Most inhabitants of our country change the seasons of the year seems quite natural. Indeed, how can it be different. But in wet rainforests they know extremely few. And all because here the difference between the summer and winter, in the spring and autumn is not felt at all. But, here do not know what rains and shower are. And it is not by chance that tropical forests are called wet.
Where are these tropical forest arrays?
Of course, the main place of their habitat is the equator zone. And with the other side of the forest occupy pretty large territory. They capture southern America, Africa and Southeast Asia. But most of all residents of the planet are known forests in the Amazon River basin.
Amazon forests are recognized as reference. But there are no less large arrays. Wet rainforests are in such Asian countries as Thailand, Burma, Malaysia, Indonesia and further extend in the districts of North Australia. The African continent is replete with such forests.
There is no doubt that the rainforest, if you look at it from the height, reminds the green carpet. Sometimes it seems endless, as it often stretches from the horizon and to the horizon. You can see there the phoning rivers and even the lakes. But they often live tropical plants. A comparison with the sea comes to mind. It also sangs the same mystery and power.
It is believed that in the Equatorial areas the climate is hot. However, on average, the temperature ranges from 24 to 20 and to 33 to 36 degrees with a plus sign. The sediments fall regularly, almost daily. Perhaps even there is a certain "heavenly schedule" when the day begins with a clear sky and a bright sun. Clouds are saved to dinner, and rain and thunderstorms shed. But the rains are short and soon again shines a bright sun on the background of pure sky. This scenario can repeat several times from the course of the day. The sunrise always takes about six in the morning, and after the six evenings you can watch the rapid sunset. It lasts this mystery every day, every month and many, many years and millennia in a row.
Specialists say that these grow amazing forests On the most ancient soils, which can be found today on the planet. Their education is in time to the tertiary period. All this time, mother rocks were destroyed by the roots of trees, wind and water. Animals, scratching and breaking the breed of claws played a considerable role.
It is the destroyed and stroke rocks that make up a layer, the thickness of which comes to twenty meters. In the soil, a large number of iron oxides and all because abundant precipitates wash most of chemical substances. Therefore, the soil color has a reddish hue. They are also called ferralitic soils or silica, that is, rich glands.
At first glance it may seem that in these paradise places the soil is extremely fertile. Such abundant vegetation should create a lot of humus. But not everything is so simple. The most necessary substances, such as phosphorus, calcium and nitrogen, can be seen. They are mainly in the plants themselves. When moving, their substances do not even have time to get into the soil, as they immediately "captured" the roots of living plants. And so the eternal cycle is performed.
The first thing that comes to mind, the tropical forest is impassing. That is, he is so tightly populated by various plants that the block of free space find, it will not immediately work. But in fact, everything turns out to be exactly the opposite. Once in a wet tropical forest one can find that free space is not just enough, but a lot. And all because the trees stretching to the Sun and having large crowns are literally intertwined with each other. This can be compared with a giant umbrella through which sunlight is extremely poor. He remains there above. Therefore, the soil around the trees does not enhance and there is always dark or twilight. In such conditions, few plants agree to live. This is the main reason A large number of free space. Although there are plants that are ready to endure sunlight. But they grow often so that the roots are not for the soil.
Imagine that watching the rainforest, standing in one place, you will not see two identical trees. This is actually so. At one hectare of the rainforest, there can be up to one hundred plant species. But even if you only count fifty, it is also not a little. The example often leads forests in the Congo River basin and in Indonesia.
Forest hierarchy
When the word is said, then most often think about trees. This is true for the rainforest. It is the trees by 70% and make up the basis of the forest. But all this community is divided into three steps:
- the bottom, to meet, which can be rarely, the height is about 10 meters;
- middle, these are the trees with a height of 20 - 30 meters;
- upper, these are giants reaching up to 50 - 60 meters in height.
A huge multi-level green carpet is complemented by shrubs, and a variety of herbs. All of them passed the test and are able to survive under conditions of constant shadow. But the situation they still have a subordinate.
Liana can be observed near the rivers. There are many and flexible lianen trunks cover trees. So they grow and, descending from height, form a real green curtain. Lianins grow mainly in rainforest. Of all the plants they are the most amazing. They exist on the trunks high treescovering them with their flexible trunks. But if they straighten them, then the longest giants will surpass their length of their Liana. So they live the tree for a long time, so far it will ever fall.
In order to survive in difficult tropical conditions, some plants have come up with an original way to preserve moisture and nutrients. Existing on the trees, they are sometimes roots can even get to the soil. Often they already do not need it. After all, to accumulate the necessary resources, they created special cavities in stems. You can often see the leaves as a repository, they are like real reservoirs for rainwater. Roots who have not reached soil can absorb the necessary substances directly from the air.
