Wet Equatorial Forest Zones. Plants of equatorial forests. Wet Equatorial Forests All about Equatorial Forests Africa
Equatorial wet forests
This is a natural (geographical) zone stretching along the equator with some displacement south of 8 ° C.Sh. Up to 11 ° Yu.Sh. The climate is hot and wet. All year round, average air temperatures are 24-28 C. Seasons are not expressed. At least 1500 mm of atmospheric precipitation drops out, since there is a lower pressure area (see atmospheric pressure), and on the coast, the amount of atmospheric precipitation increases to 10,000 mm. The preciputes fall uniform throughout the year.
Such climatic conditions This zone contributes to the development of lush evergreen vegetation with a complex longline structure of the forest. Trees here are little branch. They have disc-shaped roots, large leathery leaves, tree trunks rise like columns and only upstairs scatter their thick crown. Brilliant, as if the lacquered surface of the leaves save them from excessive evaporation and burns of the scorching sun, from blowing shoes with heavy rains. In plants of the lower tier leaves, on the contrary, thin and gentle.
Equatorial forests of South America are called Selva (port. - Forest). This zone here occupies much larger areas than in Africa. Selva wetger than African equatorial forests, richer species of plants and animals.
Soils under the canopy of red-yellow forest, ferrolite (containing aluminum and iron).
Equatorial forest is the birthplace of many valuable plants, such as oilseed palm, from the fruits of which palm oil is obtained. The wood of many trees is on the manufacture of furniture and exported in large quantities. These include an ebony tree, whose wood has black or dark green. Many plants equatorial forests Give not only valuable wood, but also fruits, juice, boron for use in technique and medicine.
Elements of equatorial forests penetrate the tropics along the coast of Central America, to Madagascar.
The main share of equatorial forests is located in Africa and South AmericaHowever, they are found in Eurasia, mainly on the islands. As a result, a significant cutting of the square beneath them is sharply reduced.
Equatorial forests
Wet evergreen forests are located non-strokes and stains along the equator. "Green hell" - so called these places, many travelers of past centuries, who had to be here. The solid wall cost high multi-tiered forests, under the thick krons of which the dusk constantly reign, the monstrous humidity, constant heat, there is no change of seasons, the shower is regularly collapsed with a solid flow of water. Equator forests are called even constantly rain. Traveler Alexander Humboldt called them "hyiley" (from Greek. Hyle - Forest - approx. From geoglobus.ru). Most likely, the wet forests of a coal period with gigantic ferns and horses looked like this. Sub-screen forests are distinguished by the fact that among evergreen plants there are those that throw their leaves for several weeks a year.
Life in the rainforest is located "vertical" - plants and animals occupied different "high-altage floors" of this amazing world, adapting to its conditions. In such forests can be up to five similar levels.
The upper floors are at an altitude of up to 45 m and do not have closed cover. As a rule, the wood of these trees is the richest. Below, at an altitude of 18-20 m, tiers are located from plants and trees forming a solid closet and almost missing sunlight down, to the ground. A raresting lower belt is at an altitude of about 10 m. Even below, shrub and herbal plants grow, such as pineapples and bananas, ferns. Tall trees They have thickened scratched roots (they are called heartless), helping the giant plant to maintain a solid connection with the soil.
What plants grow in Equatorial forests?
Such plants are called "epiphytes", i.e. Living "at a distance." Such, for example, orchids. Their exquisite flowers with a faint aroma are nothing more than an attempt in a rigid competitive struggle to attract insects and birds to pollinate and maintain their further life. In the depths of the forest in permanent dampness, there is a heavy smell of rotting meat, the largest flower on the planet - Arnold Rafflesia. Its flower reaches 1 m in diameter.
In a warm and wet climate, the decomposition of dead plants occurs very quickly. From the resulting nutritional composition takes a substance for the life of the plant guilt.
South America's rain forests are called "Selva". In its species composition (number species of plants 2500-3000) The Amazon Selva is in the first place in the world. Not much, but still inferior to her African equatorial forests. The land in the rainforest is the kingdom of moss, mushrooms, algae, plants with wide leaves, catching and delaying moisture, insects, including poisonous. To survive in the rural, travelers require the knowledge of local residents who build houses on stilts, sleep in hammocks.
The whole familiar life is focused "between the sky and earth", on the wide branches of trees, sent by Lianami. Among such landscapes are the most full-water rivers Our planet is Amazon in South America, Congo in Africa, Brahmaputra in Southeast Asia.
Amazon Selva, like the Equatorial forests of Congo, Guinea, Uganda, the forests of the Equatorial Oceania Islands, leaving sea coasts, Create amazing natural communities in the zone of tides and ties - mangrove forests. Air roots of plants of such a forest themselves impassable thickets. Numerous air roots catches any opportunity to get air, breaking through the wet sand and liquid mud, and with tides - from sea water. The width of such mangroves can reach 10-20 meters.
Equatorial forests of our planet are often called her lungs. Indeed, a huge number of pile trees highlights such an amount of oxygen into the atmosphere, which reduce them threatens humanity to a significant deterioration in the composition of the air. Partly rainforests are already reduced. In their place, a person cultivates various cultures, including coffee, oilseed and rubber palm trees.
Flora and Fauna Tropical Africa
Vegetation in Africa is rich and diverse. Its character is determined by the amount of precipitation and the duration of the wet season due to the flat relief and the position of the mainland between the tropics. In the Equatorial climatic belt, rich, evergreen multi-tiered forests grow. Herbal vegetation prevails in the subequatorial belts. In tropical belts, the vegetation is poor for species, cut or absent at all.
