A luxuriant, dense forest, found typically in tropical areas with consistently heavy rainfall is called a rainforest. It has usually many plants and animals. Rainforests cover only six percent of the earth’s area and provides forty percent of oxygen to the whole world. The rainforests gets an average of 50-250 inches of rain per year. The rainforests have a carpet of green leaves on the surface floor of the forest. This is called the humus layer.
There are two types of rainforests:
1. Tropical rainforests
2. Temperate rain forests
Tropical and temperate rainforests share certain characteristics. Some similar characteristics are as follows.
1. Both types of rainforests have most trees flare at the base.
2. Vegetation is dense, tall and very green.
3. Both types of rainforests are rich in animals and plants, although the diversity is greater in tropical forests.
The tropical rainforests and temperate rainforests have some differences, which are as follows:
1. Tropical rainforests are warm while temperate rainforests are cool.
2. Types of leaves is different in both rainforests i.e. tropical rainforests have broad leaves while temperate rainforests have needle type leaves.
3. Decomposition rate in tropical forests is rapid while in temperate forests, decomposition rate is slow.
The rainforests are made up of four layers which are:
1. Emergent layer
2. Canopy layer
3. Understory layer
4. Forest floor
The emergent layer is found at the top of the trees. Their height is about 200 feet above the forest floor and has very thick trunks, that measure up to 16 feet around. Most of the trees are hard wood and ever green broad leaved. Sunlight is plentiful at this layer. Animals that are found here are: monkeys, eagles, bats and butterflies.
Canopy layer is the primary layer of rainforests. The canopy layer is like a huge green roof over the forests. The trees grow up thin and straight, like pillars. They do not put branches until they are very tall. The trees have smooth and oval shaped leaves. It is the habitat of many animals as; food is abundant in this area. These animals include: snakes, toucans and tree frogs etc.
The understory layer is usually dark, humid place, found under canopy layer. Sunlight reaches this area rarely as they are covered by the canopy layer. The plants in this layer must be able to live with a little sunlight and breeze. Bushes, large green plants and small trees make up this layer. The animals which are found in this layer are: jaguars, leopards and res-eyed tree frogs.
The ground level is called the forest floor. This layer is very dark as no sunlight reaches this portion. Things decompose quickly because no sunlight reaches there. Giant anteaters live in this layer.
Soil quality is poor in rainforests. Accumulation of humus is prevented by rapid bacterial decomposition. Most trees have roots near the surface. Because of insufficient nutrients, most of the trees come from the top layer of decomposing leaves and animals. On younger substrate, especially on volcanic origin, soil is quite fertile.