Tropical rainforest Flashcards
Characteristics of tropical rainforests
Mean annual temperature: 25C Annual temperature range: less than 5°C Rainfall – amount: exceeds 2000mm Rainfall – seasonal distribution: same throughout year Wind: low Cloud: heavy Humidity: high Pressure: low
Influences on climate
Latitude
Cloud
Reason for high rainfall
Nutrient cycle
Learn with other notes
Water cycle
Learn with other notes
Vegetation layers
Emergents: 50m. Over canopy. Sunlight.
Main Canopy: 50% wildlife. extremely thick. 25 and 35 metres.
Under canopy: 20m. Less dense can survive in less sunlight.
Shrub Layer: low shrubs & saplings. Shade plants. extremely dense.
Lianas: Woody cines, climb up trees, sunlight.
Forest floor: Fungi
Vegetation adaptations
Leaves
Broad –> maximum amount of sunlight
Drip tip –> shed heavy rain
Tall, straight trunks
Competing sunlight
Buttress roots
tall
Support, muddy soil
Maximum nutrient, nutrient-poor soil
Shrub layer
Adapt, survive less light
Lianas
sunlight, large trees