Are there rainforests that aren't tropical?
There are two main types of rainforests: tropical rainforests or temperate rainforests. The main difference is the forest's location.
What are the 4 types of rainforest?
Both tropical and temperate rainforests are very lush and wet. Rainfall falls regularly throughout the year. The tropical rainforest receives 80-400 inches of rainfall per year....TropicalTemperateEpiphyteslots of different kinds including orchids and bromeliadsmostly mosses and fernsDecomposition raterapidslow4 more rows
What classifies a tropical rainforest?
The tropical rainforest biome has four main characteristics: very high annual rainfall, high average temperatures, nutrient-poor soil, and high levels of biodiversity (species richness). Rainfall: The word “rainforest” implies that these are the some of the world's wettest ecosystems.
What type of rainforest is the Amazon?
moist broadleaf tropical rainforestThe Amazon rainforest, Amazon jungle or Amazonia is a moist broadleaf tropical rainforest in the Amazon biome that covers most of the Amazon basin of South America.
What's the biggest rainforest in the world?
The AmazonThe Amazon is the world's largest rainforest. It's home to more than 30 million people and one in ten known species on Earth.
What are the different types of rainforest?
There are two types of rainforests, tropical and temperate. Tropical rainforests are found closer to the equator where it is warm. Temperate rainforests are found near the cooler coastal areas further north or south of the equator. The tropical rainforest is a hot, moist biome where it rains all year long.
Why do they call it a rainforest?
The reason it is called a "rain" forest is because of the high amount of rainfall it gets per year. Rainforests have an annual rainfall of at least 100 inches (254 centimeters) and often much more.
What are the 5 major rainforests?
The following charts show the extent of primary forest cover and tree cover in the tropics for the world's five largest blocks of rainforest: Amazon, Congo, Australiasia, Sundaland, and Indo-Burma.
What are the 5 major rainforests?
The following charts show the extent of primary forest cover and tree cover in the tropics for the world's five largest blocks of rainforest: Amazon, Congo, Australiasia, Sundaland, and Indo-Burma.
What are the 7 different types of rainforest?
Types of RainforestsTropical Rainforests.Temperate Rainforests.Amazon Rainforest (South America)Congo Rainforest (Africa)Valdivian Temperate Rainforest (South America)Daintree Rainforest (Australia)Southeast Asian Rainforest (Asia)Tongass National Forest (North America)More items...
What are the different types of rainforests?
There are two types of rainforests, tropical and temperate. Tropical rainforests are found closer to the equator where it is warm. Temperate rainforests are found near the cooler coastal areas further north or south of the equator. The tropical rainforest is a hot, moist biome where it rains all year long.
How many rainforests are there?
There are ten major rainforests in the world: The Amazon rainforest. The Congo rainforest. Australian realm — includes New Guinea and northeastern Australia.
What Is A Tropical Rainforest?
A rainforest is a forest that grows in an area with a high rainfall. Most rainforests receive over 2,000 mm (80 in.) of rain every year.A tropical...
Where Are Tropical Rainforests located?
Tropical rainforests follow the Equator around the world. The world’s most famous rain forests, including the Amazon Rainforest, are found in South...
What Is A Tropical Rainforest: Layers
Tropical rainforests typically have four layers. The highest layer is the emergent layer, which is the tops of the tallest trees. Around 150 ft. ab...
Animals That Live in Tropical Rainforests
Rainforests are extremely biodiverse habitats – which basically means that a large number of species live in them.South American tropical rainfores...
Plants That Grow in Tropical Rainforests
Of course, it’s not just animals that live in tropical rainforests; an incredible number of plants, including the trees themselves, are found in th...
What Is A Tropical Rainforest: Conclusion
In this article we’ve found that a tropical rainforest is a rainforest that grows in a tropical region. Rainforests are forests that grow in areas...
Where do tropical rainforests grow?
