Tropical Forest

Callie V. & Amy W.AP Environmental, 3rd

Due: 10/20/08

What is a tropical forest?There are two types of tropical forests. The two include tropical

rainforests and tropical deciduous forests. Tropical rainforests can be found near the equator with abundant evergreens and a variety of lush plant life. They have a warm, humid temperature year round, and can count on daily heavy rainfall. Deciduous forests on the other hand are located a little farther from the equator. Like the rain forest they are warm all year round but have two different seasons. The forest gets most of it’s rainfall in the monsoon season where it rains constantly. Following the monsoon season is long the dry season, where rainfall is almost nonexistent.

Climate Characteristics

• Average Annual Temperature: 25˚C (77˚F)

• Temperature Range: 20-34˚C

• Average Annual Precipitation: 250cm/year

Tropical Rainforest Locations

Tropical Rainforest Animals

A variety of species exist in the tropical rainforests. Each animal has an adaptation that helps them to survive in the humid and wet climate. Some of the most common of the species include monkeys, tigers, snakes and many types of birds. Some of the Adaptations that birds have are their different types of beaks. The Toucan for example has a large beak for fruit and seeds as well as catching different insects. The woodpecker on the other hand, uses its beak for breaking tree bark. A snakes strongest adaptation is its ability to camouflage itself in the forest floor. (“Blue planet biomes”)

Tropical forest plantsSome of the most common plant life found in tropical forests is

bamboo, kapok trees, mangrove forests, fig trees and coconut trees. These species survive because of their ability to survive the monsoon season followed by the dry season. They use water efficiently so it can be stored for usage during the dry season. Some plants even drop their leaves in order to survive the precipitation change. For example, bamboo can survive in temperatures ranging from 4-37°C. (40-100°F) In order for bamboo to survive large amounts of rainfall are required. (“blue plant biomes”)

Biodiversity Index

Tropical forests would have a relatively higher biodiversity index because of the wide variety of species inhabited in the forests. For example, the Amazon Rainforest contains 9% of mammal species and 20% of all plant species.

Biomass Pyramid

Fruit trees, nuts, and other plants

Insects

Birds, monkeys

Tigers

Native tribes

Bibliography• "Köppen's Climate Classification - a summary", http://

www.huizen.dds.nl/~gvg/ctkoppen.htm (Nov 2000)• "Biomes and Soils", http://

www.tesarta.com/www/resources/library/biomes.html (Dec 2000)

• "rainfall", http://encarta.msn.com/find/print.asp?&pg=8&ti=00531000&sc=29&pt=1. (Dec. 2000)

• "temperature", http://encarta.msn.com/find/print.asp?&pg=8&ti=00531000&sc=29&pt=1 (Dec. 2000)

• Miller, G. Tyler. Living in the Environment. Belmont: Brooks/Cole, 2001. 132-48.