Why are plants and animals important to the rainforest?

Why are plants and animals important to the rainforest?

All of the rain forest plants work to provide food and shelter for rain forest animals as well as convert carbon dioxide to oxygen.

Why do we need trees in the rainforest?

Preventing soil erosion Tree roots bind the soil together, while the canopy protects the soil from heavy rains. When a tree dies and its trunk falls to the forest floor, it decays and the nutrients it contains are recycled. However, if trees are removed from the forest, the nutrients are removed with it.

How plants and animals interact in the rainforest?

Unlike temperate forests where many plants are wind-pollinated, most tropical rain forest plants rely upon animals for pollination. Insects, birds and mammals pollinate the plants inadvertently by transferring pollen from flower to flower in their quest for food (nectar and/or pollen).

What plants have adapted to the rainforest?

Plant adaptations

• Drip tips – plants have leaves with pointy tips.
• Buttress roots – large roots have ridges which create a large surface area that help to support large trees.
• Epiphytes – these are plants which live on the branches of trees high up in the canopy.

What is a rainforest Why is rain forest know as the lungs of the earth?

Tropical rainforests are often called the “lungs of the planet” because they generally draw in carbon dioxide and breathe out oxygen. But the amount of carbon dioxide they absorb, or produce, varies hugely with year-to-year variations in the climate.

How have plants adapted to the rainforest?

Plants grow thick leaves with drip tips and waxy surfaces to allow water to drain quickly to prevent rotting. Some plants called ‘epiphytes’ are flowering plants which grow on tree trunks and branches to get light. They get food from the air and water, and their roots hang in the air, eg orchids.

What is the importance of plants in the tropical rainforest?

Uses Of Plants In The Tropical Rainforest The trees, shrubs, vines and flowers of tropical rainforests provide food and shelter for the animals that live in the forests. They also have a multitude of uses for man. As we’ve seen, many palm species have uses ranging from building materials to lipstick.

What are the main features of rainforest?

The rainforest is not just a pretty face! 1 Habitat for animals and plants. Tropical rainforests contain over 30 million species of plants and animals. 2 Indigenous people’s ancestral territory. 3 Climate regulation. 4 Preventing soil erosion. 5 Rainforest pharmacy.

How are rainforest plants used in medicine?

Hundreds of rainforest plants are used in modern medicines. It is estimated that 25% of all our medicines come from plants growing in the rainforest. For example, Vincristine, a drug taken from the rosy periwinkle of Madagascar has allowed an 80% remission rate for some forms of childhood leukaemia.

Why are there more epiphytes in the rainforest?

Since most plants need sunlight to survive, this helps more plants thrive in the rainforest. Rainforests have more space — and I’m not just talking on the ground level. Even in an area of rainforest that only has an acre of forest floor, the tree species form a tall canopy that allows for lots of epiphytes.