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Rainforest
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For other uses, see Rainforest (disambiguation).

Rainforests in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve

A view of Kitlope Lake in the Kitlope Heritage Conservancy.

Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with annual rainfall in the case
of tropical rainforests between 250 and 450 centimetres (98 and 177 in),[1] and definitions
varying by region for temperate rainforests. The monsoon trough, alternatively known as
the intertropical convergence zone, plays a significant role in creating the climatic
conditions necessary for the Earth's tropical rainforests.
Around 40% to 75% of all biotic species are indigenous to the rainforests.[2] There may be
many millions of species of plants, insects and microorganisms still undiscovered in tropical
rainforests. Tropical rainforests have been called the "jewels of the Earth" and the "world's
largest pharmacy", because over one quarter of natural medicines have been discovered
there.[3] Rainforests are also responsible for 28% of the world's oxygenturnover, sometimes
misnamed oxygen production,[4] processing it through photosynthesis from carbon
dioxide and consuming it through respiration.
The undergrowth in some areas of a rainforest can be restricted by poor penetration
of sunlight to ground level. If the leaf canopy is destroyed or thinned, the ground beneath is
soon colonized by a dense, tangled growth of vines, shrubs and small trees, called a jungle.
The term jungle is also sometimes applied to tropical rainforests generally.
Rainforests as well as endemic rainforest species are rapidly disappearing due
to deforestation, the resulting habitat loss and pollution of the atmosphere.[5]
Tropical
Main article: Tropical rainforest

Worldwide tropical rainforest zones.

Tropical rainforests are characterized by a warm and wet climate with no substantial dry
season: typically found within 10 degrees north and south of the equator. Mean monthly
temperatures exceed 18 °C (64 °F) during all months of the year.[6] Average
annual rainfallis no less than 168 cm (66 in) and can exceed 1,000 cm (390 in) although it
typically lies between 175 cm (69 in) and 200 cm (79 in).[7]
Many of the world's tropical forests are associated with the location of the monsoon trough,
also known as the intertropical convergence zone.[8] The broader category of tropical moist
forests are located in the equatorial zone between the Tropic of Cancerand Tropic of
Capricorn. Tropical rainforests exist in Southeast Asia (from Myanmar (Burma)) to
the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Sri Lanka; also in Sub-
Saharan Africa from the Cameroon to the Congo (Congo Rainforest), South America (e.g.
the Amazon rainforest), Central America (e.g. Bosawás, the southern Yucatán Peninsula-El
Peten-Belize-Calakmul), Australia, and on Pacific Islands (such as Hawaiʻi). Tropical
forests have been called the "Earth's lungs", although it is now known that rainforests
contribute little net oxygenaddition to the atmosphere through photosynthesis.[9][10]
Temperate
This section needs additional citations for verification.

Main article: Temperate rainforest

General distribution of temperate rainforests

Tropical forests cover a large part of the globe, but temperate rainforests only occur in
few regions around the world. Temperate rainforests are rainforests in temperateregions.
They occur in North America (in the Pacific Northwest in Alaska, British
Columbia, Washington, Oregon and California), in Europe(parts of the British Isles such as
the coastal areas of Ireland and Scotland, southern Norway, parts of the
western Balkans along the Adriatic coast, as well as in Galicia and coastal areas of the
eastern Black Sea, including Georgia and coastal Turkey), in East Asia (in southern China,
Highlands of Taiwan, much of Japan and Korea, and on Sakhalin Island and the
adjacent Russian Far Eastcoast), in South America (southern Chile) and also
in Australia and New Zealand.[11]
Layers
Main article: Stratification (vegetation)

A tropical rainforest typically has a number of layers, each with different plants and animals
adapted for life in that particular area. Examples include the
emergent, canopy, understory and forest floor layers.
Emergent layer
The emergent layer contains a small number of very large trees called emergents, which
grow above the general canopy, reaching heights of 45–55 m, although on occasion a few
species will grow to 70–80 m tall.[12][13]They need to be able to withstand the hot
temperatures and strong winds that occur above the canopy in some
areas. Eagles, butterflies, bats and certain monkeys inhabit this layer.
The canopy at the Forest Research Institute Malaysia showing crown shyness