Equatorial climatic belt
News and Society
Plants of equatorial forests. Features and meaning
Plants of equatorial forests cannot but cause elevated interest not only from specialists, but also from ordinary inquisitive travelers from around the world. And there is nothing surprising.
Agree, many of us seek to visit the overseas countries for the sake of these exotic representatives of Flora. For example, the plants of Equatorial forests of South America or Africa are very unlike the grass, flowers, trees and shrubs, which we used to see by the window of your hometown. They look very different, smell and bloom, and therefore cause mixed emotions. They want to consider closer, touch and take a picture.
Plants of equatorial forests are the topic that can be told infinitely long. The same article is aimed at introducing readers with the most characteristic properties and habitat of the data of the representatives of the world of Flora.
general information
First of all, we will try to define such a concept as humid-equatorial forests. Plants, the habitat of which serve as regions with a pronounced equatorial, subequatorial and tropical climate, inhabit this type of natural zone. It is worth paying attention to the fact that in this case there are not only herbs, but also numerous trees and shrubs to various kinds of flora representatives.
At first glance, it is difficult to even imagine, but it is observed until 2000, or even 10,000 mm of precipitation per year.
For these areas of sushi, a huge biodiversity is characterized, it is here that lives 2/3 of all plants and animals of our planet. By the way, not everyone knows that millions of species are still not described.
In the lower tier in wet rainforests there is not enough light, but the undergrowth, as a rule, is formed weak, so a person can move easily on it. However, in the event that for some reason the deciduous canopy is absent or weakened, the lower tier can quickly be covered with difficulty thickets from Lian and intricate trees. This is called jungle.
Climate Equatorial Forest
Animals and plants of equatorial forests, as we have already spoken, differ in variety. This is due to the current climate, and therefore it is necessary to talk about it in more detail.
This zone stretches along the equator with a displacement to the south. The average temperature year-round is 24-28 degrees. The climate is hot enough and wet, although at this time of the year implicitly expressed.
This territory relates to the field of reduced pressure, and the precipitation here falls evenly for a whole year. Such climatic conditions contribute to the development of evergreen vegetation, for which the so-called complex structure of the forest is characteristic.
Video on the topic
Vegetable world of Equatorial territories of the planet
As a rule, wet evergreen forests, located non-stroke strips or peculiar stains along the equator, are diverse and there are a huge number of species. It is difficult to imagine that only in the Congo's brand and on the coast of the Guinean bay of them today more than a thousand.
The plants of the equatorial forests of the upper tier are represented by giant ficus and palm trees, which over 200 species. In the lower way, they grow mostly bananas and tree-like fern.
The largest plants are often wrapped by Liana, blooming orchids. By the way, it is worth noting that sometimes in the Equatorial forests there are up to six tiers. Among the plants there are epiphytes - mosses, lichens, fern.
But in the depths of the forest, you can find the largest flower of our planet - Arnold Rafflese, the transverse diameter of which reaches 1 meter.
Animal World of Equatorial Forest
It is unlikely that someone is surprised if we note that the fauna of equatorial forests is primarily rich in monkeys. Especially often and in huge quantities there are martyrs, chimpanzees, gorillas, tuning and bonobo.
From the ground inhabitants, it is often possible to meet small hoofs, for example, in Africa, tourists are often admired by Ogazi, African deer and other unusual animals. The most common predators of South America Selva, of course, Jaguar and Puma are considered. But in African tropics, the owners are fast leopards and huge tigers.
Thanks to the wet conditions of the medium in Equatorial forests, many frogs, lizards and insects live. Among the birds most often encountered hummingbirds, parrots and tucanis.
As for the reptiles, then who does not know about Python Africa and Asia or Anaconde from the Jungle Amazon? In addition, poisonous snakes, alligators, caymans and other no less dangerous representatives of the Fauna world are common in Equatorial forests.
What will happen if destroying the plants of equatorial forests?
During the deforestation of the equatorial forest, the person sometimes not realizing himself, destroys the habitat of many animals and takes the food at termites. Besides, this forest Holds also the onset of desert deserts.
But that's not all. The fact is that wet equatorial forests, although they occupy a relatively small part of the Earth, are the so-called green lungs Our planet. It is here that about 1/3 of the oxygen of the Earth is produced, so the destruction of the equatorial forest will cause irreversible environmental consequences, including an increase in carbon dioxide content. The latter, in turn, will lead to an increase average temperaturewill strengthen the likelihood of melting glaciers, which means that the subsequent flooding of many fertile lands will entail.
Comments
Related Materials
Education
Plants of mixed forests: features. Plants of mixed forests of Russia and animals
The zone of mixed forests of Russia extends in the form of a triangle.
Ecological blog
Its foundation lies near the western borders of Russia, and the peak rests on Ural Mountains. In this zone of the country, good conditions for plants and animals. Medium ...
Homemade
Description, features and value of colors. Iris
These exquisite flowers, which are in the people of affectionately, referred to as colts or cocks, are known since ancient times and are widespread around the world. Externally, they are a little remind of orchids and can be painted at the most ...
Spiritual development
Veles - Charger Version Slavic: history, features and meanings
Version Slavic culture interests modern people Not in vain: understand what the ancestors lived (even very far) - it means to fully know yourself. In the case of customs of the Slavic people, the task becomes the maximum ...
Law
Flag Paraguay: history, features and meanings
Each country has clearly defined state symbols, which include the flag. The Republic of Paraguay is no exception, moreover, the images of this state are unique. Initial ...
