Tropical Rainforest Biome

The name tropical rainforest biome reveals the prevailing climatic conditions for this community. A forest that remains warm throughout the year with heavy rains is none other than a tropical rainforest. Such a forest lies near the equatorial zone, i.e. 10 degrees towards north and south of equator. The tropical rainforest is characterized by luxuriant growth of tall trees with multiple underlying canopies. This biome is found to be the richest source of life on the planet, in terms of both plants and animals.

Tropical Rainforest Biome: Plants and Animals

Covering less than 6 percent of the earth's surface, the tropical rainforest lies in Asia, Africa, Australia, Mexico, South America and Central America. According to environmentalists, it houses more than half of the total plants and animal species of the earth. So, you can imagine the number of population inhabiting this forest. The tropical rainforest biome climate is the key behind the rich biodiversity of this community. The average rainfall is 50-260 inch per year with a mean humidity of 77-88 percent; while the average temperature range is 68 °F to 93 °F. Information on tropical rainforest plants and animals are discussed below:

Tropical Rainforest Biome Plants
Dominated by trees, there are four canopy layers in the tropical rainforest. The topmost is occupied by the emergent trees (about 100-240 feet tall), second layer by upper canopy trees (about 60-130 feet), third layer or lower canopy (less than 60 feet height) and forest floor. The tropical rainforest plants have certain features, like small leaves, leathery leaves, smooth stem, erect stem, etc. as adaptations to heavy rain and hot temperature. Some plants of the rainforest biome are:

• Figs
• Mangrove
• Kapok tree
• Durian
• Tualang
• Live Oak
• Saw palmetto
• Cypress
• Teak
• Sesame
• Cedar
• Pepper
• Bamboo
• Bougainvillea
• Curare
• Pineapple
• Bromeliad plant
• Pitcher plant
• Lichen
• Orchids
• Epiphytic plant
• Twisty grass

Tropical Rainforest Biome Animals
Similar to plants, the animal species of the tropical rainforest are adapted with characteristic features. You can find different types of insects, birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals in this forest. Majority of them live in the trees and feed on plant-based diet. Some of them have camouflage ability to protect from predators. Other adaptive characters include bright colored bodies and high-pitched voices. According to their habitat nature, they live in the different canopy layers. The commonly found tropical rainforest animals include:

• Hummingbird
• Peacock
• Toucan
• Dove
• Macaw
• Cockatoo
• Bird of Paradise
• Parrot
• Eagle
• Salamander
• Lizard
• Snake
• Anaconda
• Frog
• Bats
• Lemur
• Monkey
• Orangutan
• Silvery Gibbon
• Chimpanzee
• Red-shanked Douc Langur
• Opossum
• Squirrel
• Mice
• Leopard
• Tiger
• Loris
• Rhinoceros
• Kinkajou
• Elephant
• Golden lion tamarin
• Sloth

Tropical Rainforest Biome: Facts

• The Amazon is the largest tropical rainforest on earth, extending an area of approximately 1.4 billion acres. In other words, it accounts to 54 percent of the total rainforest area.
• The species diversity of tropical rainforests is so vast that the number of populations inhabiting this biome is higher, even if all the species in other biomes of the world are added together.
• More than 70 percent of the plants in tropical rainforest are trees. The tree variety is also highest in this forest area.
• The trees that represent the emergent layer have no branches in the lower portion. This adaptation is developed in accordance to limited sunlight in the lower layers.
• The plants of the tropical rainforest biome are expected to produce 40 percent of the oxygen. In some of the forest area, the number of plant species falls within 100-300 per hectare.
• The population of insects is the largest in the tropical rainforest. Some of which include mosquitoes, butterflies, ants, snails, beetles, spiders and stick insects.
• One of the amazing facts about tropical rainforests is that plants that possess anticancer properties are harvested from this forest. About 70 percent anti-cancerous plants (1400 plant species) are found growing in tropical rainforest.
• In total, about 25 percent of modern medicine and drugs are based on the tropical rainforest biome plants. No wonder, this rainforest is termed as the world's largest pharmacy.

So, isn't the tropical rainforest biome interesting to study about? Lots of scientific studies revolve around the tropical rainforest. Due to the limited light availability, there is less vegetation in the forest floor, thus allowing people to roam easily and explore the rainforest.