Hobbies And Interests
Trees
Trees are the center of a tropical rain forest. In the rain forest, trees grow to spectacular heights of up to 240 feet in order to absorb as much sunlight as possible. Compared with trees in other types of forest, the majority of the leaves are found toward the upper part of the tree. To balance out the fact that the weight of branches and leaves makes the tree top-heavy, the trees have large buttress roots, giving them a wider base that supports the trees' height and weight. Tree leaves are also specially adapted. They have drip tips and a waxy coating that allow rainwater to run off easily.
Plants
Plants must either be able to survive in the shade or find a way to get to the sunlight, which means growing on trees. Fungi flourish on the dark, forest floor, while vines grow up the trees to reach the sunlight. According to Blue Planet Biomes, there are about 2,500 species of vines, and their survival is assured by the fact that they grow with the tree from a sapling. Epiphytes, such as orchids, survive by growing in the trees of the upper canopy.
Animals
Some animal adaptations include the development of physical features that allow them to eat foods abundantly available in their habitat. For example, rain forest birds like toucans and parrots have extremely strong beaks that can crack nuts. The toucan's bill is also long enough to reach fruit on small branches that couldn't support the bird's weight. Camouflage is another method of ensuring survival. The sloth moves extremely slowly and needs protection from fast-moving predators. A green algae grows on its coat, camouflaging it among the trees.
People
Indigenous peoples have survived in the rain forests for a long time. Their way of life is specially adapted to use the natural resources and protect the environment at the same time. Rain forest dwellers use only small amounts of forest to build homes and fires. They use the rain forest plants for medicines and food. Also, many of them have a semi-nomadic lifestyle, so when food resources run out in one area, they move to another. The survival of these people is threatened by external factors, such as logging and mining companies, that deplete the forest of resources needed to continue a traditional lifestyle.