Law
Cause of criminal relationship: concept, features and importance
In order for the act to be confessed by criminal, it is necessary to have a number of signs that are combined with a crime composition. But there is an institution, without which it is impossible to establish the fact of illegal ...
Fashion
Tattoo on the side, their features and meaning
Since ancient times, the drawings on the body wore a certain meaning. To date, fashion for tattoos came to a new level. Now the drawings decorate not only those who wish to pass the belonging to anything (clan, society ...
News and Society
Oksana and Ksyusha - the same thing? Features and meaning
Oksana and Ksyusha - the same, or not? Many are asked as a question. Some agree, others believe that these are different names. Let's try to figure it out. If you delve into the origin of the names, it will become clear ...
News and Society
Algae living in unusual conditions. Types of algae, their features and significance in nature
Algae can live and multiply in such special conditions that seem to us, at first glance, completely unacceptable for life. It can be hot springs, the temperature of which sometimes reaches the picker ...
News and Society
Red Book of the Kaluga Region: Animals and Plants, Mushrooms. List, features and description
The Red Book of the Kaluga Region (animals and plants it is the subject of our article) - a document released in 2006. The basis of the Government of the Region of 1998 is based. These include those living ...
News and Society
Polish names: features and meanings
For people interested in various cultures, it will be worth learn a little about the life of other countries. This article will give you a piece of Poland, namely you will learn a little from the history of Polish names: their features, prison ...
These interesting plantsSo willingly divorced because of the beauty of their original colors and familiar to everyone, they also belong to the tropics. Most often they come across in the mountains of the equatorial belt; There you can always find several representatives of countless orchid forms. They grow in the trunks, branches, on branching branches, especially developing on the fallen trunks, cover the bottom of the rocks and cliffs from above; Some, like our northern species, grow on Earth, between the rest of herbs. Many trees whose bark is particularly favored by the growth of orchids, they are completely covered and thus form natural orchid gardens. Some orchids are especially likely focusing with palm trees and tree fern leaves. Many are more willing all the water, others, on the contrary, need air and light wood vertices. Everyone knows the original diversity of the structure of orchids and beautiful tones of their colors, but the richest our orchid collections do not give any complete presentation of the whole set of their species falling under the tropics; However, many of them have flowers too unpleasant to be worth it. More than 30 years ago, Lindley estimated the number of orchids known at the time at the time of 3,000, Bentam and Gucker in Genera PlantarUnize them already in 5,000; It is very likely that in our time the number famous species Orchids reaches 6000.
Equatorial forest vegetation
But no matter how large the number of already collected and described species, the number of still having to be open should be colossal.
Orchid Grammatophyllum Speciosum (Java)
In contrast to ferns, individual types of orchids have a relatively small distribution; Therefore, for comprehensive familiarization with all the species belonging to only one more or less extensive area, such as the island of magnitude with Java, it would take many years of work of good nerd. It is very possible that this wonderful family will eventually turn out to be the richest species of all flowering plants.
Despite the fact that any orchid can be found in its peculiar form not even during flowering, though both sizes and the kind of them are extremely diverse. Some minor curly species are not superior to MCH, the largest grammatophylum from Borneo islands, growing in the development of wood branches, have a thick foliage of trunks to 10 feet long; Some terrestrial species, such as American Sobraraliae, achieve the same value. Most orchids look very peculiarly due to their fleshy air roots, which are often drunk far down, crawl over the rocks or slightly attach to the crust of some tree; They feed on the falling rains and in general atmospheric moisture. Despite such many different types of orchids in Equatorial forests, the flowers are relatively little rushing. This is partly because many orchids are generally unpleasured, partly because the flowering time of each type lasts only a few weeks and in various species falls for different months. In addition, it also has the influence of orchid growing, which are found in most cases of apart, separate specimens or groups rarely reaching a large value and therefore not released among their mass of plants. Only rarely traveler entails a terrain, where orchids remind him of the beauty of our orchid greenhouses and exhibitions. Sleepy golden oncidiae flooded forests of the upper amazon, magnificent Cattleya more dry forests, marsh caelogynae, finally, wonderful Vanda Lowii Forest Hills Borneo - these are the main examples of beautiful orchids, especially cut into the author of these lines for 12 years of its rainforests. The above-mentioned Vanda is strongly allocated from all orchids: from a relatively small beam of its foliage protrude numerous flowerwomen driving down down, like cords up to 8 feet of length, and completely destroyed with large star red-grown colors.
<<Назад | Оглавление | Вперед >>
Pandanusbambuk
Tropical forests are filled with flora and fauna. Representatives of the ancient groups of mammals are preserved here, the most primitive silence - opossums, helmet. Also in the forests multiple variety of monkeys and semolstery (Lemur, Lori). Food in the rainforests of the old world and armor and ammented lizards. In the birds living in crowns, there are many people who do not fly too well, but mostly jump and climb (tucanis, touro, birds-rhinos, paradise birds). And Nicobar Pigeons, Vental Pigeons, Shalashniki are beautiful flyers, and parrots (Cockada, Ara, Amazon, Jaco) and climb well and fly. Beasts dwelling in trees can be divided into two groups: planners who have a well-developed aircraft (large flying posses, helpring, worst-volost) and climbing, in addition to severe and dexterous paws, there is a chain tail used as a fifth full of full-fledged limbs (kinku, musicals, tunes, pangolines). Among them are loungeful (sloths, colobuses), fertile forms (Gulda, Kalond, a small flying fox, kinkagu) and animals with a wider range of plant food (monkeys, ratouris, savton, kangaroo, ships). Others, such as Gorilla, Mandril, Piped, although they can climb on trees, but often found on Earth. Insects, Gulda, Kalong, a small flying fox, some birds are pollinators of rainforest flowers. There are the largest inhabitants of the tropics, which and control the number of animals are jaguars, leopards and tigers. It is also very dangerous and a boa, which can outward mining entirely. It can be like a big monkey, and a small hippos.