Tropical rainforests grow mainly in three regions: the Malesian botanical subkingdom, which extends from Myanmar (Burma) to Fiji and includes the whole of Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu and parts of Indochina and tropical Australia; tropical South and Central America, especially the Amazon basin; and West and Central Africa ( see biogeographic region ). Smaller areas of tropical rainforest occur elsewhere in the tropics wherever climate is suitable. The principal areas of tropical deciduous forest (or monsoon forests) are in India, the Myanmar– Vietnam –southern coastal China region, and eastern Brazil, with smaller areas in South and Central America north of the Equator, the West Indies, southeastern Africa, and northern Australia.
What is the name of the rainforest in the world?
See all media. ... (Show more) ... (Show more) ... (Show more) tropical rainforest, also spelled tropical rain forest, luxuriant forest found in wet tropical uplands and lowlands around the Equator. Tropical rainforests, which worldwide make up one of Earth’s largest biomes (major life zones), are dominated by broad-leaved trees ...
How did the rainforests retreat?
Climates fluctuated throughout this time, forcing vegetation in all parts of the world to repeatedly migrate, by seed dispersal, to reach areas of suitable climate. Not all plants were able to do this equally well because some had less-effective means of seed dispersal than others. Many extinctions resulted. During the most extreme periods (the glacial maxima, when climates were at their coldest and, in most places, also driest), the range of tropical rainforests shrank to its smallest extent, becoming restricted to relatively small refugia. Alternating intervals of climatic amelioration led to repeated range expansion, most recently from the close of the last glacial period about 10,000 years ago. Today large areas of tropical rainforest, such as Amazonia, have developed as a result of this relatively recent expansion. Within them it is possible to recognize “hot spots” of plant and animal diversity that have been interpreted as glacial refugia.
What are the benefits of the tropical rainforest?
Tropical rainforests today represent a treasure trove of biological heritage, and they also serve as sinks for more than 50 percent of all atmospheric carbon dioxide absorbed by plants annually. They not only retain many primitive plant and animal species but also are communities that exhibit unparalleled biodiversity and a great variety of ecological interactions . The tropical rainforest of Africa was the habitat in which the ancestors of humans evolved, and it is where the nearest surviving human relatives— chimpanzees and gorillas —live still. Tropical rainforests supplied a rich variety of food and other resources to indigenous peoples, who, for the most part, exploited this bounty without degrading the vegetation or reducing its range to any significant degree. However, in some regions a long history of forest burning by the inhabitants is thought to have caused extensive replacement of tropical rainforest and tropical deciduous forest with savanna.
What is the smallest extent of the tropical rainforest?
During the most extreme periods (the glacial maxima, when climates were at their coldest and, in most places, also driest), the range of tropical rainforests shrank to its smallest extent, becoming restricted to relatively small refugia.
What is the largest biome on Earth?
Tropical rainforests, which worldwide make up one of Earth’s largest biomes (major life zones), are dominated by broad-leaved trees that form a dense upper canopy (layer of foliage) and contain a diverse array of vegetation and other life. Contrary to common thinking, not all tropical rainforests occur in places with high, ...
Why are tropical forests being destroyed?
Regrettably, tropical rainforests and tropical deciduous forests are now being destroyed at a rapid rate in order to provide resources such as timber and to create land that can be used for other purposes, such as cattle grazing ( see deforestation ). Today tropical forests, more than any other ecosystem, are experiencing habitat alteration and species extinction on a greater scale and at a more rapid pace than at any other time in their history—at least since the major extinction event (the K–T extinction) at the end of the Cretaceous Period, some 66 million years ago ( see Sidebar: Status of the World’s Tropical Forests ).
Where are the tropical rainforests today?
Most tropical rainforests today are on fragments of the Mesozoic era supercontinent of Gondwana. The separation of the landmass resulted in a great loss of amphibian diversity while at the same time the drier climate spurred the diversification of reptiles. The division left tropical rainforests located in five major regions of the world: tropical America, Africa, Southeast Asia, Madagascar, and New Guinea, with smaller outliers in Australia. However, the specifics of the origin of rainforests remain uncertain due to an incomplete fossil record.
