Pitcher Research Paper

Words: 507
Pages: 3

Tropical rain forests are hot, moist biomes found near the Earth’s equator. The world's largest tropical rain forests are found in South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. These biomes receive between 80 and 400 inches of rain per year. Landforms within the tropical rain forest biome are mountains, valleys, flood plains, streams, rivers, and even some wetlands. The temperature does not change often throughout the year, ranging from 70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Even though tropical rain forests only cover approximately 6% of Earth's land surface; over half of the entire world's plant and animal species live in them. The combination of constant warmth and abundant moisture makes the tropical rain forest a suitable environment for many plants and animals such as the Pitcher plant and poison dart frog. …show more content…
They are carnivorous, meaning they get most of their nutrients from insects and animals. Pitcher plants grow as vines and have pitcher, or cup-shaped, leaves that hold acidic liquids. These liquids trap and kill insects and small animals necessary for their survival. Pitcher plants attract insects with their bright colors and sweet smelling nectar. The slippery rims of the cup-shaped leaves, along with the small hairs inside, help them catch their prey. The Pitcher plant primarily grows in nutrient poor soil because it gets its nutrients from the insects and animals it consumes. When the plant becomes fertile, it produces seeds that are taken in the wind and distributed among the forest floor. With enough light and moisture, the new seeds germinate, starting a new life cycle. Pitcher plants are often nicknamed monkey cups because monkeys have been known to drink rainwater from the cup-shaped