Forests Tropical rainforests Distribution tropical rainforests or equatorial rainforests lies on 10 degrees to 20 degrees north and south of the

he equator. Found in Amazon Basin in South America, Congo Basin of Africa and SEA - Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore

Diversity of Plant Species great variety of plant species in tropical rainforests One hectre of land contain 400 species of trees Biodiversity in tropical rainforests in high Biodiversity = relative diversity among the organisms present in different ecosystems includes diversity within a species and among species comparative diversity among ecosystems The equatorial climate with its high temperatures and high rainfall throughout the year enables a continuous growing season for the trees and plants. The stable growing conditions result in tropical rainforests being very dense and having many species of trees within an area. Annual rainfall exceeds 2000mm 60mm of rain per month minimum Trees in tropical rainforests are largely broadleaved evergreens do not shed their leaves at a certain period of time trees are hardwoods durable and valuable meranti, mahogany, seraya, ebony and balsa

Lianas

long vines that use tree trunks as support to reach upwards for sunlight stems can grow to a thickness of 20cm in diameter are like ropes that twine around the tree trunks

Epiphytes depend on tree branches for support aerial roots to ensure rapid water uptake. succulent leaves that store water

Structure of tropical rainforests 15m to 30m in height straight, smooth barked

have branches only near the top which spread out like umbrellas to form a continuou canopy cover The canopy shades the ground from incoming sunlight almost completely hence, there is very sparse undergrowth

Emergent layer tallest trees can grow to 40m to capture direct sunlight thick and straight trunks

Canopy layer trees grow so close tgt that their crowns interlock to form a continuous canopy 25 m to 35m lianas twine around tree trunks epiphytes parasitic plants such as mosses and lichens

Understorey layer Shorter trees (6 to 10m )with discontinuous canopy Shade tolerant trees like palms Leaves are much larger

Shrub layer Isolated shrubs, ferns and young trees adapt to the lack of sunlight ginger, wild pandan, tapioca

Ground layer Moist and dark with little undergrowth fungi, mosses, ferns leaf litter layer is thin high temp and high rainfall cause rapid rate of decomposition

Characteristics of Tropical Rainforests Leaves Roots waxy, hairy or leathery leaves that allow rainwater to run off easily Leaves help the trees reduce loss of moisture through transpiration Shape of leaves is usually broad with narrow, downward pointing tips Drip tips allow rainwater intercepted by the leaves during rainstorms to flow quickly and easily off the leaves

Buttress roots can grow up to more than 5m high Roots provide firm support for tall trees Roots are rather shallow as they do not need to grow deep down into the soil to extract nutrients The heat and moisture typical of the tropical equatorial climate cause the rapid decomposition of fallen leaves and branches. Most of the nutrients from the decayed vegetation are found in the topsoil

Fruits and flowers Colourful and sweet smelling in order to attract agents of pollintion Air in the forest is usually very still Lack of wind means that the trees have some other means to carry out pollination attract birds, bees, bats, insects to carry which help to carry their seeds and pollens to other locations.

Mangrove Forests a type of halophyte grows naturally in saline environments equipped with plant structures that allow them to survive in shallow saltwater environments found along tropical and subtropical coastal areas found along low-lying, sheltered coasts with muddy and waterlogged land fewer species of plants adapt to the saline water and oxygen deficient soil which are the main characteristics of a tidal environment. between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn found in Australia, SEA, West Africa dominant plants have special breathing roots that would enable them to take in oxygen under waterlogged conditions Roots are able to bend and grow both upwards towards the surface and downwards into the soil. During low tide, roots are exposed which allow them to absorb oxygen. Prop roots anchor them firmly into the soft, muddy ground no distinct vertical layering trees are of uniform height saltwater mangrove trees grow near the coast freshwater mangrove trees less tolerant of salt grow further inland

Characteristics of Mangrove Forests Leaves broad leaves with a leathery texture to prevent loss of moisture through transpiration drip tips enable rainwater to flow off quickly and easily

