Tropical Rain Forest Essays - Forest Ecology, Ecosystems

Tropical Rain Forest In this term paper, I will explain the great importance of the tropical Rainforests around the world and discuss the effects of the tragedy of rainforest destruction and the effect that it is having on the earth. I will write on some specific plants and animals that call the tropical rain forests their home; there are many different types of rainforest species and their uniqueness from the rest of the world is amazing. I will also touch on the efforts being made to help curb the rate of rainforestdestruction and the peoples of the rainforest. Rain forests are located near the equator in the tropics and are most noted for their abundance of vegetatin and extreme diversity. Classified by climate and location, all rain foretsts are dominated by various sized trees so clustered that different layers have developed in the depths of the jungles. The upper canopy, containing the tallest trees ranging from 100-150 feet, receives the most light. Beneath the upper canopy are 1-3 layers of vegetation called the canopy. Here the plants are so condensed that so little light reaches past it, no allowing the final layer, the understory, to have a nice amount of sunlight. Only a handful of rays it the floor, causing little vegetation to grow. Due to climate and location, mother nature has created several rain forest classified differently due to unsimillar characteristics. The Equatorial rain forest is located in warm, we areas with low altitude, near the equator. Under primary influence of moisture, an average annual rainfall of 125 inches and constant temperatures of about 87 degrees together make such a diverse and fragile ecosystem (Encarta). Tropical rain forests extended 10 degrees latitude from the equator are called subtropical rainforests. Most commonly found in Central America, West Indies, and coastal Bazil, the changes in temperature and season switches give a less diverse forest compared to the Equatorial rain forests (Encarta) Some rainforests shouldn't be called rainforests at all. Found at low elevations and even farther away from the equator, the Monsoon rain forest barely gets any precipiation, 51 inches annually. Droughted by a 4-5 month dry season, pant life is limited. With a more open canopy, a dense under growth has grown on the forest floor. Because of the dry season and little rain fall, there is a high flammability rate. Tropical Rainforests are home to many of the strangest looking and most beautiful, largest and smallest, most dangerous and least frightening, loudest and quietest animals on earth. There are many types of animals that make their homes in the rainforest some of them include: jaguars, toucans, parrots, gorillas, and tarantulas. Don't be surprised if you see an antelope the size of a rabbitt either (Rain forest Action Network). In the rain forest, all species of plants and animals work together to create and maintain such diversity. There are so many fascinating animals in tropical rainforest that millions have not even identified yet. In fact, about half of the world's species have not even been identified yet. But sadly, an average of 35 species of rainforest animals are becoming extinct every day(rain-tree.com). So many species of animals live in the rainforest than any other parts of the world because rainforests are believed to be the oldest ecosystem on earth. Some forests in southeast Asia have been around for at least 100 million years, ever since the dinosaurs have roamed the earth. During the ice ages, which occurred about 10,000 years ago, the frozen areas of the North and South Poles covered much of the earth, causing huge numbers of extinctions, but the great freeze did not reach many tropical rainforests. Therefore, these plants and animals could continue to evolve, developing into the most diverse and complex ecosystems on earth. The nearly perfect conditions for life also help contribute to the great number of species. With temperatures constant at about 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit the whole year, the animals don't have to worry about freezing during the cold winters or finding hot shade in the summers (Encarta). They rarely have to search for water, because rain falls almost every day in tropical rainforests. Some rainforest species have populations that number in the millions. Other species consist of only a few dozen individuals. Living in limited areas, most of these species are found nowhere else on earth. For example, the maues marmoset, a species of monkey, wasn't discovered until recently. It's entire tiny population lives within a few square miles in the Amazon rainforest. This species of monkey