Tropical Rainforests
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Tropical Rainforests
Tropical rainforests are rainforests found in tropical climates zones close to the equator. They are defined by an annual rainfall between 1750mm (69 in) and 2000mm (79 in), monthly temperatures above 18°C (64 °F) all year round. Rainforests exist on following continents: Africa, Asia, Central and South America and on most of the Pacific Islands. Tropical Forests are also refered to as tropical wet forests (or tropical moist broadleaf forests). Over one-quarter of our modern medicines originate from the rainforests' plants and are therefore also called the "world's natural pharmacy". Half of all the living animal and plant species on the planet are living in the tropical rainforests.
The rainforest holds five different layers. Every layer serves different plants and animals. The five layers are: floor layer, shrub layer, understory layer, canopy layer and emergent layer. The emergent layer is unique to tropical rainforests, while all the others are also found in temperate rainforests.
The emergent layer which is the tallest grows above all the others and reaches a general height of 45-55 meters, with some exceptions which will grow up to 70 or 80 meters tall. These need to withstand the strong winds and hot temperatures. Monkeys, eagles, bats and butterflies live in this layer.
The tropical rainforests have been existing for
millions of years which helped them to develop into the great ecosystem
they now are. But they are no longer safe. They are being shrunk, day
by day, which endangers many plant and animal species. About 140 plant
and animal spiecies are destroyed per day! About 1.5 acres are being deforested
each and every second!
Once destroyed they are exstinct and cannot
be brought back. It is therefore vital that we take action against the
deforestation which is proceeding at such an enormous pace.
On ExperimentEarth.com we sell space on our world map. With every land purchase you can help buy a piece of real land in a tropical forest to help protect the many endangered plant and animal spiecies therein.