The Types of Rain Forests - Essay Example

The Types of Rain Forests There are two types of rainforests around the world: tropical and temperate. Tropical rainforests are common in Asia, Australia, Africa, South America, Central America, Mexico, and on many of the Pacific Islands. Temperate forests, on the other hand, are more widespread. However, temperate rain forests only occur in few regions around the world. Most of these occur in Oceanic-Moist Climates such as the United States. There is great diversity in the structure of the tropical rain forests and the temperate forests, and much of this is due to ecological variables such as climate, water relations, geology and soil. Essentially, climate plays a huge part in the composition and structure of a forest, primarily, because of its control over biological activity.  Temperature and Rainfall Determine the Division of Tropical Rain Forest Temperature and rainfall are important characteristics for the climate variable. The degree of hotness or coldness in a region, known as temperature, is crucial for tropical rain forests. There must be a constant high temperature in the tropical climates, with the coldest months averaging to about 18 degrees Celsius. Rainfall is also important in determining the different tropical climates. Tropical rain forest climates experiences around 69 inches to 79 inches of rainfall per year. It experiences varying periods of wet and dry season. Therefore, the first division of the formations of tropical rain forests is between climates with dry season and ever wet. The second division is a coarse measure of soil water table. Third, distinguishes soils on parent materials with typical characteristics, such as peat, quartz sand and limestone. The forth division is the forest by elevation. It is because of these climatic differences that different formations of tropical rainforests are born. They are: monsoon forest, semi-evergreen rain forest, lowland evergreen rain forest, Lower montane rain forest, upper montane rain forest, subalpine forest, health forest, peat swamp forest, and freshwater swamp forest.  The Major Formations of Tropical Rain Forests 1. Monsoon forest and semi-evergreen forest have a common factor with seasonal in climate. Monsoon forest has a long dry season followed by a season of heavy rainfall. The trees in a monsoon forest usually shed their leaves during the dry season and start growing leaves at the start of the rainy season. Monsoon forests are primarily found in the Southeast Asia region and the typical plants are tall teak trees and bamboo.  2. Semi-evergreen rain forest, on the other hand, is a distinct formation, dominated by both, evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved trees, which grow about 45 meters in height. Examples are found on all the continents with tropical territory, but are especially extensive in central and South America, Southeastern Asia, and northern Australia. 3. Lowland evergreen rain forest refers to the majority of tropical rain forests, which grow on flat land at elevation of under 1,000 m. Lowland forests are characterized by the large number of tree species that are lofty, dense, and with the height of more than 45m. Lowland forests are usually taller and more diverse than montane forest, and all sites with this formation have no regular annual dry season. Therefore, more animals are specifically adapted to habitat in this form of site.  4. Lower montane rainforest is forest that grows on mountains with an altitude between 1200-1500 m. The trees of lower montane forest are about 15m to 33m in height. These trees can be found in the lower elevations of the Andes in Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, and Central America and due to the climate conditions at these sites, they are home to many different species of animals. 5. Heath forests are found on well drained, sandy soils that are developed from siliceous sand such as coastal alluvium and weathered sandstone. This form of forest is characterized by certain tree species that have the natural ability of tolerating the poor and acidic soil. Heath forests are also known as black water forests as they are drained by black water rivers. The main sites where they can be found are the Amazon Basin and some parts of Asia. 6. Peat swamp forests are found in areas where dead vegetation is waterlogged and gather as peat. This peat absorbs rain and holds moisture for the trees at times of little or rainfall. They can be found in Southeast Asia regions, such as Borneo and Sumatra, Northeastern South America, and small areas of Africa. 7. Fresh water forests seem like peat swamp forests. They have a humid climate and a high water table with inland freshwater. Their soil, however, is richer with nutrients as compared to the peat swamp forest, with a PH value of 6.0 or more. Lowland Rain Forest in New England Lowland forests are a type of temperate rainforest in the New England Region, such as New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts. Lowland forests have a moderate climate and have four distinct seasons. This form of forest receives different amounts of precipitation in the form of rain and snow in winter and spring. The soil in temperate forests is rich in nutrients. New England is, primarily, a lowland forest of altitude ranging from 200m to 500 m above sea level. It is characterized by rich rainfall, warm summer and cold winter temperature, and the altitude and latitude largely drive the length of growing season. The annual temperature ranges from 11 degrees Centigrade in southern Connecticut to 4 degrees Centigrade in the northern highland of New England. Precipitation ranges from 88 to 125 cm and is distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.  Montague Plain Forest versus Northeast Queensland The Montague Plain is a flat and sandy outwash plain forest. It is dominated by forests of pitch pine, oak, and scrub oak. The northeast Queensland, on the other hand, is a lowland semi-evergreen rain forest. Montague plain forest Northeast Queensland Canopy height Under 18m 24-25m Emergent trees Usually absent More than 60m Pinnate leaves Rare Frequent Woody climber Usually none Abundant Epiphyte Frequent Abundant Soil Sandy Deep reservoir water Disturbance Historical land use activities on modern vegetation patterns Human activities Through the above table briefly compare these two forest formations by ecological factors. As we know, temperate lowland forests provide people with many more resources than just wood and farmland. Clean air and clean water are direct benefits of a healthy forest. Thus Montague Plain has been disturbed by land-use activities, resulting in alteration of the physical conditions of the site which causes difficulties for plants to adapt to the conditions. In the Montague Plain human disturbances have been more frequent than the Queensland in Australia. The constructions and the electrical appliances that stand among this forest have disturbed the local ecosystem and have affected all species and plants present there. On the other hand, Queensland forest has experienced relatively fewer disturbances from land-use activities, but there have been disturbances by human being in trying to extract the natural resources on the sites. As a I mentioned, human disturbances in Montague Plain that have damaged the natural eco system of the region. This damages the animal and plant species present in those regions. For landscapes like these, we must conserve the various values that they hold; such as economic values, spiritual values, scientific values, and educational values. It is important to conserve the entire landscapes to maintain the biodiversity and the ecosystem in order to maintain the natural and functioning landscapes. Read More