Trees in wet rainforests have several common characteristicswhich are not observed in plants less wet climates.
The base of the trunk in many species has wide, wood ledges. Previously it was assumed that these protrusions help the tree to keep equilibrium, now they believe that water with dissolved water nutrient substances flows to the roots of the tree. Wide leaves are also the usual business in trees, shrubs and herbs of the lower tiers of the forest. High young trees that have not yet reached the upper tier, also have a wider foliage, which is then reduced with a height.
Plants of equatorial forests. Wet equatorial forests
Wide leaves help plants better absorb sunlight under the edges of the forest trees, and they are protected from above from wind exposure. The leaves of the upper tier, forming a canopy, usually smaller than the size and are strongly cut to reduce the wind pressure. On the lower floors, the leaves are often narrowed at the ends so that it contributes to the rapid flow of water and prevents the reproduction of microbes and ms that destroy the leaves on them.
The tops of the trees are often very well interconnected with the help of Lian or plants - epiphytes fixing them.
Other characteristics of the wet rainforest can serve as an unusually thin (1-2 mm) bark of trees, sometimes covered with sharp spikes or barns; The presence of flowers and fruits growing right on the trunks of trees; A wide variety of juicy fruits, attracting birds, mammals and even fish feeding with spray particles.
In wet rainforests there are incomplete (families of the slides, amusements and armaduses), wide-up monkeys, a number of rodent families, manochable, lamas, short, several bird detachments, as well as some reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates. Many animals with tenacious tails live on trees - cloth monkeys, dwarf and four-pailed amusements, opossums, cloth-minded dickerys, sloths. A lot of insects, especially butterflies (one of the richest faun in the world) and beetles; Many fish (whole 2000 species are approximately one third of the freshwater fauna of the world).
Africa is an amazing continent where a large amount is combined geographical zones. More in any place are so noticeable by these distinctions.
Natural areas of Africa are very clearly visible on the map. They are distributed symmetrically relative to the equator and depend on uneven precipitation.
Characteristics of natural areas of Africa
Africa refers to the second area of \u200b\u200bthe continent on Earth. It is surrounded by two seas and two oceans. But the most important feature is his symmetry in a position in relation to the equator, which by the horizon divides Africa into two parts.
In the north and south of the mainland there are tag-tousing evergreen wet forests and shrubs. Next are the deserts and semi-deserts, then savanna.
In the very center of the continent there are zones of variable-wet and constant wet forests. Each zone is characterized by its climate, flora and fauna.
The zone of variable-wet and wet evergreen Equatorial forests of Africa
The region of evergreen forests is located in the Congo's hood and go along the Gulf of Guinea. Here you can find more than 1000 plants. In these zones, predominantly red-yellow soils. Many species of palm trees are growing here, including oilseeds, fern tree, bananas, lianas.
Animals are placed on tiers. In these places, the animal world is very diverse. In the soil, a huge number of earthkers, lizards and snakes live.
In the zone of wet forests lives a huge number of monkeys. In addition to monkeys, gorillas and chimpanzees, you can meet more than 10 species of individuals.
Many concern to local residents are delivering to the dogs of the Pavian. They ruin plantations. This species is distinguished by the reality. They can be frightened only with a weapon, they are not afraid of a man with a stick.
African gorillas in these places grow up to two meters and have weight up to 250 kilograms. Elephants, leopards, small hoofs, forest pigs dwell in the forests.
Good to know: In the eucalyptus areas of Africa, Fly Tsetse dwells. It is very dangerous for a person. Her bite infects a deadly sleepy disease. A person begins to bother with strong pain and fever.
Zone savannah
About 40% of the entire territory of Africa is occupied by savanna. Vegetation is represented by high herbs and towering over the umbrella trees. The main of them is Baobab.
This is a tree of life having greater importance for residents of Africa. , leaves, seeds - everything is used in food. The ash of burnt fruit is used for the production of soap.
In dry savannas, aloe with fleshy and spiny leaves are growing. In the rain period in the savannah, very abundant vegetation, but in a dry period it becomes yellow, fires often arise.
Red soil savanna is much more fertile than in the zone of wet forests. This is due to the active accumulation of humus in a dry period.
Large herbivores live on the territory of African savanna. Here live giraffes, elephants, rhinos, buffaloes. Savannah Square is the place of residence of predators, hepdobes, lions, leopards.
Tropical deserts and semi-desert
Savannes are replaced by the zones of tropical deserts and semi-deserts. The precipitation in these places is very irregular. In certain areas of rain may not be several years.
The climatic features of the zone are characterized by excessive dryness. Sand storms often occur, during the day there are strong temperatures.
The relief of the desert is rocks of stones and salt marsh in those places where the seas were once. There are practically no plants here. There are rare spines. There are types of vegetation with a short time. They grow only after the rains.
Zones of evergreens of severe forests and shrubs
The most extreme area of \u200b\u200bthe continent is the territory of evergreens of severe leaves and shrubs. For these places is characterized by wet winter and hot dry summer.
Such climate has favorably affect the state of the soil. In these places it is very fertile. Here is growing Lebanese cedar, beech, oak.
