Tropical Rainforests

A dense forest that gets lots of rainfall throughout the year. There are two types of rainforests: tropical rainforests and temperate rainforests.

Warm, humid climate that experiences rain all year round.

Climate is the long-term weather pattern in a region, typically averaged over 30 years.

Weather is the state of the atmosphere, including temperature, wind, humidity, precipitation, and cloud cover. Weather is constantly changing.

The imaginary line that humans use to divide the world into the northern and southern hemisphere.

The major line of latitude north of the Equator. It can be found at 23.5 degrees north.

The major line of latitude south of the Equator. It can be found at 23.5 degrees south.

A graph that shows the average temperature and rainfall per month of a specific region. Typically temperature is displayed as a red line chart and rainfall as a blue bar chart.

Found at ground level in tropical rainforests. The shurb layer is typically dark and gloomy. It does not normally have a large amount of vegetation due to the lack of sunlight it receives.

This is the second layer of tropical rainforests. There is still limited light that makes it through to this layer. This layer typically hosts plants waiting to grow and climbing plants and animals.

The canopy is sometimes called the roof of the rainforest, this is because this is the layer where most trees stop growing. It is typically 20 to 40 meters tall. This layers hosts lots of insects, birds and even some mammals.

This layer is made up of the tops of the tallest trees. Some examples of these trees are teak trees and Mahogany trees. Typically only large birds are found in this layer.

Large wide roots that appear all around tall trees that help keep them steady and supported. These are normally found on trees growing in tropical rainforests due to the poor nutrient quality of the soil.

An elongated leaf tip from which excess water drips off, as found in plants of the rainforest.

These are plants with long, flexible, climbing stems that are rooted in the ground, and usually have long dangling branches. Some people refer to them as vines.

Plants that typically grow on other plants and trees for physical support and to have better access to sunlight.

A species of fig plant that grows up other trees and plants suffocating them and potentially killing the host vegetation.

a modification of an organism to be more suited to the environment it lives in. For example a monkey having a tail for balance when living in trees.

Adaptations to how animals act or think. For example becoming nocturnal.

Changes to the animal or plants physical structure. For example, growing a long tail for balance.

A group of people who live together, share the same language, culture and history and stay outside towns or cities.

The act of cutting down trees. Normally on a large scale.

The industry of collecting wood from trees.

electricity being created by converting the movement of water (normally though a dam) into energy by using the water to turn turbines.

When a species of plant or animal no longer exists. When there is not a single living member of the species alive.

A gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earth's atmosphere generally attributed to the greenhouse effect caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide, CFCs, and other pollutants.

Meeting the needs of today without sacrificing the resources of tomorrow.

responsible travel to tourist destinations that promotes learning, environmentally friendly interactions and help local communities.

A method of farming that involves clearing areas by burning them before planting more seeds. Commonly used in forest areas.