LOCATIONS
There are three major types of rainforests, each with their own distinct characteristics and qualities. The first is the African rainforest; the second is the Indo-Malayan rainforest, and the third and final is the Neotropic rainforest.
African Rainforest
African Rainforests are home to most of the species of plants and animals found on the continent. They are located across east, central, and west Africa, along with the eastern coast of the island of Madagascar, covering over 2.2 million square miles. They span the countries of Cameroon, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Chana, the Ivory Coast, Liberia, and Nigeria. Compared to other rainforests, these tend to by dry, receiving between 63 and 78 inches of rain a year. This is also one of the world's most threatened ecosystems, with an area the size of a football field destroyed every second.
Over 8,000 species of plants have been found in the African Rainforest, most of which have adapted to the humid, dark, and rainy conditions. Here are some interesting facts about plants in the African Rainforest:
Over 8,000 species of plants have been found in the African Rainforest, most of which have adapted to the humid, dark, and rainy conditions. Here are some interesting facts about plants in the African Rainforest:
- 1/4 medicinal ingredients are derived from rainforest plants.
- 70% of vegetation in African Rainforests are trees, and there are about 600 species represented.
- Coconut trees are common.
- The Kapok Tree is one of the tallest rainforest tree species.
- 2,500 species of vines grow in the African Rainforest.
- Rain falling on the canopy ca take 10 minutes to reach the ground.
- Gorillas - Gorillas (of the mountain and lowland varieties) live in Rwanda and Lake Kivu in the Congo. They can grow up to 5,9", weigh up to 600 pounds, and are vegetarian.
- African Forest Elephants - These are smaller than their savanna-living counterparts, and weigh anywhere from 7,000 to 9,000 pounds. They are herbivores.
- Black Colobus Monkeys - These live high in the canopies of the rainforests of southwest Cameroon to the Congo River, and are great jumpers.
- African Grey Parrots - These popular pets are believed to be very intelligent, and are quite chatty.
- Pygmy Hippopotami - These are the smallest hippopotami, averaging 5' in length and weighing 418 lbs.
Indo-Malayan Rainforest
Indo-Malayan Rainforests are some of the oldest rainforests in the world, but are regressing faster than any other equatorial region and has the fewest primary sources. Some sources project that most of the primary forests will be destroyed within the next then years.
One notable fact is that there is a dominant species of tree, the Diptercarpaceae, spanning throughout the Indo-Malayan chain of islands (some notable ones including Malaysia, Borneo, and Sumatra). They can reach heights of up to 120 feet, and are considered to be emergent. The most notable emergent tree is the Tualang tree (Koompassia excelsa), which can reach heights of up to 280 feet, and is the third tallest tree species in the world. These trees are rarely cut down because of their hard wood and their ability to house large honeybees (Apis dorsata) beneath their branches.
Trees in the Indo-Malayan rainforests have many unique features. Many things grow on the trees, such as orchids, ferns, lianas, fines, and strangler figs. They also feature large buttressed roots caused by the shallow layer of nutrient-rich soil. Most do not produce fruit every year because of the unpredictable nutrient levels, and mostly depend on animals to spread their seeds. When the seeds germinate, they need to be in shady conditions, and surround themselves with an aromatic pulp for an immediate source of food.
Scent plays an important role in the Indo-Malayan Rainforest. Some notable examples of this are:
Hundreds of endangered species live in Southeast Asia, especially in the rainforests. Some examples of these are:
There are two major monsoon seasons in Southeast Asia that affect the rainforests:
Rain shadow effects make it so that during each season, the opposite side of the island experiences dryer but windy conditions. Between the two seasons, these rainforests average 79 inches of rain per year. Any change in these cycles can cause disruptions to many of the mutualistic relationships within the forest, and throw off the entire ecosystem.
One notable fact is that there is a dominant species of tree, the Diptercarpaceae, spanning throughout the Indo-Malayan chain of islands (some notable ones including Malaysia, Borneo, and Sumatra). They can reach heights of up to 120 feet, and are considered to be emergent. The most notable emergent tree is the Tualang tree (Koompassia excelsa), which can reach heights of up to 280 feet, and is the third tallest tree species in the world. These trees are rarely cut down because of their hard wood and their ability to house large honeybees (Apis dorsata) beneath their branches.