In this zone there are the highest items of the mainland. At the tops of Kenya and Kilimanjaro, even in the hottest period constantly lies snow.
African Natural Zone Table
The presentation and description of all natural areas of Africa can be visually submitted in the table.
| Name of the natural zone | Geographical location | Climate | Vegetable world | Animal world | The soil |
| Savannai | Neighboring zones from equatorial forests north, south and east | Subexvatorial | Herbs, cereals, palm trees, acacia | Elephants, hippos, lions, leopards, hyenas, jackals | Ferroll red |
| Tropical semi-deserts and deserts | Southwest and north mainland | Tropical | Acacia, succulents | Turtles, beetles, snakes, scorpions | Sand, stony |
| Variable-wet and wet forests | Northern Equator | Equatorial and subequatorial | Bananas, palm trees. Coffee trees | Gorilla, chimpanzee, leopards, parrots | Buro-yellow |
| Tighted evergreen forests | Extreme north and extreme south | Subtropical | Strawberry tree, oak, beech | Zebra, leopards | Brown, fertile |
Position climatic zones The mainland delimited very clearly. This applies not only to the territory itself, but also determining fauna, flora and climate types.
Equatorial climatic belt
Equatorial climatic belt is located on both parts of the equator, between two. The average monthly temperature is from + 24 to + 28 ° C, and the average temperature fluctuate for the year varies from ± 2-3º C.
Equatorial air is formed from tropical air masses, summarized to the equator by the Patams of the North and South Hemispheres. Climate formation occurs in the area of \u200b\u200bEquatorial depression with weak winds. The main thermodynamic process accompanying air transformation is its moisturizing.
Equatorial climatic belt is characterized by a large margin of unstable energy. It is saturated with moisture, and the conditions of vertical air stratification are favorable or energized. In this regard, convective clouds are extremely important in areas with equatorial air. Under the influence of the overall combination of air circulation and radiation factors, the climate is hot here and very wet with a large amount of precipitation: up to 3000 to 10,000 mm on the windy slopes of the mountains.
Surface reservoirs, as a rule, rivers contain an abundant amount of water. The exceptions are river systems that are located in others. climatic belts. Natural processes in the equatorial parts of the continents are very active.
Equatorial belt countries
Equatorial belt covers several countries in South America: Ecuador, Columbia, Guyana, Venezuela Peru and Brazil; Africa: Liberia, Côte d "Ivoire, Ghana, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, DRK, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi; Malacca Peninsula, as well as Islands of Southeast Asia .
Natural Equatorial Zones
Map of natural zones and climatic belts of the world
Three terrestrial natural zones are distributed in this belt: a zone of wet equatorial forest (South America, Africa, Islands of Southeast Asia), and a steady (South America), and the natural zone of the region high resistance (Islands of Southeast Asia and South America).
Equatorial belt soil
In the equatorial climatic belt, yellow, red-yellow ferallic (latheitite) soil predominate. They are characterized by dead vegetable substances and rapid mineralization. Also, organ-mineral complexes are dominated here. These soils are poor chemical compounds and humus (2-3%), but rich in iron and aluminum hydroxides. The vital activity of microorganisms, as well as animal small size, is extremely high, both in the soil and on its surface. With and plowing lands, soils due to high temperatures and drainage very quickly lose their fertile properties.
Equatorial belt forests
Amazonian pool
Wet Equatorial evergreen - forests, in which the annual precipitation exceeds 2000 mm. The largest plots are located in the pool, in South America; in the Congo basin, Central America; On the Islands Borneo, Mindanao (Philippines), in New Guinea and Indonesia.
Mangrove Zaroshi
Distributed along the seas and oceans of the equatorial climatic belt. Mangrove trees adapted to a complex habitat. During the ties, they are exposed to elevated temperatures and drying, and then cooled and flooded with water during tides. Thus, for survival in this medium, trees must withstand wide ranges of salinity, temperature and humidity, as well as a number of other natural factors.
Plants and animal equatorial belts
Equatorial belt is characterized by rich in the vegetation and animal world. Economic useful plants are: Ficus rubbing (including Gevei), cocoa wood, breadwinner, cotton tree, various types of palm trees, as well as trees with high-valued wood.
Animals that live in the forests of the equatorial belt adapted to life on the trees. These include: monkeys, lemurs, sloths and some representatives. From terrestrial animals, tapir, rhinos, bakers and hoeses live in an equatorial climatic belt. There is also a huge number of birds, reptiles and insects.
Africa is the hottest mainland of the earth, which she is obliged to their geographical location. The continent is located in four climatic belts: Equatorial, subequatorial, tropical and subtropical. Africa is between 37 ° Northern and 34 ° south latitude - that is, in equatorial and tropical latitudes.
The Equatorial belt of Africa is located on the shores of the Gulf of Guinea and ruled the mainland deep into the lake Victoria. All year round, the equatorial aerial massSo there are no seasons of the year, it is constantly hot here, and strong rains are very often going. Due to abundant moisture (2-3 mm per year) and very warm climate (above + 20 ° - + 30 ° C throughout the year) The natural zone of wet equatorial forests was formed here. In the forests of Africa, an unimaginable number of animals and plants is concentrated, many of which are still unknown by science. The internal areas of the equatorial belt remain still unoccupied.
Wet evergative equatorial forests County Congo and the Coast of the Guinean Bay north of the Equator. These forests are distinguished by a huge species diversity (more than 1000 species of plants), high (up to 50 m) and multi-tie (trees crowns fill almost all space).
