What is a rainforest?

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Tropical rain forests are very important to the earth. Plants found only in the rainforest supply people all over the world with different types of medication. Unfortunately, the tropical rainforests are dwindling. Here are some topics regarding tropical rainforests.

What is a tropical rainforest?

The tropical rainforest consists of several regions in the warmer sections of the earth. They are tropical in climate, which means they are hot and wet.

Where are rainforests located?

Rainforests are located near the equator, in the section of the earth called the tropics. These areas are on the continents of Africa, South America, Asia, and the islands around Australia.

Layers of the tropical rainforest

The rainforest consists of four layers. These layers, in order of highest to lowest, are the emergent layer, the canopy layer, the understory layer, and the forest floor.

Animals of the rainforest

It is estimated that about half of the world’s species of animals lives in the tropical rainforest. These include birds, insects, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.

People of the rainforest

There are approximately 50,000,000 tribal people who call the tropical rainforest home. Three of the most well-known tribes in the rainforest are the Pygmies in Africa, the Huli in Papua New Guinea, and the Yanomami in South America.

Insects of the rainforest

Of the millions of species of animals found in the rainforest, most are insects. An impressive half-million of these are beetles.

Why the rainforest is important

There are several reasons why rainforests are so important. First, rainforests control the climate of the entire earth. As the rainforest disappears, carbon is released into the atmosphere. This creates global warming. Approximately one fourth of the plants used in common medications can be found only in the rainforest. Also, the rainforest is responsible about 20% of the world’s fresh water supply.

Saving the rainforest

In recent years, the importance of saving the rainforest has become well-known. Some ways that each person can contribute to protecting the rainforest include recycling, conserving energy, and using only organic fertilizers and pesticides.

Soils of the rainforest

The soils of the rainforest are often red or yellow. The soil itself is poor for growing; the reason that so much plant life grows so abundantly is due to the rapid breakdown of nutrient-rich vegetation.

Rainforest glossary

There are several excellent resources that contain rainforest glossaries. Enchanted Learning is one. Another is WetTropics, an Australian Web site.

Survival in the rainforest

It is possible to survive in the rainforest for an extended period of time. There are many edible plants to eat. Wearing appropriate clothing will protect one from insects, sunburn, and other hazards.

Pictures of the rainforest

Tropical rainforests are breathtakingly beautiful. The wildlife is exotic to those who do not live in tropical climates. Unfortunately, the destruction of the rainforests has made some areas less visually appealing.

Tropical rainforest of the Amazon

The largest rainforest in the world, the Amazon Rainforest, is located in South America. The Amazon is home to 10% of the world’s species of animals, and about 40,000 species of plants.

Tropical rainforest of Australia

The rainforests in Australia are home to gorgeous waterfalls, plant, and animal life.

There is much that scientists know about the tropical rainforests, but there is also much that they don’t know yet. Conservation efforts are important to save the rainforests from further damage, and to allow more time for scientists to unravel the mysteries of these ecosystems

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Get more facts and information about rainforests and ice ages from The Oxford Companion to the Earth at Encyclopedia.com.