Rainforests are not found in _______.
Contrast the different ways bromeliads and pitcher plants acquire nutrients from animal sources.
By collecting rainwater in their leaves, bromeliads create mini-ecosystems that house other small animals. When they die, these organisms decompose and the bromeliad benefits from the nutrients. Pitcher plants, meanwhile, actively trap insects and other small animals in their pitchers. The bromeliads are an example of mutualism while pitcher plants are predators.
Explain why leaf-cutter ants gather pieces of leaves and store them in their nests when they do not eat leaves.
Leaf-cutter ants carry leaves to their nests to provide material for growing fungus. They eat the fungus, not the leaves; the fungus breaks down the leaf material and serves as the ants’ food.
How does slow movement aid sloths in acquiring food?
Sloths eat energy-poor leaves, so moving slowly helps them conserve energy while they feed in the trees. This lets them spend more time obtaining and digesting the leaves without using up too much energy.
High levels of biodiversity in the rainforest have resulted in _______.
Why is it important to protect the tropical rainforests today in regard to the future struggle against cancer?
Tropical rainforests contain many species that have not yet been studied, and some may produce compounds useful in developing cancer treatments. Protecting them preserves potential sources of future medicines.
Which layer of a tropical rainforest receives the least sunlight?
Which of the following are you more likely to have in temperate rainforests rather than tropical rainforests?
Why is the canopy in a tropical rainforest the greatest repository of biodiversity?
The canopy receives abundant sunlight and has plentiful leaves, flowers, fruit, and branches. Its many food sources and varied habitats create numerous niches, allowing a very large variety of plants and animals to live there.
Cocoa is made from _______.
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