The first top tier makes the giants wood vegetation, raising your crowns at a height of 40 - 50 m and more. Below are the crowns of the trees of the second tier, then the third and so to the fourth, fifth and even sixth tiers. With such a multi-tieredness, very little light falls on the soil, nevertheless, there are disputes of spores, not demanding to light: ferns, seleaginells, planes.
The following calculations speak about the density of the settlement of African guili trees: one hectare is from 400 to 700 large trees, usually relating to about 100 different types. These figures show how closely grow trees in Gilea and how the species composition of such a forest is diverse. In African hyile, about 3,000 kinds of wood plants, of which about a thousand are in the trees of the upper tier, having a height of at least 30 m.
The green ocean guille looks especially powerful when you look with any elevation. Before your eyes, the boundless green ocean really spreads, on the surface of which waves are rolling. Different types of plants, aligning top tiers, differ from each other and high, the form of the crown, and the coloring foliage. All this creates the impression of a green growing ocean.
And inside the forest, the greens are spilled everywhere. Even the bark of trees - and that in wet forests is often green. And if it does not have green color, then it makes green spitting on the trunks and branches of trees epiphytes. Here, diverse painted flowers and fruits are not thrown into the eyes. There is nothing resembling the variety of our flowering meadows. It is possible that in the height of the rain, when we were in African Gilee, there are few blooming plants, but we were really in the elements of greenery. Especially it is good when the sun lasted the diverse shades still wet from the rain of foliage.
Animals are also distributed on tiers. In loose soil and forest litter, the hordes of microphum representatives are hoarse, a variety of invertebrates, as well as earthling, lizards and snakes. Small ungulates, forest pigs, forest elephants, gorillas dwell in the ground tier. The crowns of trees were chosen not only by birds, but also monkeys, colobuses, chimpanzees and even rodents and insects, often reaching very large sizes. There, on large branches, resting and lifting the prey of the leopard. Almost all tiers are spread of ants, termites and amphibians, near water bodies - dwarf hippos, Ogap (relatives of giraffes). Here are actively geochemical processes with the participation of microorganisms and soil fauna, accompanied by the formation of iron and aluminum oxides. Mountain breeds acquire a special structure and color, the so-called weathered bark are formed, on which red-yellow ferry soils are formed (ferroum - iron, aluminum - aluminum). Many of the plants of equatorial forests are used in the farm and entered into the culture: banana, coffee tree, oilseed palm, etc.
From the South and the North of the Wet Equatorial Forest Zone bends zone of variable-wet deciduous forestsAnd then - the zone of the editorous and savannah, which is associated with the appearance of a dry period, which, as the equator removes, is extended.
Equatorial belt vegetation
A sufficient amount of heat and moisture determines the development of lush vegetation. African wet equatorial forest striking the wealth of species and dense plant. Only trees there are about 3 thousand species there. In the struggle for light, they grow in 4-5 tiers. The upper tier form high ficuses and palm trees reaching 70 m. Many mighty trees have additional boobies of roots of the roots - strong growing, providing stability. In trees-giants leaves rigid and dense, often with a shiny surface. So they are protected from the scorching rays of the sun and blowing the rain jets during the rain.
The leaves are large and small, narrow and wide, light and bottle closes all the slots and lumen in the dome of the forest. It falls not all at once, but in turn, sheet behind the sheet. Therefore, the forest is constantly green. Plants grow in it, bloom, fruit simultaneously and throughout the year. Through a thick crown, the trees barely makes his sunny light, so twilight reign in the forest even among the day. Forest pool is shrouded in thick fog. In the raw air it is difficult to breathe. A man in the Equatorial Forest feels as if at the bottom of the Zea Sea.
Animal world of equatorial belt
Animals in the Equatorial Forest live predominantly on the trees. In addition to birds, rodents and insects, there are foods and shelter different monkeys: Martyski, bavians, chimpanzees. In hard-to-reach areas, humorous gorillas live. Monkeys feed on the fruits of trees, young leaves and arrange the nests of broken branches in the tops. Lianins help them, they are called "monkey stairs". The largest predator of the forest - leopard, waving prey, also hides in crowns of trees.
Ground residents of the equatorial forest are smaller than on open spaces, as a large animal is difficult to move in thick thickets. In the undergrowth, there is almost no grass, so there are no animals that feed on it. But many of those who eat the leaves of trees and shrubs: African deer, Kittitzuhi pig, Ocap - a relative of the giraffe. Crocodiles are found in the rivers, and on their shores - dwarf hippos, which are among the rarest animals on Earth.
All forest tiers inhabit a variety of birds. Among them are many parrots. Rhino bird has a large and thick beak for collecting fruits.
Snakes, most of which are poisonous, also live in trees. The green body of the body makes them similar to the lianas and allows you to skillfully masked among the leaves. One of the most dangerous Snake In the world, they consider wood cobra - mamba. It is aggressive and very poisonous. Her strong poison affects the nervous system and a few minutes later a person loses consciousness and dies.
In all forest tiers, a variety of insects are common. Many large bright butterflies. In the Equatorial Forests, the most severe insect on the planet - Goliath. It weighs 100 g, but despite this, can fly. Some types of ants move long columns, going all the living on their way. Very dangerous Tsetz fly, which transfers the causative agent of the disease, causes pets and sleepy disease in humans.
Wet equatorial forests are replaced by variable-wet subequatorial forests, where decades are growing next to evergreen trees, which drop the leaves in the dry season.
