Rainforests
are the most complex and species-rich ecosystem on Earth.
But what is rainforest
ecosystem?
An
ecosystem
is a community of all organisms in a given area, and the
physical environment which they interact with.
On the land there are terrestrial ecosystems such as forests,
grasslands or rainforests; and in the water there are freshwater and
marine ecosystems such as lakes and, say, coral reef.
(By the way coral
reef is the second species-richest ecosystem on the
Earth).
Rainforest biome is very
complex. It includes a myriad of
different species of plants and animals that are all adapted to rain,
and lots of it.
There
are
different levels of plants
in the rainforests. The
highest are the tall trees that often, particularly in tropical
rainforests, form a closed canopy. On the next level are vines, orchids
and
epiphytes that grow high up in trees to reach more sunlight. Lower down
are tree ferns and similar short trees, and next there is the forest
floor - dark but far from lifeless.
Animal
life
is also complex. Insects are deeming in what is very
favourable conditions for them. Frogs and reptiles thrive. Bird life
is noisy and colourful with many species of parrots and cockatoos.
Since birds live mostly in the rainforest canopy, rainforest snakes are
often tree snakes. Many mammals also live up in trees, whether they are
herbivores or carnivores. And rivers and waterholes contain different
water animals.
All
those plants and animals
are dependent on each other in a complex
food
web,
and/or benefit from each other in other ways in the ecosystem. Rainforest
Biome
Note:
This site uses British English, which is the English we use in
Australia. Disclaimer:
This website is about interesting facts about rainforests.
It
is not
trying to be comprehensive. Although best efforts
have been made to
ensure
that all the information on this
site is correct, rainforest-facts.com
is
not to
be blamed should
there be a mistake. Copyright
notice:
All contents of this website are strictly protected by the Law of
Copyright. What
does that mean?