Where do rainforests grow? Animal world of tropical forests. Climate of the tropical forest

The tropical forests are the "lungs" of our planet, the most precious treasure, the "great pharmacy of the Earth". For many years it was believed that they produce huge amounts of oxygen, but it turned out not so, but the humid climate contributes to perfect air filtration and purification from pollution. In this zone, a lot of medicinal plants are growing, which have found application in folk and official medicine. Wherever tropical forests grow, there is a huge number of birds, predators, artiodactyls, amphibious creatures, they all somehow get along in one territory, surprising travelers with their numerous.

Distribution of tropical forests

It immediately becomes clear where the rainforests grow, if we explain that they seem to "encircle" the planet along the Equator. They are located in a moist equatorial, dry tropical, temperate subequatorial belt, representing a clear line interrupted only by mountains and oceans. Depending on the air temperature and the amount of precipitation, the vegetation changes. Rainy areas are covered with evergreen flora, the drier regions are characterized by deciduous plants, followed by savannah forests. Both in South America and in Africa in the west are monsoon, in the east - savannas, and in the middle - equatorial forests.

Levels of forest

The description of the rainforest will be more understandable if you divide it into tiers. There are four main levels. The uppermost is evergreen trees up to 70 m high, their green caps are mostly only on top, but from below are bare trunks. These giants without hassle endure hurricanes, temperature drops, covering the remaining layers from the weather. The main hosts here are eagles, butterflies, bats. Next is the forest canopy, consisting of 45-meter trees. The level of crowns is considered the most diverse, here live about 25% of all types of insects. Scientists agree that 40% of the species of all plants on the planet are on this stage, although it has not been fully studied.

Then comes the middle level, called the understory, here live snakes, birds, lizards, the number of insects is also huge. On the tier of the forest litter are the remains of animals and rotting plants. Such a stratification is more typical for humid tropics. Here, for example, the jungle - the forests of South America - is divided into only three levels. The first - grass, low plants, ferns, the second - reeds, low shrubs, young trees, the third - 40-meter trees.

From where the tropical forests grow, the prevailing species of flora and fauna depend on them. For example, mangroves are distributed in equatorial and tropical latitudes in zones of tidal bands of sea coasts. Here grow plants that are accustomed to do without oxygen and feel great in salt soil. Their roots create an excellent environment for the dwelling of oysters, crustaceans, commercial species of fish. On the slopes of mountains in the area of condensation of mists grow mossy or foggy forests, characterized by low night temperatures.

In the arid regions, the savannah and the rainforest predominate, but dry. Plants here are evergreen, but xeromorphic and undersized. In regions of equatorial and tropical belts with variable climate, variable-moist forests grow, characterized by deciduous crowns and a small number of lianas and epiphytes. They are found in South America, Africa, Sri Lanka, India and Indochina.

Climate of the tropical forest

In humid tropical forests, the air temperature ranges from 20 ° C to 35 ° C, rains are almost daily, so humidity is kept at 80%, and in some regions reaches 100%. In the subtropics there is no pronounced seasonality, the temperature is characterized by stability. On the slopes of the mountains, where fogs are observed, it is warm in the daytime, and at night there may be a sharp cooling to 0 ° C. The climate of the tropical forests varies depending on the belt. In the tropics, high temperature and low humidity, the equator has a lot of moisture and is very hot, and on the subequatorial belt, the weather depends on the monsoon.

Trees Trees

The trees of the tropical forests differ significantly from the trees of the temperate climatic belt. The peculiarity of their development is influenced by weather conditions, because there is no seasonality on the equator, rains are almost daily, and the air temperature is 25-35 ° C. If in Russia giants grow over several centuries, then there is enough 10-15 years. Each type of tree sheds leaves in a strictly defined time, it can be every six months, every 2-3 years. Blossom, too, when they want, many representatives of the flora are pleased with flowers once in a decade. The trees are mostly large leathery leaves, strong enough to withstand powerful shower flows. In the tropics there are more than 600 kinds of bamboo, chocolate tree, cola tree , marang, jackfruit, breadfruit, mango, etc.

