When people talk about rainforests, they often refer to the tropical variety with steamy palms and swinging monkeys. However, rainforests are also found in temperate regions such as the Pacific Northwest in the United States. The following websites explore both tropical and temperate rainforests.
Let's start the online tour with Passport to the Rainforest, brought to you by NASA and the National Science Foundation, where you'll find out what rainforests are, see maps of where they are, view a photo gallery of parts of the rainforest ecosystem, and meet rainforest researchers.
Next, let's visit the Rainforest Heroes at Rainforest Action Network to learn fun and interesting facts about rainforest animals, meet rainforest heroes, and learn how you can help protect the rainforests.
A Few Facts About the Temperate Rainforest
According to nps.gov, "The old growth forests of the Pacific Northwest produce three times the biomass (living or once living material) of tropical rain forests."
Both types of rain forest feature "air plants," also known as epiphytes (Greek for "upon plant"), which grow on trees or other plants non-parasitically. Epiphytes get their water and nutrients from the air and rain. Temperate rainforest epiphytes include mosses, lichens, algae, and liverworts.
Temperate rainforests differ from tropical rainforests. They are characterized by
- lots of rain (12 to 14 feet each year),
- moderate temperatures (typically above freezing and below 80°F),
- epiphytes (i.e., mosses, spike mosses, ferns, and lichens), and
- large old growth trees (i.e., Sitka Spruce, Western Hemlock, Big Leaf Maple).
Rainforests such as the Olympic National Park's Hoh Rainforest once stretched from southern Oregon to southeast Alaska. A few other temperate rain forests grow around the world including Chile, New Zealand, and southern Australia.
A Few Facts About the Tropical Rainforest
Over half of all the plants and animals on the planet, including millions of indigenous peoples, live in rainforests. Rainforest trees and plants make over one-third of the world's oxygen. The Amazon Rainforest is the world's largest rainforest.
Tropical rainforest epiphytes, "air plants," include ferns, orchids, catci, and bromeliads. One-fourth of the ingredients in medicines come from rainforest plants. Many popular foods come from rainforest plants:
- coconuts,
- coffee,
- bananas, pineapples, and mangos,
- sugarcane,
- cayenne,
- chocolate and cocoa,
- cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and
- cashews.
Tropical rainforests are common in Asia, Australia, Africa, Central America, Mexico, South America, and on many of the Pacific Islands.
Both temperate and tropical rainforests are important to the environmental health of the planet and serve as home to a great diversity of life. Try some online games about environmental conservation and climate change to learn more about how you can help protect these amazing ecosystems.
Sara McGrath - Sara is a veteran homeschool mom of three, Usborne consultant, and the author of Unschooling: A Lifestyle of Learning.
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