Forests correspond to a large plant mass that covers certain sectors of the planet, being of great importance for humanity, for carrying out important biochemical processes such as photosynthesis that allows obtaining oxygen, in addition to providing a great variety of fauna and flora that constitutes them. In the following article we will learn about the Flora of the Tropical Forest.
Tropical Forest Flora
Forests represent one of the ecosystems where a large amount of vegetation is present, consisting mainly of trees and also diverse vegetation, being one of the main ecosystems that cover the entire planet, standing out for being the habitat for many species of animals but also botanical species; In addition to being of great importance for the conservation of life in the world due to the conservation of the soil, its tree species that are considered the lungs of the world, providing the oxygen that all living beings consume and, in addition to reaching to neutralize the carbon dioxide present in the atmosphere.
In this case, the tropical forests that correspond to those types of forests that are located in tropical climate areas will be highlighted. Standing out for reaching a temperature of approximately 24 degrees Celsius and reaching a fairly variable degree of humidity. They represent a set of plant species located in the intertropical section and have long rainy seasons throughout the year and there is no true dry season.
Due to its climatic conditions as particular as high humidity and a warm climate during almost the whole year; makes it one of the areas with a high content of life and highly variable flora species. Coming to find approximately fifteen million different species, causing them to be one of the areas with the greatest biodiversity, but it could be considered that there are few specimens of each of the species.
Up to 2/3 of all flower species in the world can be located in tropical forests, being a type of ecosystem that comes to present a great variety of flower types. We must remember that the flowers correspond to a part of the plant that is responsible for reproduction, its structure is usually very striking and attractive with leaves of a wide variety of colors and short stems.
The great variety of species that can be observed in tropical forests can cover large hectares of forests, this is due to the great variety of trees that are present, coming to offer different types, some of which have large leaves, other flowers present defense against predators, others have greater growth, all these characteristics vary but coincide with the sole objective of being able to survive.
Highlighting conditions such as the great variety of trees of different sizes and that often compete with each other to get access to sunlight. Highlighting the fact that only 2% can reach the ground, as there is also competition to come into contact with plant species; These factors influence the formation of flowers in the forests, causing different shapes and styles.
Types of Tropical Forest Flowers
Tropical forests stand out for their great variety of flower species that are present within the ecosystems, the most significant types of flowers in tropical forests are highlighted below:
bromeliads
It corresponds to a type of tropical plants that are usually well known for their striking large leaves and also known as the pineapple family, presenting very unique fragrances. They belong to the families of the Bromilaceae and have their origin in the continent of South America, mainly seen in Brazil. Their colors are usually very striking, they can measure up to a meter in height, their color will depend on the type they belong to, varying from green to a very significant pink color.
Orchid
Orchids are considered one of the most numerous flower species in the world, being observed in various ecosystems except in the deserts at the poles. They correspond to a type of flower with a structure of three petals located in the shape of a lip in the internal zone, these being the most significant color. The structure it has can attract bees or animals that intervene in its pollination. It is one of the flowers most linked to humanity since ancient times and there is a great variety.
Passionflower
It has the scientific name of Passiflora Incarnata, a very unique type of flower due to its shape and beauty, it is a climber-shaped plant that reaches a large growth of approximately 6 to 9 meters long, its flowers are aromatic and highly sought after for its medicinal properties, due to its high content of flavonoids and alkaloids that can help against insomnia, as well as support against gastrointestinal disorders, anxiety, seizures, asthma, blood pressure, among other diseases.
Weather in Poinciana
It is a type of flower that has the scientific name Caesalpinia Pulcherrima, widely found in the tropics of the American continent, it reaches approximately 3 meters in height and its flowers are usually in the form of clusters with a set of yellow petals. It is considered as a Caribbean flower native to the Caribbean islands of Barbados, cultivated in tropical gardens and widely seen in the tropical forests of India. Their colors are usually between yellow, red and orange.
Guayacán
The Guayacán flower is one that comes from the Araguaney tree, a type of national tree of the Venezuelan country. Its flower is usually yellow, very popular, being native to dry forests mainly in tropical areas. Being widely seen in countries such as Ecuador, Panama and Venezuela, its flowers are known as golden flowers and are distributed throughout the tree, it is usually a type of tree that reaches great heights and its wood is very hard and with light colors. .
Dionaea
The Dionaea flower is also known as Venus flytrap, it is usually classified by some botanists as a plant and also as a flower. It is considered as a fly catcher that usually closes and opens when capturing a prey, they usually die to give way to a new type of leaves as long as they do not do any damage or aesthetic alteration. It is a plant that originates mainly in North Carolina, being very popular because the insect, when entering it, can hardly escape.
Mahogany
It corresponds to a very common type of tree in Latin America and is well known as Swietenia Macrophylla, it is native to the American tropics. Being a species of tree highly sought after for its wood and for the construction of some furniture and different materials for the man who develops in his daily life.
Fauna of the Tropical Forests
When talking about the flora present in tropical forests, it is inevitable not to mention the fauna found within this ecosystem. The fauna corresponds to all the species of animals that coexist together and develop life within the forests. Highlighting the current climate such as its warm temperatures, high humidity and large amounts of rainfall, so plant growth is greatly favored than generating a large number of habitats for animals.
