Table Of ContentBy Myrl Shireman
Life in the
Tropical Rain forest
By Myrl Shireman
Illustrated By John E. Kaufmann
CoPyrIghT © 2012 revised, Mark Twain Media, Inc.
ISBN 978-1-58037-916-8
Printing No. D04123-EB
Mark Twain Media, Inc., Publishers
Distributed by Carson-Dellosa Publishing LLC
P.o. Box 35665 • greensboro, NC 27425
www.carsondellosa.com
reading Level 5 (Science Facts not leveled)
Fountas and Pinnell: Level W
Interest Level: gr. 4–8
All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America.
D04123-EB © Mark Twain Media, Inc., Publishers
Life in the Tropical Rain forest
Table of Contents
rain Forest Climate ..............................................................4
Plant Life ...............................................................................8
Animal Life .........................................................................15
Endangered rain Forest ......................................................17
glossary ..............................................................................19
reading Activities ...............................................................20
Index ...................................................................................22
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Rain Forest Climate
Have you ever wondered
how the tropical rain
forest got its name? Tropical
rain forest is the name given
to a climate type that is located
near the equator. It is a climate
with very tall deciduous trees.
Deciduous trees are trees
that shed their leaves in the
fall. Throughout the year, it
is very warm. It is also very
humid. Each day begins with
the sun shining brightly and
a beautiful, warm, sunny
morning, but by afternoon,
temperatures reach 90 degrees.
The dark areas on this map show the locations of rain forests
of the world. The black line represents the equator.
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Almost every afternoon brings a thunderstorm with heavy rainfall.
Annual, or yearly, rainfall totals can be 80 to 100 inches or more.
After a warm, sunny morning, the air near the earth’s
surface becomes warmer and warmer. Finally, a mass of warm
air begins to slowly rise from the earth’s surface. When a
large mass of air is heated enough to begin to rise, it is known
as convection.
Science fact:
The movement of water
through the water cycle in
the rain forest helps cool the
planet. The storms release
some of the heat picked up
at the equator.
When a large mass of air is heated enough
to begin to rise, it is known as convection.
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As the air mass
rises, it becomes cooler
and cooler. Finally, the air
mass becomes cool enough,
and the water vapor in the
air changes from the gas
form to a liquid form.
This changing of
the water vapor to a liquid
form, usually small droplets
of water, is called
condensation. This
produces clouds.You can
always tell the level where
condensation occurs by the
base, or bottom, of the
clouds.As the air mass rises
higher and higher, the
clouds begin to build
higher. They become
thunderstorm clouds that
reach high into the
atmosphere.
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The tops of thunderstorm clouds often reach 40,000 feet
or higher above the earth. The tops of the clouds are often
anvil-shaped. The anvil-shaped tops of these clouds are
formed by fast-flowing, upper-level winds. These winds are
found at high altitudes. These clouds become storms with
lightning, thunder, and a downpour of afternoon rain. Storms
occur almost every afternoon. Man, plants, and animals had
to adapt to survive in a climate with this daily schedule of
events.
The tops of thunderstorm clouds are often anvil-shaped.
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Plant Life
Abundant rainfall and
warmth throughout the year
have made the rain forest
a region of vast forests.
The plants that are found
in this climate had to adapt
to the warm, moist climate
to survive. Forests of trees
with broad leaves grow
to heights of 100 feet and
more. The broad leaves of
the trees form a canopy over
the forest floor. The canopy
blocks out the sunlight,
making the forest floor dark.
Without sunlight, few plants
grow on the forest floor.
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Some trees in the rain forest have broad
leaves that form a canopy over the bare
forest floor. The leaves may have drip tips.
Evaporation of moisture is
not a problem for plants in this
climate as it is in a desert climate.
The leaves of these trees have drip
tips. These special tips allow the
water to run off the leaves quickly.
This allows the tree to shed water
and avoid the growth of fungus
that is common in the rain forest.
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Because the soil is wet and soft, the
roots of trees do not penetrate the soil as
deeply to get the needed moisture as do trees
in a drier climate. This causes the trees to be
very unstable. The large trees have developed
massive ridges called buttresses near their
bases. The massive ridges make the trees more
stable during high winds.
Many large trees in the rain forest have developed
massive ridges called buttresses near their bases.
10
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