Where are the rainforests located?
The division left tropical rainforests located in five major regions of the world: tropical America, Africa, Southeast Asia, Madagascar, and New Guinea, with smaller outliers in Australia. However, the specifics of the origin of rainforests remain uncertain due to an incomplete fossil record.
How hot is the Amazon rainforest?
Amazon River rain forest in Peru. Tropical rainforests can be characterized in two words: hot and wet. Mean monthly temperatures exceed 18 °C (64 °F) during all months of the year. Average annual rainfall is no less than 1,680 mm (66 in) and can exceed 10 m (390 in) although it typically lies between 1,750 mm (69 in) and 3,000 mm (120 in).
Why are tropical rainforests threatened?
Tropical rainforests are among the most threatened ecosystems globally due to large-scale fragmentation as a result of human activity. Habitat fragmentation caused by geological processes such as volcanism and climate change occurred in the past, and have been identified as important drivers of speciation.
How do indigenous people live in the rainforest?
A variety of indigenous people live within the rainforest as hunter-gatherers, or subsist as part-time small scale farmers supplemented in large part by trading high-value forest products such as hides, feathers, and honey with agricultural people living outside the forest. Peoples have inhabited the rainforests for tens of thousands of years and have remained so elusive that only recently have some tribes been discovered. These indigenous peoples are greatly threatened by loggers in search for old-growth tropical hardwoods like Ipe, Cumaru and Wenge, and by farmers who are looking to expand their land, for cattle (meat), and soybeans, which are used to feed cattle in Europe and China. On 18 January 2007, FUNAI reported also that it had confirmed the presence of 67 different uncontacted tribes in Brazil, up from 40 in 2005. With this addition, Brazil has now overtaken the island of New Guinea as the country having the largest number of uncontacted tribes. The province of Irian Jaya or West Papua in the island of New Guinea is home to an estimated 44 uncontacted tribal groups.
How many species of insects are there in a rainforest?
A single hectare of rainforest may contain 42,000 different species of insect, up to 807 trees of 313 species and 1,500 species of higher plants. Tropical rainforests have been called the " world's largest pharmacy ", because over one quarter of natural medicines have been discovered within them.
What are the biodiversity levels of tropical rainforests?
Tropical rainforests exhibit high levels of biodiversity. Around 40% to 75% of all biotic species are indigenous to the rainforests. Rainforests are home to half of all the living animal and plant species on the planet. Two-thirds of all flowering plants can be found in rainforests. A single hectare of rainforest may contain 42,000 different species of insect, up to 807 trees of 313 species and 1,500 species of higher plants. Tropical rainforests have been called the " world's largest pharmacy ", because over one quarter of natural medicines have been discovered within them. It is likely that there may be many millions of species of plants, insects and microorganisms still undiscovered in tropical rainforests.
What Is A Tropical Rainforest?
A rainforest is a forest that grows in an area with a high rainfall. Most rainforests receive over 2,000 mm (80 in.) of rain every year.
Where is the tropical rainforest located?
Tropical regions – and therefore tropical rainforests – are found near the Equator, an imaginary line that circles the globe, dividing the northern and southern hemispheres.
What would happen if the rainforests were destroyed?
If the world’s rainforests are destroyed, then many of these species will be lost along with them. As much as 50 percent of all the Earth’s species live in tropical rainforests.
How many layers are there in a tropical rainforest?
What Is A Tropical Rainforest: Layers. Tropical rainforests typically have four layers. The highest layer is the emergent layer, which is the tops of the tallest trees. Around 150 ft. above the ground, the emergent layer is home to birds and insects. The next layer down is the canopy.
What is the lowest layer of the rainforest?
The lowest layer of the rainforest is the forest floor. This is where the rainforest’s largest inhabitants are found, such as tapirs, jaguars and forest elephants.
What are some examples of temperate rainforests?
