Describe and explain the main characteristics of one biome that you have studied
The biome I have studied is the Tropical Rainforest Biome. A biome is an eco-system of four inter-related parts, namely climate, soil, plants and animals. The Tropical Rainforest Biome is found between latitude 5-23 north and south of the equator. The tropical rainforest can be found in 3 geographical locations: Central America and the Amazon Basin, the African-Congo Basin and Indo-Malaysia.
Climate
The climate in this region is tropical and its 2 distinguishing features are the constant heat and the high precipitation levels. Due to the location of this biome, which is so close to the equator, temperatures are high all year round. The temperature range is small between 20-30 C and there is no change in seasons. As the sun moves from its position over the Tropic of Cancer to the Tropic of Capricorn the area that receives the greatest amount of heat known as the Thermal Equator moves with it. The rainforests receive 12 hours sunshine of intense heat almost daily and there is a small summer range. Humidity, which is the amount of water vapour in the air, is between 77-88%. This is high and it gives the regions an airless feel. Rainfall is one of the most significant characteristics of the Tropical climate. The type of rainfall experienced is convectional rainfall and occurs daily through the year. Due to the constant heat from the solar radiation the ground becomes warm which heats up the air. Hot air rises and becomes lighter and then cools and condenses. It then falls as a heavy burst of rain and it is often followed by thunder, but it doesn't last long and dries up quickly. Convectional rainfall occurs at around noon each day, as it is the hottest part of the day. Average rainfall per year is between 1250mm and 6000mm, making the tropical rainforest biome one of the wettest places on earth. Rainforests are unique in this way as half of the precipitation comes from the forests own evaporation. Each year a tree can release over 755 litres of water by transpiration and this falls back to the land as rain. These climatic conditions have a huge influence on the soil formation, vegetation and animals in this biome. For example, plants grow very well and there is plenty of food for animals.
Soils
The latosol, which is a zonal soil, is associated with tropical rainforest biome. Due to the climate, there are 2 processes at work in forming latosols, namely leaching and laterisation. due to heavy rainfall, the process of leaching is common. Humus is washed down through the horizons, draining the soil of nutrients. Thousands of years of heavy rainfall has resulted in the soil being very poor in nutrients. As a result, there is a very short nutrient cycle for plants and trees, Nutrients are mainly found in the living plants and layers of decomposing leaf litter on the O horizon. Various species of decomposers such as insects, bacteria and fungi make quick work of converting dead plant and animal matter into nutrients. The heat and humidity of the climate also helps break down leaf litter very rapidly. In order to absorb the nutrients before they are washed down through the soil plants and trees absorb them in their roots the moment they are released. 99% of nutrients are held in the roots mats of the forest floor. Deforestation can leave the latosol infertile in a very short time. Laterisation is also an important process at work. Chemical weathering dissolves iron and aluminium, which are found in the bedrock. They do not fully break down but become oxidized from the rainwater. Iron oxide (rust) forms and this gives the latosol its red colour.
Vegetation
There are thousands of plants and trees that grow in the tropical rainforest biome due to the climate and the red soils. It is a bio diverse area and it is estimated that the rainforest has the greatest variety of living things on the planet. It is estimated that a typical patch of rainforest measuring 6km conatins as many as 1500 flowering plants and 750 varities of trees. The constant heat combined with the rainfall makes it a thriving environment for growth. Many species grow such as the Tropical hardwoods like mahogany and teak. In the rainforest there are four layers, the emergent layer, the canopy, the understorey and the forest floor. Trees tend to be tall and thin as there is competition for light and space. In the emergent layer the tops of the trees are very tall at 40-80m high. In this layer trees are exposed to drying winds and they tend to have small pointed leaves. These giant trees also have straight smooth trunks with few branches. Their roots system is very shallow. In the canopy layer, trees are found 20-40m above the ground. Epiphytes (air plants) like mosses, lichen and orchids are able to grow on trees and absorb the rainfall and sunlight. The understorey is a dark environment that is under the canopy. No light gets through so growth is limited. Most plants are short and leafy, mostly non-flowering shrubs, ferns and vines, that have adapted to he filtered ligh and poor soil. On the forest floor less than 3% of light gets through. Leaves and dead animals rot quickly in this layer, providing nutrients for the soil. The flowers that blossom as well as the fruit also provide sources of food for other animals that live in the tropical rainforest biome. The flowers also offer nectar that hummingbirds, bees and butterflies are able to consume. Another valuable plant in this biome is the bromeliads. They have leaves that look similar to those of pineapples. That design collects water in the centre of it. Frogs, lizards and insects live in that area of water. Both vines and ferns grow all over the tropical rainforest biome. They help to connect the various layers found in the biome. For example there are herbs and mushrooms that grow on the floor. Various types of fruits and nuts grow on the plants and in the trees. Bananas grow on the vines in this particular biome as well.
Animals
The climate in the tropical rainforest biome is perfect for millions of types of animals and plats to live in. At least 15 million different animals have been identified in the rainforest. It is believed that there are also many more that haven't been identified yet. This is why it is very important to protect them. The specific types of animals that live in the tropical rainforest depend on the location. Small insects including the Monarch Butterfly and beetles live here. Beetles are very dominant as are termites. There are plenty of ants and spiders found in the biome as well. They can range in size from extremely small to larger ones. These are important parts of the biome even though they aren't as big as other living creatures found in it. The mammals include a variety of different types of animals. Monkeys, bats, possums, jaguars and foxes can be found, among others. Reptiles including a variety of snakes live here. Many of them are extremely large and they live in the trees of the tropical rainforest biome. Amphibians including the frog and salamander reside in this biome. Some of the popular birds living here include the African Grey Parrot, Eagles and Hummingbirds. In the water of the tropical rainforest biome you will find various fish. They can include ells or piranhas. This is also home to plenty of species of amphibians which includes numerous frog species. There are a variety of animals that live in every single layer of the tropical rainforest biome. Some of them stay in one layer such as in the higher trees. Others live both in the trees and on land. They will go where they can find food and shelter. They also strive to avoid carious predators that share their biome.
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