51 Tropical Rainforest Facts For Kids To Learn Everything About Them

Rainforests are found across Central America, South America, Australia, Asia, and Africa.

Rainforests play an essential role in the water cycle, providing moisture for the atmosphere and rivers. The Amazon rainforest produces approximately 20% of the world's oxygen.

Did you know that the Amazon rainforest is one of the largest in the world? Or that it is home to thousands of different plant and animal species? If you want to learn more about tropical rainforests, read on!

In this article, we will discuss some fascinating facts about these ecosystems. We'll cover everything from their history to their importance to the environment. So whether you're a kid who wants to learn more about rainforests, or a parent who wants to teach them, keep reading!

Types

There are four main types of tropical rainforests; the moist broadleaf forest, the dry broadleaf forest, lowland tropical rainforests, and the evergreen needle leaf forest. Other types are flooded rainforests, montane rainforests, and moist seasonal tropical forests.

The moist broadleaf forest is found near the Earth's equator and gets a lot of rainfall each year. This type of rainforest is home to tall trees, vines, and epiphytes.

The dry broadleaf forest is found in areas that don't rain as much.

The trees in this type of rainforest are shorter than those in the moist broadleaf forest, and there are fewer vines and epiphytes.

The evergreen needle leaf forest is found in colder climates near the Earth's poles. This type of rainforest has tall evergreen trees and few vines or epiphytes.

The Amazon rainforest is an example of a moist broadleaf forest. In contrast, the Taiga (a type of coniferous forest found in Siberia) is an example of an evergreen needle leaf forest.

Wet tropical rainforests are the most common type. They receive a lot of rainfall every year and have high humidity.

Moist tropical rainforests also get a lot of rainfall, but not as much as wet forests. They usually have lower humidity.

During the winter fry season, trees drop a few or all of their leaves, and so they are also known as 'tropical mixed forest.'

Dry tropical rainforests experience very little rainfall and have low humidity.

The moist seasonal tropical forest is spread through much of Indochina, areas of the Indian subcontinent, West Africa, Caribbean, Central America, and South America.

Montane rainforests occupy cool mountainous regions and are also known as cloud forests.

Flooded rainforests called tropical fresh water swamp forests are spread across the Amazon basin.

It has been estimated that rainforests cover about 2% of Earth's landmass. However, this figure varies depending on how you define 'rainforest.'

Forest Structure

Rainforests are categorized not as various layers or strata, and the vegetation is arranged in a vertical system from the soil surface to the canopy. Most rainforests occupy areas near the equator. However, some are also found in temperate regions, where it is a lot cooler.

The bottom-most layer of the forest is the forest floor which receives about 2% sunlight. Due to this, the forest floor is comparatively clear of vegetation.

The open or clear forest floors allow easy movements of animal species like okapi, apes, tapir, insects, amphibians, and reptiles.

The floor also has decaying animal and plant matter, which quickly disappears due to humid and warm conditions.

The understory is the layer of the rainforest that is between the forest floor and the canopy.

The understory is lighter than the forest floor because some sunlight reaches it.

The soil is thicker here because more nutrients have been deposited by falling leaves from the trees in the canopy.

There are three main types of animals that live in the understory - invertebrates, reptiles, and mammals.

The canopy is the uppermost layer of the rainforest. It's made up of the leaves and branches of the tallest trees.

The canopy is very dense, so not much sunlight reaches it.

The temperature is also cooler here than on the forest floor or in the understory.

The top of the rainforest is the highest layer of the forest. It's very warm and sunny here, and lots of water is available.

The trees in this layer are shorter than those in the canopy because they don't have access to as much sunlight or water. Reptiles and invertebrates live in this layer.

Ecology And Biodiversity

The largest diversity of animal and plant species on our planet are found in the rainforests of South America. Due to their location around the tropical regions, tropical rainforests receive a lot of sunlight.

Rainforests regulate both weather patterns as well as the temperature around the world.

They also help regulate local micro-climates and limit the reflectivity of Earth's surface, stabilizing rainfall patterns, wind, and ocean currents.

A fifth of the world's fresh water is in tropical rainforests.

These forests consist of about one-fourth of natural medicines.