An example of a temperate rainforest is the Pacific temperate rainforest, which is located on the west coast of the USA and Canada.
Is the sun overhead in the tropical rainforest?
In tropical regions, the sun is directly overhead at least once during the year. The diagram below shows the Equator and the Tropics. World map showing the Equator (the green line) and the Tropics of Cancer (top yellow line) and Capricorn (bottom yellow line). You can find our more about rainforests at our main Rainforest Facts Page.
What are the different types of tropical forests?
There are several other types of tropical forest: 1 Mangrove forests grow near the sea. The roots of the trees are often under water. 2 Montane rainforests grow at high altitude, and are sometimes called ‘cloud forests’. 3 Monsoon forests grow in areas in which there are times of high rainfall followed by dry periods with little or no rain.
What is a rainforest?
A rainforest is simply a forest located in a region that has a lot of rain.
Where Are Rainforests Located in Africa?
However, there are also many rainforests located in Africa, including the Congo Rainforest.
Where Are Rainforests Located in South East Asia?
Vietnam has lost much of its rainforest due to war and logging. Less than 20% of the country is now forest.
What are the animals that live in the West African rainforest?
Animals that live in the West African Rainforests include the Pygmy Hippopotamus, African Elephant and Jentink’s Duiker (a species of antelope). All of these animals are classified as ‘Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List.
What are the two main types of rainforests?
As we found in our main rainforest facts page, there are two main types of rainforest: tropical and temperate.
Where does Daintree Rainforest grow?
Daintree Rainforest grows right down to the beach.
Summary
Forest structure
Rainforests are divided into different strata, or layers, with vegetation organized into a vertical pattern from the top of the soil to the canopy. Each layer is a unique biotic community containing different plants and animals adapted for life in that particular strata. Only the emergent layer is unique to tropical rainforests, while the others are also found in temperate rainforests.
The forest floor, the bottom-most layer, receives only 2% of the sunlight. Only plants adapted to lo…
Overview
Tropical rainforests are characterized by two words: hot and wet. Mean monthly temperatures exceed 18 °C (64 °F) during all months of the year. Average annual rainfall is no less than 1,680 mm (66 in) and can exceed 10 m (390 in) although it typically lies between 1,750 mm (69 in) and 3,000 mm (120 in). This high level of precipitation often results in poor soils due to leaching of soluble nutrients in the ground.
Ecology
Tropical rainforests are located around and near the equator, therefore having what is called an equatorial climate characterized by three major climatic parameters: temperature, rainfall, and dry season intensity. Other parameters that affect tropical rainforests are carbon dioxide concentrations, solar radiation, and nitrogen availability. In general, climatic patterns consist of warm temperatures and high annual rainfall. However, the abundance of rainfall changes throug…
Biodiversity and speciation
Tropical rainforests exhibit a vast diversity in plant and animal species. The root for this remarkable speciation has been a query of scientists and ecologists for years. A number of theories have been developed for why and how the tropics can be so diverse.
Interspecific competition results from a high density of species with similar niches in the tropics and limited resources available. Species which "lose" the competition may either become extinc…
Human dimensions
Tropical rainforests have harboured human life for many millennia, with many Indian tribes in South- and Central America, who belong to the Indigenous peoples of the Americas, the Congo Pygmies in Central Africa, and several tribes in South-East Asia, like the Dayak people and the Penan people in Borneo. Food resources within the forest are extremely dispersed due to the high biological diversity and what food does exist is largely restricted to the canopy and requires con…
Conservation
Deposits of precious metals (gold, silver, coltan) and fossil fuels (oil and natural gas) occur underneath rainforests globally. These resources are important to developing nations and their extraction is often given priority to encourage economic growth. Mining and drilling can require large amounts of land development, directly causing deforestation. In Ghana, a West African nation, deforestation from decades of mining activity left about 12% of the country's original rainforest i…
See also
• International Tropical Timber Organization
• List of tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests ecoregions
• Palaeogeography
• Rainforest