JETZT SPENDEN

Rain forest

 

   

Tropical rainforest is a collective term for lowland, mountain rain and cloud-covered forests, which are located in the equatorial zone. These ecosystems are characterized by a high biodiversity.

Nevertheless, the number of individuals of different species is low. This means that you are more likely to find two different types rather than two of exactly the same species.

 

The rainforest offers a variety of human lifestyles and  livelihood possibilities: Forests harbour the majority of terrestrial animal and plant species and provide construction materials, food, clean water and medicinal plants. They also influence the local and global climate formation and prevent erosion.

 

About two thirds of the world's animal and plant species live in tropical rainforests, the richest habitats on earth.

 

The tropical climate has a lot of rain - in particular the rainy seasons in Spring and Autumn. In the tropical rainforest dominated by the so-called 'time of day' climate, the temperature variations within a day are greater than in the year.

 

A typical feature of the tropical rainforest is the formation of complex vegetation levels on the trees that are home to each characteristic species.

 

Link to picture gallery

 

The different stories have different main features - for example, there is the greatest biodiversity on the lower "floor".

 

The largest trees are as high as 60 metres, forming a dense canopy. Because of these leaves very little light reaches from the roof to the ground and lower floors of the tropical rainforest.

 

Rainforst on Borneo

 

Therefore, there are a lot of "bottoming plants" in the rainforest - plants that grow on the trunks, branches and even leaves of trees and are carried by them. Thus, these plants are better supplied with light, but they lack nutrients and water.

 

To overcome this problem, different species have devised different tricks. For example, there are orchids that can get nutrients and moisture from the atmosphere with aerial roots.

 

The Tarsier is the smallest primate in the world.