Life through a lens: Tropical rainforest

The world’s most extensive regions of tropical rainforest grow close to the equator in the continents of Africa, Asia and South America. Together they cover some seven per cent of the Earth’s land surface. With average temperatures between 20 and 28°C, and rain almost every day, these areas are hot, wet and humid – ideal conditions for large plants to grow.

Discuss the different layers of habitat provided by the rainforest. On the forest floor little sunlight penetrates, making it dark and gloomy. There are rotting leaves that fall from above, creating a soft carpet in which plants like fungi, ferns and mosses flourish. Insects are particularly at home in this environment.