Canopy layer
Main article: Canopy (biology)

The canopy layer contains the majority of the largest trees, typically 30 metres (98 ft) to 45
metres (148 ft) tall. The densest areas of biodiversity are found in the forest canopy, a more
or less continuous cover of foliage formed by adjacent treetops. The canopy, by some
estimates, is home to 50 percent of all plant species. Epiphytic plants attach
to trunks and branches, and obtain water and minerals from rain and debris that collects on
the supporting plants. The fauna is similar to that found in the emergent layer, but more
diverse. A quarter of all insect species are believed to exist in the rainforest canopy.
Scientists have long suspected the richness of the canopy as a habitat, but have only recently
developed practical methods of exploring it. As long ago as 1917, naturalistWilliam
Beebe declared that "another continent of life remains to be discovered, not upon the Earth,
but one to two hundred feet above it, extending over thousands of square miles." True
exploration of this habitat only began in the 1980s, when scientists developed methods to
reach the canopy, such as firing ropes into the trees using crossbows. Exploration of the
canopy is still in its infancy, but other methods include the use of balloonsand airships to
float above the highest branches and the building of cranes and walkways planted on the
forest floor. The science of accessing tropical forest canopy using airships or similar aerial
platforms is called dendronautics.[14]
Understory layer
Main article: Understory

The understory or understorey layer lies between the canopy and the forest floor. It is
home to a number of birds, snakes and lizards, as well as predators such as jaguars, boa
constrictors and leopards. The leaves are much larger at this level and insect life is
abundant. Many seedlings that will grow to the canopy level are present in the understory.
Only about 5% of the sunlight shining on the rainforest canopy reaches the understory. This
layer can be called a shrub layer, although the shrub layer may also be considered a
separate layer.
Forest floor
Main article: Forest floor
Rainforest in the Blue Mountains, Australia

The forest floor, the bottom-most layer, receives only 2% of the sunlight. Only
plants adapted to low light can grow in this region. Away from riverbanks, swamps and
clearings, where dense undergrowth is found, the forest floor is relatively clear of
vegetation because of the low sunlight penetration. It also contains decaying plant and
animal matter, which disappears quickly, because the warm, humid conditions promote
rapid decay. Many forms of fungi growing here help decay the animal and plant waste.
Flora and fauna

A Kermode bear from the Great Bear Rainforest

More than half of the world's species of plants and animals are found in the
rainforest.[15]Rainforests support a very broad array of fauna,
including mammals, reptiles, birds and invertebrates. Mammals may
include primates, felids and other families. Reptiles include snakes, turtles, chameleons and
other families; while birds include such families as vangidae and Cuculidae. Dozens of
families of invertebrates are found in rainforests. Fungi are also very common in rainforest
areas as they can feed on the decomposing remains of plants and animals.
The great diversity in rainforest species is in large part the result of diverse and numerous
physical refuges,[16] i.e. places in which plants are inaccessible to many herbivores, or in
which animals can hide from predators. Having numerous refuges available also results in
much higher total biomass than would otherwise be possible.[17][18]
Soils
This section needs expansion.

Despite the growth of vegetation in a tropical rainforest, soil quality is often quite poor.
Rapid bacterial decay prevents the accumulation of humus. The concentration
of iron and aluminium oxides by the laterizationprocess gives the oxisols a bright red colour
and sometimes produces mineral depositssuch as bauxite. Most trees have roots near the
surface, because there are insufficient nutrients below the surface; most of the trees'
minerals come from the top layer of decomposing leaves and animals. On younger
substrates, especially of volcanic origin, tropical soils may be quite fertile. If rainforest trees
are cleared, rain can accumulate on the exposed soil surfaces, creating run-off and
beginning a process of soil erosion. Eventually streams and rivers form and flooding
becomes possible.
Effect on global climate
A natural rainforest emits and absorbs vast quantities of carbon dioxide. On a global scale,
long-term fluxes are approximately in balance, so that an undisturbed rainforest would have
a small net impact on atmospheric carbon dioxide levels,[19] though they may have other
climatic effects (on cloudformation, for example, by recycling water vapour). No rainforest
today can be considered to be undisturbed.[20] Human-induced deforestation plays a
significant role in causing rainforests to release carbon dioxide,[21][22] as do other factors,
whether human-induced or natural, which result in tree death, such as burning and
drought.[23] Some climate models operating with interactive vegetation predict a large loss
of Amazonian rainforest around 2050 due to drought, forest dieback and the subsequent
release of more carbon dioxide.[24] Five million years from now, the Amazon rainforest may
long since have dried and transformed itself into savannah, killing itself in the progress
(changes such as this may happen even if all human deforestation activity ceases
overnight).[25]
Human uses

Aerial view of the Amazon rainforest, taken from a plane.

