Adaptations

What are plants in the TRF adapting to cope with?

High rainfall, hgh temperatures and competition for light

Buttress Roots

Tall trees competing for sunlight have these big roots to support their trunks

Thick waxy leaves and drip tips

These help to ensure that the plant doesnt become damaged from the weight of the water and that bacteria and fungi do not grow on the leaf

Smooth, thin bark

There is no need to protect the trunk from low temperatures. The smooth surface also allows water to run off easily

What are the 5 layers of the rainforest

Ground floor, shrub layer, undercanopy, canopy, emergents

Why do plants in the undercanopy have large leaves?

To absorb as much light as possible

Why do lianas climb up other larger trees

To reach the sunlight

Why do plants drop their leaves?

So they can carry on growing all year round

Strong limbs

Allows animals to spend their whole lives in the canopy leaping from tree to tree

Flaps of skin

Allows animals to glide between trees, eg flying squirells others have suction cups for climbing, eg tree frogs

Short wingspan

Allows birds to easily move through dense layers of vegetation

Camoflage

Hide from predators

Nocturnal

Allows animals to feed at night, saving energy

Sharp sense of smell

Helps to detects prey and predators at the groundfloor where there is little light

Ability to swim

Allows them to cross river channels