All feed "Bread" tree
Among exotic trees, growing in wet and warm climates, there are also those that allow the local inhabitant not to die with hunger. They are called "edible" trees. Oceania residents highly appreciate coke palm trees. Thanks to them, they are provided not only by milk, but also butter. There are also bread trees. For residents of the northern regions, this may seem fantastic. However, the dough, from which the bake of something similar to bread, grows on a tree. A person gets it already in the finished form. These are the trees of the Family of the Flour. Each fruit from which you can bake bread can reach weights in 12 kg. To plant such a tree and within 70 - 75 years old do not know the needs in this product, it is tempting. It is estimated that only one tree will bring up to 800 fruits during the year. But not only bread can give a camp tree. Fruits that did not enjoy used to prepare beverages.
Residents African continent And Madagascar islands are also familiar with breadwinner. In each locality, they have their differences, but in general the essence of its use does not change.
Trees are able to feed not only bread and milk. Sagovaya palm tree growing in New Guinea allows the furnace of pancakes. But if it cuts down to flowering, the core turns out to be rich in starch. It is treated with a special way and receive Sago.
Milk growing on trees, not only appearance Reminds cow's milk, but also in composition. It is not at all randomly at high temperatures even a real cottage cheese. well and sausage trees Usually familiar to all fans of exotic. But here the composition of the fruits only in appearance resembles this delicacy.
The world of tropical forest flora is a great variety. Among the trees that grow on the coasts can be found coconut palm. Their fruits - coconuts are very useful, used in cooking and cosmetology.
Here you can find different types of banana plants that people use both fruits and vegetables, depending on the stage of ripening.
Banana plant
One of tropical plants It is mango, among which the most famous mango is Indian.
Melon tree, more famous like papaya, grows in the forests and has a big economic significance.
Melon tree, papaya
The breadwinner is another representative of forests that are very valuable nutritional fruits.
One of the family of tute trees is Marang.
In wet rainforests you can find a plant of Durian. Their flowers are growing right on the trunks, and the fruits are protected by spines.
In South Asia, Morinda cytusolise grows, has edible fruits, which are part of the diet of the population of some Pacific Islands.
Pighta is a straight cactus of rainforest, has sweet and edible fruits.
One of the interesting tropical plants is the Rambutan tree. It reaches a height of 25 meters and is evergreen.
Rambutan
In the rainforests, small evergreen trees of Guava appearance grow.
Fast growing evergreen tropical tree Perseus American is nothing but a plant avocado, which is found in many forests.
Persea American, avocado
In tropical forests, various types of ferns, moss and lichens, lianas and epiphytes, bamboo, sugar cane, cereals are growing.
Levels of tropical forests
Usually the tropical forest has 4-5 tiers. At the top trees, up to 70 meters grow. These are evergreen trees. In seasonal forests, they dump the foliage in the period of drought. These trees protect the lower levels from wind, precipitation and cold. Next begins the crown tier (canopy) at the level of 30-40 meters. Here, the leaves and branches fit together very tightly. People are very hard to achieve this height to explore the world of flora and fauna of the canopy. They use special methods and aircraft. Average level Forests are undergrowth. Here formed a kind of living world. Then follows the litter. These are various herbal plants.
Flora of tropical forests is very diverse. Scientists still have little studied these forests, as they are very difficult. In the future, new types of plants in rainforests will be opened.
A tropical forest - Forest, widespread in tropical, equatorial and subequatorial belts between 25 ° C. sh. and 30 ° sh. Tropical forests are found in a wide belt surrounding the land by the equator and torn only by the ocean and mountains.
Total atmosphere circulation comes from the high zone atmospheric pressure in the area of \u200b\u200bthe tropics in the zone low pressure In the area of \u200b\u200bthe Equator, the evaporated moisture is transferred in the same direction. This leads to the existence of a wet equatorial belt and dry tropical. Between them is a subequatorial belt, in which moisturizing depends on the direction of the wind (monsoon), depending on the time of year.
The vegetation of tropical forests is very diverse, depends mainly on the number of precipitation and their distribution at the time of the year. In the case of abundant (more than 2000 mm) and their more or less uniform distribution are developed wetting evergreen forests. As they remove from the equator, forests appear in which moisturizing depends on the time of year: the rainy period is replaced by dry. This is winter-depleted variable-wet rainforests with falling drought leaves. Next, these forests are replaced by savanna forests. At the same time, in Africa and South America, monsoon and equatorial forests are replaced by savanna forests from the west to the East. With an even more dry climate, the treasures are cutting, savanna forests are replaced by xerofilic column forests and thickets of shrubs.
