Rainforests of the World
In this episode we'll learn:
- Where rainforests are found
- Rainforests of Mexico (case study)
- Why rainforests thrive
- What cultures live in rainforests
- Problems in the forest
Rainforest Communities
What are Rainforests?
Rainforests are defined by a few factors. Most importantly is the
amount and distribution of rainfall. To be a rainforest it must
have 200cm of rain a year. Tropical rainforests usually receive
a more steady rain around the year while temperate rainforests can
vary throughout the year with a pronounced dry season.
Where are they found?
Tropical rainforests are found in a belt around the equator. Half
of the world’s rainforests lie within the borders of Brazil,
Indonesia, and Zaire. Temperate raiforests extend well above these
zones are dependent mostly on the rainfall throughout the year.
Temperature:
Rainforests in tropical areas rarely get below 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Temperatures however, rarely get hot either. In fact, the
yearly temperature variation is so minimal that temperatures vary
more in one day than over the course of the year.
Soil:
If you’ve ever heard that it’s bad to chop down a rainforest
because it won’t grow back, did you know why? It’s because
the topsoil in a forest is very thin. The nutrients are quickly
washed out of the soil from all the rain. Thus, most of the rain
is held in the plant tissues. When the rainforest gets chopped
down, it is difficult to sustain any crops because the soil is very
poor.
Biodiversity:
Its been said that the tropical rainforests hold from 50 to 90 percent
of all species on earth. It has been very difficult in the past
to ascertain the number and diversity of species in the forests
because of the layers of the forest. Many canopy trees are hundreds
of feet tall, making it difficult to look at animals on the tops.
In fact, it's believed that whole communities live only in the tops
of the trees and have evaded scientific study because of it.
Text by Rob Nelson
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