Further information: Tropical rainforest § Human dimensions

Tropical rainforests provide timber as well as animal products such as meat and hides.
Rainforests also have value as tourismdestinations and for the ecosystem servicesprovided.
Many foods originally came from tropical forests, and are still mostly grown
on plantations in regions that were formerly primary forest.[26] Also, plant-derived
medicines are commonly used for fever, fungal infections, burns, gastrointestinal problems,
pain, respiratory problems, and wound treatment.[27] At the same time, rainforests are
usually not used sustainablyby non-native peoples but are being exploitedor removed
for agricultural purposes.
Native peoples
This section needs expansion.

On January 18, 2007, FUNAI reported also that it had confirmed the presence of 67
different uncontacted tribes in Brazil, up from 40 in 2005. With this addition, Brazil has
now overtaken the island of New Guinea as the country having the largest number of
uncontacted tribes.[28] The province of Irian Jaya or West Papua in the island of New
Guinea is home to an estimated 44 uncontacted tribal groups.[29] The tribes are in danger
because of the deforestation, especially in Brazil.
Central African rainforest is home of the Mbuti pygmies, one of the hunter-gatherer peoples
living in equatorial rainforests characterised by their short height (below one and a half
metres, or 59 inches, on average). They were the subject of a study by Colin Turnbull, The
Forest People, in 1962.[30]Pygmies who live in Southeast Asia are, amongst others, referred
to as “Negrito”.
Deforestation
Further information: Deforestation in Southeast Asia, Deforestation in Madagascar, and Deforestation of the
Amazon Rainforest

Satellite photograph of the haze above Borneo and Sumatra on 24 September 2015.

Tropical and temperate rainforests have been subjected to heavy legal and illegal
logging for their valuable hardwoods and agriculturalclearance (slash-and-
burn, clearcutting) throughout the 20th century and the area covered by rainforests around
the world is shrinking.[31] Biologists have estimated that large numbers of species are being
driven to extinction (possibly more than 50,000 a year; at that rate, says E. O.
Wilson of Harvard University, a quarter or more of all species on Earth could be
exterminated within 50 years)[32] due to the removal of habitat with destruction of the
rainforests.
Another factor causing the loss of rainforest is expanding urban areas. Littoral rainforest
growing along coastal areas of eastern Australia is now rare due to ribbon development to
accommodate the demand for seachange lifestyles.[33]
Forests are being destroyed at a rapid pace.[34][35][36] Almost 90% of West Africa's
rainforest has been destroyed.[37] Since the arrival of humans, Madagascar has lost two
thirds of its original rainforest.[38] At present rates, tropical rainforests in Indonesia would
be logged out in 10 years and Papua New Guinea in 13 to 16 years.[39] According
to Rainforest Rescue, an important reason for the increasing deforestation rate, especially in
Indonesia, is the expansion of oil palmplantations to meet growing demand for cheap
vegetable fats and biofuels. In Indonesia, palm oil is already cultivated on nine million
 hectares and, together with Malaysia, the island nation produces about 85 percent of the
world’s palm oil.[40][unreliable source?]
Several countries,[41] notably Brazil, have declared their deforestation a national
emergency.[42] Amazon deforestation jumped by 69% in 2008 compared to 2007's twelve
months, according to official government data.[43]
However, a January 30, 2009 New York Timesarticle stated, "By one estimate, for
every acreof rain forest cut down each year, more than 50 acres of new forest are growing in
the tropics..." The new forest includes secondary forest on former farmland and so-
called degraded forest.[44]
See also
References
Further reading
External links

Last edited 1 month ago by John singh

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layer of plant life growing above the shrub layer and below the canopy
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