Distribution of tropical forests
Immediately it will become clear where the rainforests grow, if you explain that they seek the planet by the Equator. They are located in a wet equatorial, dry tropical, moderate subequatorial belts, representing a clear line, interrupted only by mountains and oceans. Depending on the air temperature and the amount of precipitation, vegetation changes. Rainy areas are covered with evergreen flora, more dry regions are typical leaf fall plantsAnd then there are savanna forests. Both in South America and in Africa in the West are monsoon, in the east - savannah, and in the middle - equatorial forests.
Forest levels
The description of the tropical forest will be more understandable if it is divided into tiers. You can select four main levels. The topmost is evergreen trees up to 70 m high, they are mostly green caps only on top, but from below - naked trunks. These giants withstand hurricanes without problems, temperature drops, covering the remaining tiers from bad weather. Main hosts here - eagles, butterflies, the bats. Then there is a forest canopy consisting of 45-meter trees. The crown level is considered the most diverse, approximately 25% of all types of insects live here. Scientists agree that 40% of the species of all plants on the planet are located on this tier, although it is not fully studied.
Classification of tropical forests
The main groups of rainforest formations are rain, or wet, and seasonal.
- Wet tropical forests are common in the equatorial belt, are characterized by abundant precipitation (2000-7000 mm, sometimes even up to 12,000 mm) and relatively uniform distribution during the year with a practically unchanged average air temperature (24-28 ° C). Major distribution regions: South America, Central Africa, Southeast Asia and Australia. Wet tropical forests are considered the center of evolutionary activity, a place for the formation of new species that extend to the rest of the regions. They are the most ancient type of vegetation, have practically not changed from the tertiary period. The main groups of humidotropic forests are wet evergreen mountain forests, tropical swampy forests, rain tropical plain forests, mangra.
- Mangrass are distributed in the tidal and tidal zone of tropical coasts and, if this is favorable warm currents, then along the shores in moderate climatic zone. They grow in places free from water during low tide and flooded during the tide.
- Tropical mountain evergreen forests grow as a rule above 1500-1800 m, where air temperatures are lowered to 10-12 ° and lower, which does not give to develop many organisms. Relative preservation of these forests having a noticeable value in stabilization natural conditions (water protection, anti-erosion, etc.), contributes to their low economic importance associated with the difficulties of mastering the line of relief.
- Swampy forests occupy a noticeable smaller area than uneplicated plain forests. According to its properties, they are close, although they have enough differences. Being common on the same plains, they create a landscape mosaic of tropical forests.
- Seasonal tropical forests grow in areas where despite good moisturizing, (2500-3000 mm), there is a dry period. The amount of precipitation and duration of the arid period in different forests of non-etinakov, among them distinguish evergreen seasonal forests (for example, Australian eucalyptus), hospital native forests (Falls are represented in the upper tier, in the lower - evergreen), bright rarely rescued forests (the floral composition is poor, it is represented by one breed). Falls seasonal tropical forests are divided into monsoon forests and savannah forests.
- The monsoon forests grow in the field of action of monsoon, the dry period lasts about 4-5 months. Are in South and South East Asia, including in Indoostan, Indochita, Malacca Peninsula, in the north-east of Java Island. Forests of this type also grow in West Indies and Central America (Trinidad Island, Costa Rica) and West Africa.
- Savanne forests are common in tropical areas with a clearly pronounced dry season and the annual amount of precipitation, than in the belt of closed forests. Completed on most of the Cuba and other islands Caribbeanin many areas South America, Eastern I. Central Africa And in some places in India, China and Australia.
- Bready xerophilic forests and shrubs grow in areas with even less precipitation, for example, Caating, the duration of the dry season is at least 6 months.
The vegetation of seasonal rainforest
IN monsoon forests Three main groups of plant communities can be distinguished.
- In mixed forests, terminals, Dalbergia, Albia and others are dominated, the undergrowth consists of bamboo and small palm trees.
- In teak forests - teak tree (Tektona Big), leaf fall acacia lencophloea and albizzia procera and evergreen Butea Frondosa, Scheichera Trijuda, etc.
- Forests from shores of giganic, undergrowth of terminal, Sternia, etc.
In India grow ebony trees, Indian laurel. Liana and epiphytes, although not so numerous, as in evergreen, but there are more than in savanna forests. Forest canopy in monsoon forests is resolved compared to the wedgeotropic forest, so the herbal cover in them is closed. Herbs are mostly annual, wild sugar cane prevails in the most dry areas.