The value of equatorial forests
Equatorial forests have a lot of economic importance. They grow trees that have a valuable (solid and beautiful) wood - black (ebenic), red, sandalwood. Dear furniture is made of it. Coffee tree has become a source of cultural coffee. Oil palm gives food and technical palm oil. Wine palm is used to prepare wine. Of the leaves, the crust and fruits of many plants produce medicines.
However, in nature, equatorial forests have a frequent value. The wet forest plants absorb a huge amount of carbon dioxide and excrete oxygen into the atmosphere. Therefore, they are called the main source of oxygen, "light planets". Unfortunately, the forests of the decades were cut down under fields and plantations, for wood harvesting. Following the chopped trees, animals disappear.
Geographical position, relief leveling contributed to the location of the geographical belts of Africa (Equatorial, subequatorial, tropical and subtropical) and natural zones twice on both sides of the equator. With a decrease in moisture to the north and south of the equator, herbal cover becomes more rarefied, and the vegetation is more xerophyte.
In the north there is a lot of species of plants. In the center and in the south, the most ancient representatives of the planet vegetation are preserved. Among the flowering plants to 9 thousand types of endemics. In a rich and diverse animal world (see. Nowhere in the world there is no such cluster of large animals, as in the African savanna. Elephants, giraffes, hippos, rhinos, buffaloes and other animals are found here. Feature The animal world is the wealth of predators (lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyena, hyenne dogs, sacking, etc.) and unfortunate (dozens of types of antelope). Among the birds there are large - ostriches, vultures, marabou, vengeious cranes, drofs, rhinos birds, crocodiles in the rivers.
IN natural zones Africa many animals and plants that are not on others. For african savannah Characterized by Baobab, the trunk of which in diameter reaches 10 m, palm dum, umbrella acacia, the highest animal in the world - giraffe, lions, secretary bird. In the African Forest (Gile), human-like monkeys gorilla and chimpanzee live dwarf giraffe okapi. In tropical deserts there is a one-burned camel Dromer, Foxeneck, as well as the most poisonous snake mamba. Only on lemurs inhabit.
Africa is the homeland of a number of cultivated plants: oilseed palm trees, a cola tree, coffee tree, Kleschin, sesame, sesame, African millet, watermelons, many indoor floral plants - Gerani, Aloe, Gladiols, Pelargonium, etc.
Wet Equatorial Forest Zone (Gila) It takes 8% of the mainland territory - the pool and the Gulf Coast. The climate here is wet, equatorial, heat is enough. The precipitates fall uniformly, more than 2000 mm per year. The soil is red-yellow ferrallitic, poor organic substances. A sufficient amount of heat and moisture contributes to the development of vegetation. According to the wealth of species composition (about 25 thousand species) and the area of \u200b\u200bwet Equatorial forests of Africa are inferior only by wet South America.
Forests form 4-5 tiers. In the upper tiers, gigantic (up to 70 m) ficuses, oilseeds and wine palm trees, seba, tree of cola, breadwinner. In the lower tiers - bananas, ferns, Liberian coffee tree. Among Lian is interesting, rubber liana Landolphia and Palma Liana Rotan (up to 200 m in length). This is the longest plant in the world. Valuable wood possess red, iron, black (ebenic) wood. In the forest there are many orchids, mosses.
In the forests of little herbivores and less than in other natural zones, predators. From the hoofs, the dwarf giraffe from Ogazi, hiding in dense forest thickets, the forest antelopes, water deer, buffalo, hippopotamus are found. Predators are represented by wild cats, leopards, jackals. From distributed cystic dike and wider flying. In the forests of numerous monkeys, bavians, mandrills. Manoid monkeys are represented by 2-3 types of chimpanzees and gorillas.
Transition zone between equatorial forests and are subexvatorial variable-wet forests . They are a narrow strip of wet equatorial forests. The vegetation gradually changes under the influence of a reduction in the wet period and enhancing the dry season as removal from the equator. Gradually, the equatorial forest goes into a subequatorial, mixed, leaf-and evergreen on red ferrollic soils. Annual precipitation decreases to 650-1300 mm, and the dry season increases to 1-3 months. The distinctive feature of these forests is the predominance of the trees of the legume family. Trees tall up to 25 m drop the leaves in a dry period, herbal cover is formed under them. Sub-screen forests are located on the northern outskirts of wet equatorial forests and the south of the equator in the Congo.
Savannah and edging It occupy large spaces of Africa - the regional raising of the Congo, Sudanese plains, East African Plateau (about 40% of the territory). These are open cereal plains with groves or individual trees. The zone of Savannan and the edge of the wet and variable-wet forests from the Atlantic before and extends north to 17 ° C. sh. And south to 20 ° sh.
For savannah, the alternation of wet and dry seasons is characteristic. In the humidity time of the year in Savannah, where the rainy period lasts up to 8-9 months, lush cereals rise up to 2 m high, sometimes up to 5 m (ivory). Among the solid sea of \u200b\u200bcereals (cereal savanna), individual trees are torn: baobabs, umbrella acacia, palm trees, oilseed palms. In the dry period of the year, the grass dry, the leaves on the trees fall out, the savanna is becoming yellow-drier. Under the savannas, special types of soil are formed - red and red-brown soils.
Depending on the duration of the wet period, the savanna is wet, or highly harvested, typical, or dry and desertified.
Wet, or high-level, savannahs have a slight dry period (about 3-4 months), and the annual precipitation amount is 1500-1000 mm. This is a transition area from forest vegetation to a typical savannah. Soils, like in the subequatorial forests, are red ferromallic. Among the cereals - ivory grass, bearded, from trees - Baobab, Acacia, Rozhkov, palm tree, cotton tree (Seba). In the valleys of rivers are developed evergreen forests.
