Background

Now that you have read all the background information and learned some things about what a rainforest is, where the Amazon is located, why the rainforest is so important, and how ecotourism is an issue for the rainforests right now, it is time to assume your expert role!  You are the botanist that the Chief has called upon for help.

A botanist is simply an expert on plants.  Since thousands of species of plants live in just a small area of rainforest, this is quite a job!   But we know you can do it and the Chief and his tribe believe that you are the best person for the job, so let's get started!

Your job is to become an expert on the variety of plants that live in the rainforest, so you can make the best decision about whether to allow ecotourism in your rainforest.  What do the plants look like? Where do they grow? What do we use those plants for?  Are they endangered (at risk of disappearing)?   There are so many fun things to learn!

While researching your role and trying to determine how each plant may be affected by ecotourism, ask yourself these questions:

• How might people affect the each plant? Might they step on them? Would they cut them down? Would they pick them? Or might they have no particular effect on certain plants, but might affect others?
• How would the plant's habitat (area where it grows) be affected by tourists?
• What, if any, is the relation between the plant and an animal that lives in the plant or eats the plant?
• How might the animal or people be affected if the plant disappears?
• Do you think the plant would be quick to die if it's habitat was changed? or can it adapt?

Photo Courtesy of http://acro.harvard.edu/GEI/peru.html

Research

Review the following web sites to explore all you can about rainforest plants.  Copy each set of questions in your journal and then write your answers below the questions. Not all the answers will be found directly on the pages. In some cases you will need to do some thinking to answer the questions.   Don't lose your answers! You will need them to write your report and prepare your presentation to the Chief! They will also be graded by your teacher at the end of the WebQuest.

Also, keep in mind that you are trying to decide whether or not to recommend ecotourism (allowing vacations in the rainforest) to the Chief. So think about how ecotourism would or would not affect the plants you read about!

What kind of plants are there?

http://www.rain-tree.com/plist.htm

http://www.ran.org/info_center/factsheets/03b.html

• Choose 7 plants found in the Amazon Rainforest. Give their names, describe them, and name at least 2 interesting facts about each of the plants.
• How might each plant be affected by people taking vacations in the rainforest?
• Using crayons, draw at least 4 of the 7 plants which you chose to describe.

• Choose at least 4 plants. Give their common name, their latin name, and what plant family they are in.  IN YOUR OWN WORDS, tell why they are important for people. (Tell what we use them for, how native people used them, what things we make out of them, etc).
• Why would it be bad if these plants were to disappear?
• Would these plants, in your opinion, be affected by many rainforest visitors?

Rainforest Biome: Plant Adaptation Medicine (Only view this page. Do not click on the "next" button at the bottom of the page).
http://mbgnet.mobot.org/sets/rforest/plants/adapt.htm

• Name 5 plant adaptations, as they are stated on the page.
• Tell how these adaptations are important, and why they allow the plant to survive. How might these plants be forced to adapt (change in order to survive), if ecotourism were allowed in the rainforest?
• Would the adaptations help the plants survive many visitors?
• Would the plants be destroyed to build housing for visitors?