For the upper tier of forests of this type in West Africa, Triplochiton is especially characteristic of TRIPLOCHITON SCLEROXYLON.
For savanna forests are typical of deciduous trees from the family of legumes, whose crown is usually flat umbrella. Trees have a height of 18 m. In places where the height of the trees is 3-4.5 m, in the rainy season, the trees can be above the trees. The basis of herbal cover is cereals.
In the prickly xerophilic forests there are trees with scaped leaves and shrubs with green stems without leaves. Plants are often covered with barns, stalk and roots fabrics are able to store water.
Herbs of tropical forests
In the virgin forests are inhabit the incredibly beautiful, bright, with an unusual appearance of the bird. Each individual part of the light boasts some kind of feathery. For example, in the tropics of Asia live touring, in appearance they resemble partridges, only a little larger. They are quickly running, so in the case of danger, they do not take off, but you fly out that there are strength. Sustained chickens, pheasants, royal peacocks also live in the forests. In American tropics, you can meet Tinama - poorly flying bird with short but very strong legs. Well, how do not remember the bright, fun and talked parrots, without which the tropics are not the tropics. In addition, the Equator lives a motley pigeons, trunks, woodwoods, flies, rhinos birds and others.
Animal world
By the number of types of tropical forests, the forests of temperate and cold countries are significantly superior, the fauna of tropical rain forests is the richest, however, the number of representatives of each separate type They are small in them.
As a rule, tropical forest animals live on trees, and in crowns. Mammal representatives are monkeys, flying, sloths, sovereign proteins, needles, some insectivores, predatory and so on. Birds represent parrots, woodpeckers, tucanis, hummingbirds, cranes, municipal and others; Examples of reptiles are chameleons, wood snakes, some Gecko, Iguan, Agama; Amphibians - some frogs. Many reptile poisonous.
In humidotropic forests, due to the lack of light of undergrings and herbal cover, there are few ground species in them. They are posed by tapir, rhinos, bakers, hippos. The area of \u200b\u200blarge mammals, including elephants, giraffes, buffaloes here are seasonal rainforests
The invertebrates are very diverse, they can be large enough, stand out by richness of shapes and coloring, among them ants, many-digging, butterflies and others.
Ecology
The result of using the covered fire farming in National Park Namdapha (India)
Tropical forests are extremely important for the planet's biosphere, they are habitating almost half of all inhabiting its biological species, over 80% of all plant species. The area of \u200b\u200btropical forests is half the forest area of \u200b\u200bthe Earth. They produce 69% of all clean primary forest products of the world. Tropical forests evaporate about 9% in the water atmosphere. Despite the high biological productivity (up to 3,500 g / m² per year) and the big oad of the leaves, the reserve of the bedding in them is significantly less than in moderate forests. This is due to both the intensity of washing in rainforests, and with the general intensity of the decomposition, and the mushrooms and termites are processed over 90% of the annual increase. vegetable substance. The rest eaten herps, which, in turn, serve as a source of nutrition for predators.
Half of the primary rainforest disappeared - instead of them, secondary forests have grown, or there are herbaceous communities that can turn into the desert. The greatest fears cause a reduction in rainpin forests. Ecosystems of seasonal factory tropics adapted both to seasonal changes and interanndible differences in the duration of dry and wet periods, so they are more resistant to anthropogenic effects. The process is exacerbated by the fact that under the cutting of forests in just 1-2 years, the nutrients from the soil in the subsoil soil occurs. The main reasons for reducing the area of \u200b\u200brainforest are:
- cutting-firing agriculture,
- burning forests for pastures,
- foreworing.
Many international organizations, for example, IUCN, UN FAO, UNEP, are aware of the importance of tropical forests for the planet's biosphere and promotes their conservation. About 40 million hectares of protected territories have been created here, among them national parks Salonka and Mayco (Zaire); Zhau, Amazonian (Brazil); Manu (Peru), Canaima (Venezuela). It is believed that in order to preserve tropical forest ecosystems, protected areas should cover at least 10% of forest area.
Tropical forest is a completely special forest. In such a forest, it is always very humid and warm. It is very thick, often intertwining trees and different other plants growing among themselves. Because of this, the tropical forest is almost impossible to move. And due to the fact that the plants are very much and they all strive to break through to the sun, in the rainforest always twilight.