Trees in the Indo-Malayan rainforests have many unique features. Many things grow on the trees, such as orchids, ferns, lianas, fines, and strangler figs. They also feature large buttressed roots caused by the shallow layer of nutrient-rich soil. Most do not produce fruit every year because of the unpredictable nutrient levels, and mostly depend on animals to spread their seeds. When the seeds germinate, they need to be in shady conditions, and surround themselves with an aromatic pulp for an immediate source of food.
Scent plays an important role in the Indo-Malayan Rainforest. Some notable examples of this are:
- Rafflesia - Smells like a rotting corpse.
- Durian Fruit -Smells terrible (enough to be banned from buildings), but apparently tastes really good.
Hundreds of endangered species live in Southeast Asia, especially in the rainforests. Some examples of these are:
- The Two-Horned Sumatran Rhinoceros - which lives in small pockets of Sumatra and Borneo. Estimates on the population say that there are roughly 300-500 living.
- The Sumatran and Javan Tigers - both of which are soon to be extinct.
- The Asian Elephant - which requires large amounts of land to live on. Human encroachment and logging are shrinking the available habitats.
- The Malayan Tapir - one of the four species of tapir still alive, and estimates predict that there are less than 50 still living in the wild.
- The Orangutan - perhaps one of the more famous animals, they live only on Sumatra and Borneo.
There are two major monsoon seasons in Southeast Asia that affect the rainforests:
- The Northeastern Monsoon - This occurs from October to February, and is comparable to Atlantic hurricanes, but typically over the Philippines.
- The Southwestern Monsoon - This occurs from April to August, and are typically more wet and powerful than the northeastern monsoons.
Rain shadow effects make it so that during each season, the opposite side of the island experiences dryer but windy conditions. Between the two seasons, these rainforests average 79 inches of rain per year. Any change in these cycles can cause disruptions to many of the mutualistic relationships within the forest, and throw off the entire ecosystem.
Neotropical Rainforest
Neotropical Rainforests are found in Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. Total, there are about 1.37 million acres of forest divided into three rough regions:
Estimates predict that these forests house tens of thousands of wildlife species, most of which haven't been seen by humans yet. In a single square mile of forest in Rondonia, Brazil, one can find 1,200 species of butterflies alone (which is roughly double the combined number of those in the U.S.A. and Canada). They also house many indigenous people who depend on the rainforests for shelter, sustenance, and spirituality. However, in Brazil alone, 26 groups were scattered in the last decade, and it is becoming more and more difficult to survive.
There are three subcategories of forest in the Neotropical Rainforest - the Lowland Evergreen Rainforest, the Lowland Semi-Evergreen Forest, and the Montane Forest.
Deforestation is a major issue in the Neotropical Rainforests because of large scale fires and the need for more land by the local populations have driven the rapid decrease of rainforest habitats.
- The Amazon River Basin in South America
- The Northwestern Coast of South America & Central America (extending up into Mexico)
- The Atlantic Coast of Brazil (even though it is a very thin stretch of land - only about 30 miles).
Estimates predict that these forests house tens of thousands of wildlife species, most of which haven't been seen by humans yet. In a single square mile of forest in Rondonia, Brazil, one can find 1,200 species of butterflies alone (which is roughly double the combined number of those in the U.S.A. and Canada). They also house many indigenous people who depend on the rainforests for shelter, sustenance, and spirituality. However, in Brazil alone, 26 groups were scattered in the last decade, and it is becoming more and more difficult to survive.
There are three subcategories of forest in the Neotropical Rainforest - the Lowland Evergreen Rainforest, the Lowland Semi-Evergreen Forest, and the Montane Forest.
- Lowland Evergreen Forests - These tend to be the tallest, most diverse, and most complexly structured. They are found from sea level to about 2,000 feet above sea level, and a single acre may hold up to 15,000 separate plant and and animal species. They tend to contain small concentrations of many species, and have a continuous water supply. They are mostly found in western Amazonia and the Pacific Coast of South America. The tallest trees may reach up to over 200 feet tall.
- Lowland Semi-Evergreen Forests - These are a mix of evergreen and deciduous trees. Deciduous trees are generally at the top of the canopy and comprise up to a third of the taller trees. Unlike in most parts of the world, not all are leafless at the same time. These forests occur when thereis a regular dry season and are generally found in Central America.
- Montane Forests - These forests, sometimes called cloudforests, are constantly surrounded by mist. They receive more rain and are cooler than the lowland forests, and have shorter trees with smaller leaves. These are generally found throughout the Andes Mountains.
Deforestation is a major issue in the Neotropical Rainforests because of large scale fires and the need for more land by the local populations have driven the rapid decrease of rainforest habitats.