Typical savannah are developed in areas with precipitation 750-1000 mm, the dry period lasts 5-6 months. In the north they extend a solid strip from before. In the southern hemisphere occupy the northern part. Characterized by Baobabs, acacia, fan palm trees, carite tree, cereals are represented by bearded. The soil is red-brown.
Deserted savannahs have a smaller amount of precipitation (up to 500 mm), the dry season lasts 7-9 months. They have a rarefied cereal cover, and acacia prevailed among shrubs. These savannahs on red-brown soils stretch the uninforced strip from the coast to Somalia Peninsula. In the south, they are widely developed in the basin.
Savannah Africa is rich in feed resources. There are more than 40 types of herbivorous hoofs, especially numerous antelopes (curves, cannes, dwarf antelopes). The largest antilope GNU. Giraffes have been preserved mainly in national Parks. Zebra spread in savannas. In some places, they are domesticated and replaced by horses (not susceptible to the bites of Tsetz fly). Numerous predators are accompanied by herbivores: lions, cheetahs, leopards, sacking, hyenas. The number of disappearing animals includes black and white rhinoceros, African elephant. Numerous birds: African ostrises, ceshards, tours, marabou, weaver, secretary, chibis, herons, pelicans. According to the number of types of plant and animal world, African Savannah Savannah Square are not equal.
Savannes are relatively favorable for tropical farming. Significant sections of savannah rain, cultivated cotton, earthwood, corn, tobacco, sorghum, rice.
To the north and south of Savannnes are located tropical semi-deserts and deserts, occupying 33% of the mainland territory. It has a very small amount of precipitation (no more than 100 mm per year), a meager xerophytic.
The semi-deserts are a transition region between savannas and tropical, where the amount of precipitation does not exceed 250-300 mm. Narrow strip in Kustarnichkovo-Zlakovaya (acacia, Tamari, hard cereals). IN South Africa Semi-deserts are developed in the inner part of Calahari. For southern semi-deserts are characterized by succulents (Aloe, Mokhai, wild watermelons). During the rainy period, the irises, lilies, amaryllis are blooming.
IN North Africa Huge areas with precipitation up to 100 mm takes, in South Africa, the desert of Namib stretches along the west coast, the Kalahari Desert is in the south. The deserts are distinguished by the deserts of cereal-shrub, shrub and succulent.
Sugar vegetation represent individual beams of cereals and spiny shrubs. Wild millet, from shrubs and semi-stares - dwarf Saksaul, Camel Kolya, Acacia, Yuuba, Mokhai, Ephed, are common. Salt soils grow soyankins and wormwood. Around Schott - Tamari. For southern deserts are characterized by succulent plants, in appearance resembling stones. In the wilderness of Namib, a peculiar relict plant is common - Velvichia majestic (plant-stump) is the lowest tree of the Earth (up to 50 cm height with long fleshy leaves with a length of 8-9 m). Aloe, Mokha, wild watermelons, shrub acacia are found.
Typical soils desert - serous. In those places of sugar, where the groundwater is close to the surface of the Earth, oases are formed. All the economic activities of people are concentrated here, grapes, grenades, barley, millet, wheat are growing. The main plant of oasis is a palm tree palm.
Animal world semi-desert and deserts are poor. In the Sahara among large animals there are antelopes, wild cats, fench feng. In the sands there are carcans, gerbils, various reptiles, scorpions, phalanges.
Natural Tropical Wet Forest Area It is found on Madagascar Island and in the Dragon Mountains. It is characterized by iron wood, rubberos and rosewood trees.
The transition zone between tropical deserts and subtropical evergreen forests and shrubs are subtropical semi-desert and deserted steppes. In Africa, they occupy internal areas Atlas and Kapsky Mountains, Plateau Cara and the Libyan-Egyptian coast up to 30 ° C. sh. Vegetation is strongly resolved. In North Africa, these are cereals, xerophytic trees, shrubs and semi-stabiliques, in southern - succulents, bulbous, tuberous plants.
Zone subtropical evergreens of severe forests and shrubs Presented on the northern slopes of the Atlas Mountains and in the west of the Caps.
The forests of the Atlas Mountains form cork and stone oaks, Pine Alepopskaya, Atlas Cedar with an undergrowth of evergreen shrubs. Macvis is widespread - difficulty thickets from severe evergreen shrubs and low trees (Mirta, Oleander, pistachio, strawberry tree, Lavra). Typical brown soils are formed here. In the Kapska Mountains, vegetation is represented by the Cape Oil, Silver Tree, African Walnut.
In the extreme south-east of Africa, where the wet subtropical climateThe lush mixed subtropical forests are growing, represented by evergreen deciduous and coniferous rocks with an abundance of epiphytes. Zonal subtropical forests are red. The animal world of northern subtropics is represented by European and African species. In the northern subtropical forests, a noble deer, a mountain gazelle, a mouflon, a reed cat, jackal, Algerian fox, wild rabbits, barking, barking, barks and eagle, and eagle, and in the south - earthwood, antilopa-jumper are widely represented from birds.
Natural areas of Africa are located symmetrically relative to the equator. North and - "dry". The deserts and semi-deserts are dominated here, the outskirts are engaged in crucial forests and shrubs. Central (Equatorial) Africa is "wet", wet equatorial and variable-wet subequatorial forests grow there. To the north and south of Central Africa and in the elevated Eastern - Savannah and Raddarey.