On our planet, tropical forests occupy a completely small territory - only about 7% of sushi. Central American Tropical Forest Tropical Forests Madagascar Island Tropical Forest River Congo Tropical Forests Southeast Asia where there are tropical forests? Tropical forests of Australia Eurasia Australia Africa North America South America Tropical Forests Amazonia
Why in the rainforest always wet air? Because in rainforests very often - almost daily go rains. For the year there are about 2 meters of rain. This is almost 4 cm per week. And in some forests and 4 meters of rain per year are not uncommon. Do you want to compare with the number of rains going with us? Take the bank with smooth walls and put it in the backyard in the shady, but open. After a week, let's see how much water will be gathered in it. In addition, in tropical forests there is almost no soil - and the water has nowhere to absorb. Therefore, it almost all remains on the surface. And since the air is pretty warm, water evaporates. The soil layer in the tropical forest is only about 10 cm. The smell of such depth you can dig very quickly. And we, in order to get to the place, the deeper which will be able to dig it impossible, you need to dig a very, very deep hole. You see the roots of the trees lie directly on the stones.
How hot is in the rainforest? The temperature in the rainforest year is the same one - about degrees. This is as much as we usually happen in summer, in July-August. There are never frost in the rainforest, but above 27 degrees the temperature does not rise.
How do you live in tropical forests? It's not easy to live in the rainforest, but also animals, and the plants have adapted perfectly. The real tropical forest resembles a multi-storey house. Because plants grow in it different height - from terrestrial and flood to high and slender trees, then animals have the opportunity to choose, on which tier they are more like their soul. It so happened that certain types of animals prefer certain tiers. True, in search of food, they are often wound from one level to another. Different types of plants also prefer to live at different levels - someone settles on the trunks of other trees, someone prefers to dwell on Earth, and some are at all in the water.
Pota level - top part Most medium trees (height of about meters). This level is full of life - insects, spiders, many birds and some mammals prefer this particular tier. The litter is the habitat of many of a wide variety of animals - insects, snakes, spiders and the lifetime of a huge number of plants. The largest animals are usually inhabited here. External level - the tops of the highest trees, significantly exceeding the remaining trees in height. Such trees can reach 60 meters in height. This is a real paradise for birds. The undergrowth is a dark and cool place under the crowns of trees, but above the ground. This is the territory of the younger trees. And how many floors in the rainforest?
In the tropical forests there are more than half famous people Animals, birds, insects, spiders and plants. And each new expedition finds more and more new species. And who lives in rainforest? Since the tropical forests are scattered throughout the globe and in all the continents, except Antarctica, in each of such forests there are completely special and unique animals.
But the till can be found in the glades and the edges where it grows up with your dad. And what plants live in the rainforest? But, unlike herbs, fern tropical forests love and willingly live there, reaching huge sizes. Unlike our forest, there is almost no grass in the rainforest. Under the legs, carpets from moss and deprived. In addition, the land is covered with a thick layer of broken branches, fallen leaves and fallen trees.
And what unusual and amazing plants happen in the rainforest? In the forests of South America, you can see gigantic waders. On such a pitcher, an adult can easily ride. There you can meet and bromelia, the same, as it grows at home. Only our grows in a pot, and this one is in the forest.
Among the rainforest plants are a special place. Lian has its own strong trunk, they grow clinging for other plants - or wrap around, or attached by special roots. Liana can be placed so closely around the tree, which can even strangle him and the tree will die.
How can animals manage to hide in the rainforest? The tropical forest is filled with many different animals, many of whom are predators. Animals had to adapt to remain invisible. Most animals have mastered the art of disguise. This caterpillar, tropical silkworm, is masked under the snake. Eyes on her back is actually not the eye at all, but just a picture to distract enemies.
People and the rainforest in some rainforests live tribes that do not know other life except life in full dangers Forest. They adapted well and possess all the necessary knowledge - they know how to avoid meetings with predators, know which plants can be eaten as needed to hunt. These guys have no TV to watch cartoons, no computers, there are no such toys that you have and most likely they will never have the opportunity to go to this school. But they know how to make toys themselves, they know how to control the boat and fish. They will be able to find the traces of jaguar in the grass and distinguish poisonous snake From Nadovitoy.
Why do you need tropical forests? Tropical forests are very necessary for our planet. Despite the fact that they do not have too much space, plants growing in them absorb carbon dioxide And provide oxygen most of our Earth. As you already know, rainforest is a house for a huge number of different inhabitants of the Earth. If tropical forests disappear, then all these living beings lose their homes and simply will be cleaned, as dinosaurs have died out at one time. Tropical forests because of their difficult police stored many different secrets from people. And when there are secrets that have not yet been open to anyone, there is much more interesting to live in the world. And suddenly, it is for you someday will be lucky enough to discover the animal in the depths of the tropical forest, similar to Cheburashka. That will be great! In the meantime, people need to keep their forests safe and safe.
