The tropical rainforests are a set of ecosystems with certain characteristics and common structures they include the classification within that great. It is considered that this type of forest makes up about 7% of the earth's surface and although it is a relatively minimal portion, in this space there are approximately more than half of the known animal and plant species.
In this environment an atmosphere conducive to generating life is created, although the soils are not usually very fertile because the earth loses all its nutrients after some harvests. However, the greatest wealth is given thanks to the amount of living beings housed and that find a habitat in the humid tropical forests.
Farallones de Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia.
In these ecosystems, rainfall is common and frequent throughout the year. In addition, the air is generally loaded with humidity (water vapor) and the climate is hot, leading to heat.
In tropical humid forests there are multiple benefits for living beings, especially for humans. In this biome you can find food, but also medicines and even industrial products, generating great interest from the rest of the population.
In a more colloquial and informal sense, tropical rainforests are what we mostly know and refer to as jungles.
Characteristics of tropical humid forests
-One of the main characteristics of tropical humid forests is the abundance of living beings. As mentioned above, most of the world's food, flowers, and animals grow in these places.
-The vegetation of the tropical humid forests is usually very varied, and there may even be subdivisions depending on the height of the trees or plants.
-The majority of the surface of the humid tropical forests is made up of trees. The most common ones have an approximate size of 30 meters, however, there are some that reach 50 meters in height.
-The average temperature in tropical humid forests ranges between 25 ° and 27 ° C, but on certain occasions it can increase up to 35 ° C, this being the maximum value that the temperature can reach in the BHT (tropical humid forests).
-In these ecosystems, the decomposition process is rapid and continuous. The high temperature and intrinsic humidity in the air in these places proliferate bacteria and accelerate the “recycling” of inorganic to organic matter.
-Thanks to the proliferation of fungi, it is possible the subsistence of a large number of trees. Despite having a soil that is lacking in nutrients, a large number - and variety - of trees and plants grow and develop in tropical humid forests. Mainly, this is due to the action of mycorrhizae (fungi).
Weather
The climate of tropical humid forests is called humid tropical climate, and is characterized, among other things, by presenting constant rainfall. This is mainly due to the constant humidity in the atmosphere of tropical humid forests.
Although rainfall has a range of 1500 mm, and remains regular throughout the year, there may be months of relative drought, where the range of rainfall is less than that mentioned above.
In terms of temperature, the average annual range is between 25 ° and 27 ° C, and in tropical humid forests there are no extreme differences between the coldest or winter months and the summer months.
Thanks to this climate, in these places the days last more or less the same throughout the year.
In the humid tropical forests, the so-called “calm winds” predominate and remain constant, however, in the winter months strong winds tend to appear and intensify.
Flora
Regarding the flora of the tropical humid forests: the trees are so constant and tall (from 30 to 60m) that they can form a kind of cover. The structure of these trees and plants is always robust, their leaves are characterized by being large and always green.
In the flora of the humid tropical forests, a vegetation typical of this biome is born, called epiphile and it happens when other plants are born on the leaves of other trees.
Most of the trees that make up tropical rain forests are considered completely dependent on water. Some fairly common and frequent species are mangroves, orchids, and tulips.
Likewise, there are tree species such as mahogany, soursop, nutmeg, palms and above all a great presence of large lianas.
Fauna
In terms of fauna, tropical humid forests contain a great variety of animal species. The most abundant and common are diptera, such as flies and mosquitoes, although insects such as beetles, spiders and ants are also found.
One of the most characteristic sounds of the humid tropical forests is the song of the cicada, which never ceases and both during the day and at night, it provides a unique and exclusive cadence of the tropical humid forests.
However, in this biome the existence of a large number of species of animals of all kinds is possible.
From exotic birds (such as parrots, macaws, parakeets and toucans), to impressive and highly regarded mammals (such as monkeys, chimpanzees, marsupials and even leopards). There are also a large number of lizards and reptiles.
Location
The humid tropical forests are mostly located near the equator. This means that they can be found in South America and especially in countries like Brazil, Venezuela, Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, southeastern Mexico and of course, Ecuador.
It is also possible to find tropical humid forests in some parts of Central America and reaches parts of the Asian and African continent.
For example, in Southeast Asia, Melanesia, Madagascar, Indochina, Africa, and in northeast Australia.
References
- Achard, F., Eva, HD, Stibig, HJ, Mayaux, P., Gallego, J., Richards, T., & Malingreau, JP (2002). Determination of deforestation rates of the world's humid tropical forests. Science, 297 (5583), 999-1002. Recovered from: science.sciencemag.org
- Asner, GP, Rudel, TK, Aide, TM, DeFries, R., & Emerson, R. (2009). A contemporary assessment of change in humid tropical forests. Conservation Biology, 23 (6), 1386-1395. Recovered from: onlinelibrary.wiley.com
- Emmons, LH, & Feer, F. (1999). Mammals of the humid forests of tropical America: a field guide. Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia: Editorial FAN. Recovered from: sidalc.net