Tropical rain forests are home to more species than all other biomes combined. The leafy tops of all the trees-extending from 50 to 80 meters above the forest floor-form a dense covering called a canopy. In the shade below the canopy, a second layer of shorter trees and vines form an understory. Organic matter that falls to the forest floor quickly decomposes, and the nutrients are recycled.
*Abiotic Factors- Hot and wet year-round; thin,nutrients-poor soils
Rainforest Ferns and trees. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii, USA. (color)
*Dominant Wildlife- Herbivores such as sloths, tapirs, and capybaras; predators such as jaguars; anteaters; monkeys; birds such as toucans, parrots, and parakeets; insects such as butterflies, ants, and beetles; piranhas and other freshwater fishes; reptiles such as caymans, boa constrictors, and anacondas.
*Geographic distribution- parts of South and Central America, Southeast Asia, parts of Africa, southern India, and northeastern Australia.
La Coca Falls, El Yunque, Carribean National Forest. Puerto Rico (color)
*Abiotic Factors- Hot and wet year-round; thin,nutrients-poor soils
*Dominant plants- Broad-leaved evergreen trees; ferns;large woody vinesand climbing plants; orchids and bromeliads
*Dominant Wildlife- Herbivores such as sloths, tapirs, and capybaras; predators such as jaguars; anteaters; monkeys; birds such as toucans, parrots, and parakeets; insects such as butterflies, ants, and beetles; piranhas and other freshwater fishes; reptiles such as caymans, boa constrictors, and anacondas.
*Geographic distribution- parts of South and Central America, Southeast Asia, parts of Africa, southern India, and northeastern Australia.