Chapter 3, Natural vegetation

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Chapter 3, Natural vegetation

Coniferous Forests

Roots

Shallow spreading roots

Branches slope downwards

Thick bark

Male cones produce pollens

Female cones produce seeds

Needle-like

Not dense

Pure stands of single species such as pine and spruce

Uniform in height

300mm to 635mm in rainfall

As low as -40degree in winter, about 21degree in the summer

Mainly located in Alaska, Northern Canada. Areas of high altitudes where the climate is cold

Between 60N and 70N of the equator

Tropical Monsoon Forests

Deep tap roots

Branches are around the middle

Thick and coarse bark

Flowering and fruiting during the dry season

Waxy with drip tips

Decidous

Dense undergrowth

Dense during wet season, sparse during dry season

High biodiversity but fewer than tropical rainforests

3 vertical layers (Canopy layer, Understorey layer, Undergrowth)

Over 1500mm, with wet and dry seasons

About 26degree

Southeast Asia, Southern China and Northern Australia

Between 10 and 25 N and S of the equator

Mangrove Forests

Aerial, Prop and Kneed roots

Bark and Branches

No adaptation to climate or environment

Buoyant fruits with sharp tips

Broad, leathery with drip tips

Dense canopy

4 main species: Avicennia, Sonneratia, Rhizophora, Bruguiera

3 horizontal zones (coastal zone, middle zone, inland zone)

Climate (temperature and rainfall)

1000mm to 2000mm in rainfall

20 to 30degree

Can be found in especially along sheltered coastal regions and places where rivers constantly deposit clay and silt.

Between 23.5N and S of the equator

Tropical Rainforests

Roots

Shallow buttress roots

Bark and branches

Smooth and thin bark

Branches are high up on the trunk

Flowers and fruits

Colourful flowers

Flowering and fruiting all year round

Leaves

Broad, waxy and drip tips

Evergreen

Density

Sparse undergrowth

Dense emergent and canopy layers

Diversity of plants

High biodiversity

Structure

5 vertical layers(Emergent layer, Canopy layer, Understorey layer, Shrub layer, Undergrowth layer)

Climate(temperature and rainfall)

Over 1500mm in rainfall

About 27degree

Distribution

Eg. Amazon Basin in South America and Congo Basin in Africa

Between 10N and S of the equator