Only the tropical rainforests have 70% and more cancer-treating plants on Earth.

Trees in the rainforest tend to grow very tall as they compete with other plants over sunlight.

There are more than 2,500 vine species in rainforests. Some vines are as bid as the circumference of humans.

It is estimated that there are between 16,000-17,000 tropical rainforests worldwide.

There are over 2,00 butterfly species in the South American rainforests.

Sloths in Central and South American moist rainforests move so slowly that they grow algae in their fur and even carry cockroaches and beetles.

Most rainforest animals stick to trees and rarely get down to the forest floor.

Tropical rainforests play a significant role in decreasing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which could contribute to climate change.

They absorb almost half of the carbon dioxide and many greenhouse gases that are released into the air due to human activities.

Human Dimensions

Rainforests are home to millions of people who rely on them for their food, water, and medicine. Rainforests also provide many jobs for local residents.

People living in rainforests choose to farm and produce spices and food.

Indigenous communities are hunter-gatherers living within tropical rainforests.

New Guinea's Korowai people inhabit treehouses at an elevation of 147.6 ft (45 m) above the ground.

Rainforests have a lot of cooking spices like black pepper, allspice, and vanilla.

The indigenous tribes discovered now have lived in rainforests for thousands of years.

As per the FUNAI report in 2007, there were 67 uncontacted tribes living rainforest of Brazil.

The hunting-gathering group, pygmy peoples, are known for their short height, less than 59 ft (1.5 m). They occupy equatorial rainforests.

Sugarcane, avocado, macadamia, papaya, mango, banana, chocolate, coffee, and yam have all come from the tropical rainforest.

Compared to just 20 cultivated types of fruit from temperate forests, tropical forests supplied around 250.

Rainforests also play a role in pollination, disease control, global climate control, carbon sequestration, and biological diversity.

Although tourism in and around tropical rainforests negatively impacts them, they have many vital positive effects.

Ecotourism increases economic support, supports flora, fauna, and locals, aids conservation of sensitive regions, and spreads awareness.

Forests are nature's water filters keeping debris and pollution away from water supplies and slowing the rainwater movement, which is why it flows into underground reserves.

Tropical rainforests are amazing ecosystems home to millions of plant and animal species. If we want to protect these forests, it is important to learn about them and raise awareness of their importance.

FAQs

Q: What are the tropical rainforests?

A: The tropical rainforests are a type of moist broadleaf forest found in the tropics and subtropics. They are located near the Earth's equator and receive high levels of rainfall each year.

Q: How many rainforests are there in the world?

A: There are many different types of rainforests worldwide, but the two main types are tropical and temperate.

Q: How many species are in the amazon rainforest?

A: The Amazon rainforest is home to an estimated 40,000 plant species, 427 mammals, 435 birds, and 378 amphibians. It is also thought to be home to between 16 and 30 thousand different insect species.

Q: How does water affect animals in the tropical rainforest?

A: One of the most important things that water does for animals in the tropical rainforest is it provides a means of transportation. Water is necessary for plant growth, and many rainforest plants are adapted to absorb moisture from the air.

Q: What kind of animals live in the Hawaiian tropical rainforest?

A: The Hawaiian tropical rainforest is home to various animals, including birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. Some common animals found in this ecosystem include the Hawaiian honeycreeper, the green sea turtle, and the coqui frog.

Q: How do snakes adapt in the tropical rainforest?

A: One of the ways that snakes adapt to life in the tropical rainforest is by being able to survive in a wide variety of habitats. This includes living in trees, on the ground, and in water.

Q: What is the average temperature of a tropical rainforest?

A: The average temperature of a tropical rainforest is around 80 F (27 C).

Q: What plants grow in a tropical rainforest?

A: The plants that grow in a tropical rainforest vary depending on the location of the forest. However, some common plants in this ecosystem include palms, ferns, bromeliads, and orchids.

Q: What season is the dry season for a tropical rainforest?

A: The dry season for a tropical rainforest typically lasts from December to May.

Q: Why should people visit the tropical rainforest?

A: People should visit the tropical rainforest because it is an incredibly diverse and beautiful ecosystem that is in danger of being destroyed. By seeing the rainforest firsthand, people can learn about the importance of protecting it and how they can help.