These unusual biomes are home to plants and animals found nowhere else in the world. This is the fact that makes them very unique. In fact, most plants and animals in rainforest biomes are unable to live outside a ‘captive’ environment in other parts of the world. For example, most of our household plants come from tropical rainforest biomes, and would not survive on their own outside the captivity and almost constant attention available in a house or building.
Rainforest biomes are protected by a 250 foot canopy of tree tops that allow very little sunlight to filter through. Vines typically grow up and around tree trunks under the canopy reaching for sunlight, and smaller trees and plants, ferns and palms—that do not require direct sunlight—grow on the ground under the canopy. However, the ground is free of grasses and small plants because no sunlight is available. Decayed plant material and microorganisms thrive in the hot moist environment on the rainforest floor.
Tropical rainforests see from 60 to 160 inches of rainfall a year, and it’s fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. Since there isn’t a ‘rainy season’ plants and animals in rainforests can depend on a constant source of moisture. Temperature ranges from 68˙F to 93˙F and humidity is a constant 77-88˙.
The value of rainforests to humankind is undeniable. Many plant species are used to produce medicines for human consumption. Forty per cent of Earth’s oxygen is produced by tropical rainforests. However, tropical rainforest biomes have been reduced to less than 6% of earth’s land surface.
We need to rethink our tacit agreement to the destruction of this vital resource.
