tropical rainforests. The facts mentioned above should provide an overview of information about these landforms.

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