Unit 3 Part 1

1. Sec 1 Unit 3
Lesson 1
Tropical Rainforest

2. 
At the end of the lesson you will be
able to :
1.Identify a tropical rainforest
2.List the characteristics of a
tropical rainforest
3.Label and describe the layers of
a tropical rainforest.

3.  How
can we save tropical
rainforest?
◦ What are tropical rainforests?
◦ What is deforestation?
◦ Where are tropical rainforests found?
◦ Which areas have been deforested?
◦ Why do we deforest?
◦ How should we manage
deforestation?

4. 

Take 2 minutes, read the poem
Lets listen to a rainforest.

5.  Earth’s
oldest ecosystem.
 High rainfall and high
temperatures throughout the
year.
 Thick, luxuriant evergreen forests.
◦ Evergreen = no distinct shedding
season.

6. 1. Diversity
of types
2. Structure of rainforest
3. Plant Adaptations

7.  Highest
plant diversity in all forest
types.
 Warm temperatures and constant
rainfall encourages plant growth.
 Over 300 species in 0.01sq km
 Source of common local food
◦ Bananas, mangoes, pepper, cinnamo
n, corn, pandan, walnuts

8.  Plants
grown to different
heights
 Three-layered structure
found in tropical
rainforests

9.  Trees
up to 50m talls.
 Clearly visible from above
 Trees that rise above the even
canopy below.
 Trees tend to have
tall, straight and smooth
trunks.
 Tualang, Kapok tree.

10.  Layer
of trees that grow to
between 20 – 30m
 The crowns form an
interlocking layer.
 Blocks 90% of sunlight from
the forest floor.
 Deflects most rainfall.

11.  Dark
most of the day as sun
rays are blocked by canopy.
 Plants tend to be small and
widely-spaced apart.
 Vegetation is sparse on
forest floor, mostly
decomposing leaves.

12.  Epiphytes
grow on trees to
receive more sunlight.
◦Ferns, orchids, mosses
 Lianas
are woody vines that
twine up trees for more
sunlight.
◦Monkey ladder vine

15. 







50m
20m
Emergent layer
Canopy layer
Epiphytes
Lianas
Buttress Roots
Ferns

16.  Plants
adapt to the climatic
conditions with special
features.
 Without adaptations, they will
not survive the high
temperatures and heavy
rainfall.
PG 78

17.  Tall
straight trunks
 Branches spread out near the
top to reach for sunlight.
 Smooth bark to allow
rainwater to flow easily down
to the roots.

19.  Broad
leaves to capture more
sunlight
 Waxy, leathery or hairy surfaces to
minimise water loss.
 Drip tips to allow water to runoff.
◦ Reduces the growth of fungi and
bacteria

20. Waxy surface
Drip tip
Hairy surface

21.  Still
air and lack of wind is
bad for seed dispersal.
 Strong smelling flowers and
fruit encourage animal and
insect pollination.

23. 
Large spread roots that grow up to 5m
above the ground.
◦ Help to support the tall emergent and
canopy trees
Shallow roots that reach for the
nutrients in the topsoil and
decomposing foliage.
 Constant presence of water, no need
for deep roots that search for ground
water.


26.  By
the next lesson, pick a leaf
that you think is from a
rainforest tree and sketch it on
a piece of blank paper.
 Submit both the leaf and the
paper as your homework.

27.  Complete
the test in the time
allocated.
 Remember to write in black ink.
 If you are drawing diagrams, you
can use pencil.