Tropical forests are found in a wide belt surrounding the Earth on the equator and taking only oceans and mountains. Their propagation coincides with the area of \u200b\u200blow pressure, which occurs when the tropical air rises is replaced by the wet air coming from the north and from the south, and forming the region of intraropic convergence.
Rainforest is the reaction of the flora on high temperature and abundant moisturizing. At any time, the average temperature should be between about 21 ° C and 32 ° C, and annual number The precipitation should exceed 150 centimeters. Since the sun is approximately in Zenith throughout the year, climatic conditions There are constancy, which is not in any other natural zone. Tropical forest is often associated with large riverswho take excess of rainwater. Such rivers are found at the South American Island Continent, on the African Subcontinent and on the subcontinent of Australia.
Despite the constant fond of dead fat leaves in the rainforest very thin. The conditions for decomposition are so favorable that humus does not have the ability to form. Tropical rain flies clay minerals from the soil, not allowing opportunities for important nutrients, such as nitrates, phosphates, potassium, sodium and calcium, accumulate in the soil, as it takes place in the soils of moderate latitudes. In tropical soils there are only those nutrients that are contained in the decaying plants themselves.
On the basis of the rainforest, many variants are formed, which are a consequence of both climatic differences and features. ambient. The gallery forest is found where the forest breaks sharply as on the banks of the wide river. Here, branches and leaves form a thick wall of vegetation, reaching the earth to get the benefits of sunlight falling from the side. Less lush monsoon forests exist in the territories where there is a pronounced dry season. They are common at the edges of the continents, where the prevailing winds in some particular part of the year are blowing out of dry locations, and typical of the Industan Peninsula and part of the Australian subcontinent. Mangrove forest is common in the sections of salty marine swamps along or strong coasts and in the mouths of the rivers.
There are no dominant trees in the rainforest, as in other forest habitats. This is due to the fact that seasonality is absent, and therefore the population of insects does not fluctuate; Insects that feed on a certain form of trees, always in stock, and destroy the seeds and seedlings of this tree if they were sown nearby. Therefore, success in the struggle for existence is only those seeds, which were transferred to some distance from the parental tree and constantly existing in it insect populations. In this way, an obstacle arises for the formation of a thicket of some kind of type of trees.
Tropical forest areas have noticeably increased from the human era. In the past, agricultural activity of man occupied a significant share in damage to the damage to the rainforest. Primitive societies cut down the forest site and exploited cleared areas under the crops for several years while the soil was not depleted, forcing them to move them to another site. On cleared areas, the initial forest was not restored immediately, and several thousand years have passed after the extinction of humanity, before the belt of tropical forests returned to some likeness of his natural state.
Top Forest Canopy
The world of planning, climbing and clinging creatures
Tropical forest is one of the richest habitats on Earth. A large amount of precipitation and stable climate mean that the growth season is constantly lasts here, and therefore there are no periods when there is nothing. Abundant vegetation, stretching up to get to the light, albeit continuous, very clearly divided into horizontal levels. The most actively photosynthesis occurs at the very top, at the level of the forest canol, where the tops of the trees are branched and form almost continuous cover from greenery and colors. Under it, the sunlight is highly scattered, and this habitat consists of the trunks of higher trees and the crowns of those trees that have not yet reached the forest canopy. The undergrowth is the gloomy kingdom of shrubs and herbs, which will be sprawling in different directions so that it is better to use those crumbs of sunlight, which make their way here.
Although great amount Plant species supports the existence of an equal number of animal species, the number of individual individuals of each of them is relatively small. This situation is exactly the opposite to the one that it consists in such harsh habitats as the tundra, where, due to the fact that few species can adapt to the conditions of the terrain, much less species both plants and animals, but incomparably more individuals of each of them. As a result, the population of animal tropical forests retains stability and there are no cyclical oscillations of the number as predators and their production.
Just like in any other habitats, important predators of the tops of trees are predatory birds, eagles and hawks. Animals of these places living in trees should be quite prompt to escape from them, as well as to escape from climbing predators attackers from below. Mammals, which the best way They cope with this - these are primates: mardy-shaped, wide and human monkeys, and lemurs. Long Long Zidda Araneapithecus Manucaudata. From the African subcontinent, he brought this specialization to extremes, and she had long arms, legs and fingers, so she became a brachiator, that is, swinging in her arms, throwing his small rounded body among the branches of trees at high speed. She also developed a grazing tail, like its South American relatives of the first half of the century mammals. However, its tail is used not for movement, but only in order to blame on it during rest or sleep.