Exotic Shrubs

Quite controversial is the question of whether there is a shrub layer in the tropical forests. In the subtropical and temperate zones, it is, but in the equatorial - no. Of course, there are representatives of shrubs, but they are very few and they will not create their own level. Together with them grow herbaceous phanerophytes, which preserve the trunk from one to several years, and stunted trees. This includes representatives of families of scitamin, marat, and bananas. Most shrubs belong to dicotyledonous, the leaves are large, but tender.

Herbs of the tropical forest

Wherever tropical forests grow, two groups of grasses prevail: shade-loving and shadow-tolerant. The former prefer to grow in much shaded places, while the latter are able to develop normally under the closed canopy of the forest. It should be borne in mind that even in the afternoon there is a twilight, since the sun's rays can not break through the crowns of numerous trees. Grassy plants in the tropics are not so many, among them ferns, cereals, and selaginella predominate. To short stalked grasses, we should include phanerophytes, the stalks of which do not change for several years. Also, do not forget about extra- plant plants: epiphytes, lianas, stem parasites, stranglers.

Birds of the Tropics

In the pristine forests, incredibly beautiful, bright, with unusual appearance birds live. Every single part of the world can boast of some kind of bird feathers. For example, in the tropics of Asia live the hands, in appearance they resemble partridges, only slightly larger. They run fast, so in case of danger they do not take off, but they flee as they have strength. In the forests also live shrubby chickens, pheasants, royal peacocks. In the American tropics, you can meet a tinama - a badly flying bird with short but very strong legs. Well, how not to remember the bright, funny and talkative parrots, without which the tropics and the tropics are not tropical. In addition, on the equator there live motley pigeons, trogons, woodpeckers, flycatchers, rhino birds. In the forests of the Amazon there are hummingbirds, tanagry, rocky males, cotings and many others.

Animals

The fauna of tropical forests is striking in its diversity and richness of species. The greatest number is represented by a group of monkeys, living high on trees and in impenetrable thickets. The most interesting of them are the tsebid, gambling and arachnid representatives of the family. Igrankoobraznye are very small in size, they reach no more than 15 cm in length, they can boast of a long tail, which they are hooked on branches, and spider monkeys have flexible and long limbs.

But the animal world of the rainforest is not limited to monkeys alone, there are also anteaters, sloths, porcupines. Among the predators are predominantly representatives of felines - jaguars, jaguarundi, ocelots, panthers, from the family of canine - shrubby dogs. There are also ungulates - tapirs, spinach deer. The rain forests are also rich in rodents - possums, marsupials, bats, agouti.

Amphibians of the Tropics

A large variety of amphibians and reptiles is also characteristic of the tropical forest. Photos of exotic snakes, frogs, crocodiles, chameleons, lizards are no longer considered a rarity. Amphibians are found in all parts of the world, but most of them are observed in moist tropical forests, because they are attracted by warmth and moisture. At the equator, they live not only in water, but also in trees, in leaf axils, in hollows. In the tropics, there are salamanders, many poisonous snakes, water anacondas and land boa constrictors are widely spread.

Insects

Depending on what animals live in the rainforest, we can assume that the insects here are no less bright, unusual and dangerous. These small creatures are attracted to the tropics by warmth, high humidity and a wide variety of food - the remains of animals, numerous plants. At the equator you can meet the bees and wasps that are habitual for us, but here they differ in larger sizes and bright, shiny color. Among them there are representatives with long legs, blue wings and a large body, they are able to tame large beetles and spiders. On many bushes there are swollen trunks - these are ant nests. Ants in the tropics protect plants by eating leafy insects.

Beetles do not play a significant role in the life of the rainforest, but every traveler will be fascinated by their diversity and diversity. These insects are a natural decoration of this forgotten place of God. Of course, we can not forget about tropical butterflies, only in South America there are more than 700 species of these beautiful creatures. Animals and plants of the tropical forests are a special world that people do not know. Researchers annually make their way deep into the thickets to reveal the veil of secrets that this area keeps, to find new representatives of flora and fauna.