 Roots Fruit

Leaves contain special salt glands to prevent the building up of excess salt Salt glands secrete the excess salt which is then washed away by the sea during high tide roots act as a filter to exclude salt from the rest of the plant

Prop roots enable them to anchor firmly in the muddy, waterlogged ground roots ensure that the trees will not be uprooted or swept away by strong waves soil lacks oxygen due to being perpetually waterlogged Aerial roots jut out of the muddy ground and enable the trees to take in oxygen from the atmosphere directly

Tube like fruit start to germinate while still on the trees When fruit ripen, they fall into the mud and start to grow Less chance for the seedlings to be washed away by the tides before they can take root in the soil Some fruit are able to float on water for long periods of time this allows them to be easily carried away by water to other coastal areas where they can take root and grow.

Distribution latitude 15 degrees to just beyond the tropic of cancer and the tropic of capricorn found in countries such as Bangladesh, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar,

Diversity adapt to the climatic changes that arise from the wet and dry seasons typical of the tropical monsoon climate 600mm maximum less than 60mm of rain or no rain is recorded fewer species of plants due to the dry season plants are spaced further apart from each other

Structure of Tropical Monsoon Forests Like a cluster of umbrellas, the crowns of the trees in a tropical monsoon forest meet to form a continuous canopy, blocking sunlight from the forest floor. Due to seasonal drought, the trees do not grow as tall. Forest structure is also more open. More sunlight penetrates through to the forest floor than in tropical rainforests, resulting in thicker undergrowth. Canopy layer - 20m to 30m tall

-trees form a continuous canopy layer -Epiphytes, lianas and parasitic plants Understorey layer - 15m shorter trees plants grow quickly in areas where sunlight can penetrate through the canopy Ground layer -Mosses, lichens, orchids -Dense undergrowth Characteristics of Tropical Monsoon Forests Leaves Roots Deep roots anchor the trees firmly to the ground Enable them to tap groundwater during dry months broad and have drip tips to enable excess rainwater to flow off Leaves are leathery and waxy to prevent excessive transpiration Deciduous trees shed their leaves to adapt to the dry season

Temperate Coniferous Forest Distribution latitudes 40 degrees and 65 degrees in the northern hemisphere northern europe, asia, north america

Diversity found in areas that experience short mild summers and long cold winters Precipitation comes in the form of occasional convectional rain in summer and heavy snowfall in winter due to the relatively short growing season, this type of forests have very few species of trees softwoods such as spruce, pine, cedar, and fir straight trunks 20m tall longer nights and fewer daylight hours result in a greatly reduced growing season Therefore, trees are much shorter average height less than 15m some trees are only one to two meter tall less dense, ground is often covered in lichens

Structure of coniferous trees

Tree layer trees are uniform in height grow close together in competition or sunlight, prevents much sunlight from reaching the forest floor

Ground layer Little sunlight reaches this layer Very sparse undergrowth Scattered shrubs Low light intensity is a reason for sparse undergrowth Poor, acidic, leached soils also contribute to the sparse undergrowth

Characteristics of Temperate Coniferous Forests The plants in the coniferous forests are sturdy and resilient to the long, bitter cold and dry winters. They have developed special characteristics to adapt to this severe climate. Branches Leaves Bark bark of coniferous trees is thick protect the trees from severe winter winds and summer fires trees are evergreen, do not shed their leaves all at one time leaves of coniferous trees are needle-like helps the trees adapt to the dry weather by reducing loss of moisture through transpiration leaves are also drought resistant and can store water for the long cold winter when ground is frozen. compact and springy branches that slope downwards helps the trees to obtain sunlight and allows snow to slide down easily without breaking the branches during winter.

Fruits and Flowers Roots Trees in coniferous forests have shallow roots that spread out widely Coniferous trees bear cones which are the fruit and flowers The seeds are contained in the cones which will protect them during the long harsh winter

roots help the trees absorb water from the melting of the frozen topsoil in spring and summer when the lower layers of the soil are still frozen. The End