Highlighting burrows as a system of some rodents, also within the upper areas of the trees where the animals come to create their homes at those heights and do not get down to the ground. As well as other species can become established on land and are displayed at certain times in the continuous search for food. In this case, the high levels of humidity observed in tropical forests should be highlighted, making it a very common habitat for insects.
In this case one of the main insects known as the beetles that usually feed on the sap from the trees can be highlighted, the high number of butterflies that usually fly over the flowers and take the nectar from it, the spiders usually have a much larger size than those seen in urban areas, so they build large cobwebs and are also obtained in large sizes that can destroy some tree trunks. The various types of animals that are present in tropical forests will be highlighted below:
reptiles
It corresponds to a species of vertebrate animals that can characterize the way they walk on their belly on the ground, they are made up of scales or even shells, this type of animal is usually very present in tropical forests, it can also be highlighted some that belong to this group of reptiles such as snakes, lizards, turtles, crocodiles, among others.
Amphibians
They are a group of vertebrate animals that are very prominent for coming to present metamorphosis, where they come to present changes in their organisms in various stages, they present a thin and very moist, smooth and rough skin. Being one of the main species present in tropical forests, highlighting below some such as frogs, toads, salamanders, newts and among others.
Birds
It corresponds to a species of vertebrate animals that have warm blood that can walk and jump. Presenting in its anatomy wings that allow most of them to fly, but there are some others that never fly. They present among their forms feathers, beaks and lay eggs to be able to reproduce. Within the tropical forests, 25 thousand different birds can be present, being divided between predators and herbivores, some of the most present species within these forests are the following: hawks, harpy eagles, parrots, toucans, hummingbirds, among others.
Mammals
Mammals are vertebrate animals that are also warm-blooded but are classified as viviparous, platypus, and echidna. The form of reproduction of these species is usually through the womb. Mammals that live on the ground and others in the heights of the trees usually inhabit tropical forests. Highlighting below some of the main species present in this type of habitat: tigers, panthers, porcupines, apes, rats, anteater, bat, antelope, among others.
Definition and Types of Tropical Forests
Tropical forests correspond to a large accumulation of plant mass composed of trees, plants, bushes and others located in a tropical area. Characterized by having a very warm climate with approximately 24 degrees Celsius, having geographical conditions located exclusively in the tropics of the world. Coming to distinguish itself among the other ecosystems for its high humidity, short periods of drought and great presence of rain.
For almost an entire year it can be hot and, together with the high humidity, it causes the temperature to be much higher. Due to this factor, plant growth is greatly favored and abundance is remarkable, in addition to causing a great biodiversity of fauna and flora, making it an environment rich in life and in the presence of a great variety of species.
One of the great importance that tropical forests have is their significant vegetation, which are responsible for carrying out the biochemical processes necessary for the earth, such as photosynthesis that allows obtaining oxygen. Tropical forests stand out for absorbing the planet's heat, collaborating against global warming, acting as protectors of the water sources found within their system. In addition to acting as a protector of the soil from solar radiation and continuous rainfall.
Collaborating against all aspects related to pollution because they can absorb carbon dioxide from the planet and be stored by plants. It represents a true reserve of animals allowing life to have a good development, being a perfect refuge for species, which is why it is considered that half of the species on earth are found in forests.
Types of Tropical Forests
The countries that have a presence of tropical forests are centered on Ecuador and all those that are around it, mainly those Latin American countries, the Amazon being well known with a tropical forest rich in a great variety of natural elements. Therefore, depending on its geographical location, different conditions are observed and a type of tropical forest is provided, which are highlighted below the main classification of tropical forests:
Dry Tropical Forest
Dry tropical forests are characterized by becoming semi-dense and having a much lower degree of humidity. They correspond to those that come to suffer periods of long dry seasons, in this type of soil there is a lot of evaporation and the vegetation that appears can easily adapt to its aridity. During its strongest months, the landscape can change drastically, presenting very arid vegetation, one of the main examples of this type of dry tropical forest is grassland.
These types of forests are usually observed in all those tropical areas that have alternations of rainy and dry seasons, during their rainy seasons they usually have rainfall of up to 2000 mm and in times of drought it is usually observed that the trees drop their leaves and adapt to its climatic condition.
Tropical Rain Forest
Tropical rain forests can also be known as tropical forests, standing out for not having periods of drought. They have a very extensive and exuberant vegetation, this causes that only 2% of the sunlight reaches the ground. Standing out for presenting a large number of precipitations, being over 2000 mm and even in some regions reaching 10.000 mm, with temperatures between 12 and 26 degrees Celsius.
Tropical Monsoon Forest
It corresponds to a type of tropical forest that mixes its very drastic rainy seasons with a very dry season. Where its trees lose their leaves during those times of extreme drought and its rainfall is between 2000 mm per year. For some scholars, these types of forests are considered transitional to the two main ones (humid or dry).
Tropical Flood Forest
This type of tropical forest is not considered an official classification, because it does not have solid land, the soil is characterized by permanently draining or simply being flooded, noting that within this type of forest there are less diverse plant species. , but the trees present can resist water but there are a large number of mammals that inhabit it.
They are known as tropical flooded forests such as floodplain forests, which are found in the plains with long periods of rain that flood the rivers. The swampy forests are those that are always covered with water and the mangroves located near the tropical coasts.
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