Martyshka-Lethayaga Alesimia Lapsus, very small monkey, similar to the march, adapted to the planning flight. The development of this adaptation was parallel to the evolution of many other mammals, in whom, in the process of evolution, an aircraft was developed from the skin folds between the limbs and the tail. To maintain an aircraft and withstand the loads associated with the flight, the spine and the bones of the limbs have become unusually strong for the animal of this size. The steering wheel with his tail, the flying martie makes very long planning jumps between the croons of the highest trees to eat fruits and termites there.
Probably the most specialized species among the Wood Reptiles of the African Rain Forest is a chalkglost Flagelnguis Viridis - Very long and thin wood snake. Its wide grabbing tail, the most muscular part of the body, is used to clutch against the tree while she lies in ambush, curled and disguised among the foliage in the highest crowns, waiting for a carelessly flying bird. The snake can "shoot" three meters, which is approximately the four fifth length of her body, and grab the prey, tightly holding over the branch with its tail.
   |
Living on trees
Evolution of life in the conditions of danger
For the most part of the century mammals, monkeys enjoyed certain safety of life on the tops of the trees. Although there was a number of predators, no one was strictly specialized on the hunt for them - but it was so far before the appearance of Strigera.
This is a fierce little creature, Saevitia Feliforme., it happened from the last of the real feline about 30 million years ago, and settled on the rainforest of Africa and Asia; His success is closely related to the fact that it is as good as its prey, adapted to life on the trees. Strigera even developed a physique similar to the monkey body, which it eats: Long slender body, forelimbs capable of making lumps at an angle to 180 °, chain tail and fingers on the front and hind limbscapable of opposing and allowing branches.
With the advent of Strigera, the wood fauna of the rainforest has undergone significant changes. Some slow leaf and frost animals were completely exterminated. Others, however, were able to evolve, being in the face of a new threat. Usually, if the environmental factor turns out to be so radical that it seems to be brought from the outside, there is a rapid leap of evolution, because now the benefits are given completely different signs.
This principle demonstrates Armorvostka Testudicaudatus Tardus.Looking at Lemur Semobesyan with a solid armored tail, protected by a number of horns of the horny plates. Before the appearance of predators living on trees, such a tail was evolutionally unprofitable, reducing the success of searching for food. Any tendencies leading to the evolution of such a cumbersome device could be quickly discarded. natural selection. But in the face of constant danger, the importance of the success of searching for food becomes secondary before the ability to protect, and thus creates favorable conditions For the evolution of such a device.
In itself, this is a loungeful animal that slowly moves along the branches of the back. When Streger attacks, Armorvostka is uncovered and hangs, clinging to the tail of the tail. Now Armorvostka outside the danger is part of her body, affordable predator, too well books to be vulnerable.
Khiff ArmaSenex Aedificator - This is a monkey whose protection is based on her social organization. She lives in groups of twenty individuals and builds protective fortifications On the branches of trees. These large hollow grounds, woven from branches and creeping plants and covered with non-transmitting water with the roof of the leaves, have several inputs that are usually located where the main branches of the tree pass through the construction. Most of the work on the collection of food and construction, females and young males are performed. Adult males hold away from it, they protect the strengthening and developed a unique set of signs to perform their very specialized role: horny shell on face and chest, and terrible claws on large and index fingers.
The females are unknown what to tease running past the strivera and allow it to be pursued to the very fortification, rushing into a safe place, while Streger, next to her, stopped by a mighty male, who can comply with him with one squealing of his terrible claws. This is at first glance senseless behavior, however, provides a colony fresh meat, desired additive to most of the vegetarian diet of roots and berries. But in this way, only young and inexperienced striggers can be caught.
   |
UNDERGROWTH
Dusky zone of forest life
   |
Life in water
Inhabitants of tropical reservoirs
The biggest water mammal African marshes - Iloglot Phocapotamus Lutuphagus.. Although he occurred from the water rodent, it demonstrates the devices that developed in parallel with the extinct hoofed - hippo. He has a wide head, and his eyes, ears and nostrils are located on the bulbs in its upper part in such a way that they can still work, even when the animal completely plunged into the water. Iloglot eats only water plantsHe draws his widespread mouth, or pulls out his tales from the snack. He has a long torso, and the rear paws merged together and form the fin, giving the animal the external similarity with seals. Although it is very clumsy outside the water, he spends most of the time on or farm, where he breeds and grows off the noisy colonies near the water riva.
Not so well adapted, but nevertheless, successfully living in the water, the view is water marty Natopithecus Ranapes.. What happened from Talapoyna, or dwarf monkey Allenopithecus Nigraviridis The human era, this creature developed the body in the process of evolution, like a frog, with a webbed back paws, long clawed fingers on the front paws for fishing, and the comb along the back to maintain balance in the water. Like the Iloglot, its senses are shifted on the head up. It dwells on trees growing near water, from which dives to fish, which is the basis of its diet.
