CLIMATE

LIMITING FACTORS

HUMAN IMPACT

FOOD WEB/ ENERGY PYRAMID

SYMBIOSIS/
COMPETITION

ANIMALS &
PLANTS

CARBON &
NITROGEN CYCLES

SOURCES
USED

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The climate in a rainforest is always hot and wet in most parts of the equatorial belt, but in regions to its north and south seasonal rainfall is experienced. During the summer months of the Northern Hemisphere—June to August—weather systems shift northward, bringing lots of rain to regions in the northern parts of the tropics, as do the monsoon rains of India and Myanmar.

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Tropical areas, such as the Amazon rainforest, don't have seasons like spring, summer, autumn and winter. Instead, seasons in the Amazon are divided into the dry season and the wet season, each lasting about six months. The temperature in a rain forest rarely gets higher than 93 °F (34 °C) or drops below 68 °F (20 °C). Average humidity is between 77 and 88%.

Tropical rainforests receive from 60 to 160 inches of precipitation that is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. On the climograph, the letters at the bottom represent months and the red bar graph shows inches of precipitation per month (measured from the left). The white line at the top shows average temperature each month (measured from the right, in Fahrenheit) and it is clear that it is quite constant all year round.

MUTUALISM

symbiosis that is beneficial to both organisms involved.

EXAMPLES:
1. Trees would provide the Capuchin monkeys' food and the monkeys provide pollination (pollen would get on their face as they'd move place to place).

COMMENSALISM

an association between two organisms in which one benefits and the other derives neither benefit nor harm.

EXAMPLES:
1. Frogs benefit by using the leaves of the vermiliad as shelter from sun and rain. The vermiliad is unaffected by the frogs.

PARASITISM

the parasite, lives on or in another organism, the host, causing it some harm, and is adapted structurally to this way of life.

EXAMPLES:
1. Rafflesia arnoldii grows on the floor of the tropical rainforest and is parasitic to rainforest lianas, or vines.

DENSITY INDEPENDENT FACTORS

Density-independent factors affect per capita growth rate independent of population density.
1. Forest Fires: The fire will kill any unlucky organisms that are present, regardless of population size/the amount of organisms around.
2. Both sunlight and soil are density-independent limiting factors, meaning their effects on the species are not dependent on the density of a said species.

DENSITY DEPENDENT FACTORS

Density-dependent limiting factors cause a population's per capita growth rate to change—typically, to drop—with increasing population density.
1. Competition within the population. When a population reaches a high density, there are more organisms trying to use the same quantity of resources. This can lead to competition for food, water, shelter, mates, light, and other resources needed for survival and reproduction.
2. Predation: Higher-density populations may attract predators who wouldn’t bother with a sparser population. When these predators eat individuals from the population, they decrease its numbers but may increase their own.

ANIMALS

1. POISON DART FROG - The poison dart from excretes poison through its skin and its bright colour warns potential predators against eating it. Some of the frogs in this family are not poisonous however, they have adapted to their environment by copying the appearance of the poisonous types.
2. SPIDER MONKEY - The monkey can hang by its tail, swing by it, pick fruit with it and even throw things with it.
3. GECKO - Geckos have developed large, flattened toe pads that have sticky scales on their undersides. These help them grip onto the smooth tree trunks that are commonly found in the rainforest allowing them to climb vertically up trees.

PLANTS

1. LIANAS - These are woody vines that have roots in the ground but climb up the trees to reach the sunlight. Their leaves and flowers grow in the canopy.
2. TREE TRUNKS - These are tall and thin to allow trees to reach the sunlight. The bark on these trees is smooth to allow water to flow down to the roots easily.
3. EPIPHYTES - these are plants which live on the branches of trees high up in the canopy. They get their nutrients from the air and water, not from the soil.
4. DRIP TIPS - Plants have leaves with pointy tips. This allows water to run off the leaves quickly without damaging or breaking them.

CARBON CYCLE

Forests also play a critical role in mitigating climate change because they act as a carbon sink—soaking up carbon dioxide that would otherwise be free in the atmosphere and contribute to ongoing changes in climate patterns.
When an animal/matter is decomposing, it releases carbon dioxide, which can then be used for photosynthesis. It also forms fossil fuels. During the process of photosynthesis, plants take in water, carbon dioxide, and sunlight. They then use that to produce sugars and energy for themselves. They also release oxygen in this process.

NITROGEN CYCLE

Nitrogen is an essential nutritional element for all plants and animals. There is a large reservoir of nitrogen in the air, but in a chemical form that is unavailable to plants. Therefore, it needs to be "fixed" into usable form as nitrates or nitrites by soil microorganisms. Since the rainforest is so big, nitrogen is a significant ingredient in the global nitrogen cycle. When a plant dies, it gives off nitrogen into the soil and water - or when herbivores, which have consumed plants, die or excrete nitrogen compounds. So, this release nitrogen goes through nitrogen fixation when absorbed my bacteria and creates nitrates or nitrites. This is then absorbed through the plants and eaten by herbivores and carnivores.