Rainforest

Plants

Plant 2: Big-leaf Mahogany

Taxonomy

Domain: Eukaryota

Kingdom: Plantae

Phylum: Tracheophyta

Class: Magnoliopsida

Order: Sapindales

Family: Meliaceae

Genus: Swietenia

Species: macrophylla

Adaptations

The big-leaf mahogany is a long-lived and slow-growing plant. This gives it the ability to adjust to competition and observe changes that are happening every year in the environment.
They release their seeds through large capsules. Each capsule can hold up to 71 seeds. These seeds are winged and when they are removed, they are dispersed into the wind where they will eventually float down and begin a new offspring generation.
After long years of growth, it will eventually protrude the canopy and become a dominator of sunlight and rain. This action will then yield to the production of more seeds and offspring. Also, the higher the mahogany achieves, it would be more likely that the plants would be more widespread.

Plant 1: Bengal Bamboo

Taxonomy

Domain: Eukaryota

Kingdom: Plantae

Phylum: Magnoliphyta

Class: Liliopsida

Order: Cyperales

Family: Poaceae

Genus: Bambusa

Species: tulda

Adaptations

The bengal bamboo is an extremely fast growing plant. This adaptation gives it the upper hand in this environment because the faster it grows, the more likely it will have a chance at competing for sunlight and rainfall that the canopy eats up.
They also adapted to the extreme rainfall in a rainforest by developing vascular bundles which absorb water and propel it skyward through its trunk.
Bamboo is able to use its energy efficiently and solely to convert this energy to building new cells for growth. After blossoming at its highest point, it will produce its seeds and then die. This gives the next generation enough nutrients to start the process over again without having to compete with older plants.
Bamboo has a high number of sclerenchyma cells. Because these cells have thick cell walls, they provide strength and support for the tall growing plant.

Biotic Factors

Trees, Birds, Insects, Mammals, Amphibians, Reptiles, Plants, Disease, Predators

Abiotic Factors

Soil, Water (Annual: 250 cm), Lightning/thunderstorms, Sunlight, and climate (Avg Humdity: 77%-88%)

Biodiversity

High: Rainforests house about 50% of all life on Earth’s land masses. Many different species of both plants and animals can be found within a single acre. It has 4 layers (emergent, canopy, understory, forest) where life can exist at all levels.