Rainforests Essay

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sEdit Tropical Rainforest Intro: An average of 50 to 260 inches (125 to 660 cm.) of rain falls yearly. The temperature in a rain forest rarely gets higher than 93 °F (34 °C) or drops below 68 °F (20 °C); average humidity is between 77 and 88%; rainfall is often more than 100 inches a year. There is usually a brief season of less rain. The tropical rain forest is a forest of tall trees in a region of year-round warmth. 6-7 months of dry season. in tropical dry forest about 150-200 cm annually. The trees of a tropical rainforest are so densely packed that rain falling on the canopy can take as long as 10 minutes to reach the ground. The tropical rainforest is found between 10 ° N and 10 ° S latitude at elevations below 3,000 feet. Almost all rain forests lie near the equator. Only 2 to 3 percent of sunlight reaches the forest floor. The only vegetation that lives here has adapted to low-light levels. The forest floor is littered with leaves and decaying vegetation. Decomposition by bacteria and molds is rapid, and nutrients are quickly recycled into new plant growth. This is due to the poor soil quality in tropical rain forests. Nutrient layers only exist in a thin topsoil that is replenished by dead plant and animal remains. However, there are rain forests that have rich soils; these are typically areas of volcanic activity where volcanic soils comprise a nutrient-rich base for forest growth. Rain forest topsoil is held together by dense root systems. LIST OF ORGANISMS Epiphytes: the so-called air plants grow on branches high in the trees. Bromeliads (pineapple family) are especially abundant, the orchid family is widely distributed in tropical rainforest. Lianas: woody vines (deciduous) grow rapidly up the tree trunks. Climbers: Many climbers, including the ancestors of the domesticated yams (Africa) and sweet
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