Transcript Tropical Forest

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 plants
Some 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
Native
tribes
Tigers
Birds, monkeys
Insects
Fruit trees, nuts, and other
plants
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.