Ground animals that have passed to a water lifestyle, usually came to escape from terrestrial predators. Perhaps so water ants began to build their huge nest on the rafts in the swamps and quiet racs. Such a nest is made of rods and fibrous plant materials, and is done with a waterproof by mud and glazing glands. It is connected with the shore and floating warehouses of the network of bridges and roads. Nevertheless, with its new way of life, ants are still vulnerable to Water Murated Myrmevenarius amphibius.who evolved in parallel to them. This antifreeze eats exclusively by water ants, and to get unnoticed to them, attacks the nest from below, breaking the waterproof shell with its clawed las. Since the nest levels below the water level consists of separate cameras that can immediately become waterproof in case of danger, the colony generally applies to small damage. Muravyov, drowned during the attack, however, it happens enough to feed the ant.
Fishing birds, for example, toothy kingfisher Halcyonova Aquatica., often occur along water duct tropical swamps. The beak of the kingfisher is strongly pil, with dental growths that help to punish fish. Although he does not know how to fly, as his ancestors, nor hang over the water and dive, as they did it, he mastered the "underwater flight", pursuing his prey in its own habitat. Catching the fish, the kingfisher floats to the surface of the water, and swallows it in a throat bag before bringing it to the nest.
Wood duck Dendrocygna volubaris - This is a water being, which seemed to change his opinion on preferred habitat and is in the process of transition back to more wood form life of their distant ancestors. Although she has even duck appearance, the membrane on its paws is reduced, and its rounded beak is more suitable for nutrition of insects, lizards and fruits than water animals. Wood duck is still saved in water from predators, and her offspring does not go to the land, until it becomes almost adults.
   |
Australian forests
Temples and short predators
His tongue has a bristly tip.
The undercomes of the extensive rain forest of the Australian subcontinent is the house of numerous bugged mammals. One of their most common and successful species is an omnivorous short pig Thylasus Virgatus., Casual analog Tapir. Like its placental prototype, it wanders on a gloomy undergrowth with small herds, sniffing and digging food in a thin layer of soil with a flexible sensitive digging and protruding the wrinkle. The protective color helps her hide from predators.
Most large beast In the Australian Forest, and actually the largest animal in the tropical forests of the world is gianthala Silfrangerus Giganteus.. This animal happened from Kangaroo and Wallaby, who lived on the plains, which were very ordinary when most of The continent was arid savanna, and its origin issues its straightened position of the body and a characteristic jumping way of movement. Gianthala is so large that at first glance it seems poorly adapted to life in cramped conditions Tropical forest undergrowth. However, its great growth gives her the advantage in the fact that it can eat with leaves and shoots that are out of reach for other forest inhabitants, and its massive addition means that shrubs and small trees do not interfere with its movement. When the gianthala is presented through thickets, it reserves a well-noticeable footprint, which has not yet disappeared due to the natural growth of the forest, is used as the road smaller in the size of animals like a silent pig.
The convergent evolution, passing on the Australian subcontinent, is characteristic not only for the samples. Zhirosis Pingophis viperaformethat occurred from one of numerous species Aspidian snakes, who have always been a feature of the Australian fauna, acquired many features of forest terrestrial violence, such as Gabon Vorkuka and noisy viper from long living genus Bitiswhich are found in other places of the northern continent. They include a thick slowly moving body, and a painting that makes it completely imperceptible in the leaf floor undergrowth. Neck fattyme is very long and flexible, and allows the head to extract food almost independently of the body. His main method Hunt - applying to her a poisonous bite from an ambush where he hides. Only later, when the poison finally kills prey and starts his digestive action, it picks up and eats it.
Australian halas have always been famous for their fantastic buildings that have built males for caressing for females. Hawthyled Shalashnik Dimorphoptilornis iniquitus. There is no exception here. By itself, its construction is a rather modest structure, which accommodates a simple nest and a small structure, similar to the altar, in front of him. While the female agitates eggs, the male, the bird, rather similar to the hawk, catches a small animal or reptile, and puts it on the altar. This offering is not eaten, but serves as a bait attached flies, which then the female catches and feeds the male to ensure the continuation of his concerns during a long period of reaching. When the chicks are removed, the chicks are pumped by larvae flies that develop on rotting fell.
Another curious bird - an earthen thermiter Neopardalotus subterrestris. This bird, similar to the clock, constantly lives under the ground in the magnitude of termites, where it digs up the nesting chambers and feeds termites using a long and sticky language.
Loading...
