Chapter : Natural Vegetation

A Study of the Earths Forests

Chapter 3: Natural Vegetation

Topics covered:
Glo al distri ution of the different types of forests Characteristics of the different types of forest Adaptations of each type of forest to its environ!ent

Chapter ": Natural Vegetation

Natural vegetation refers to plants that gro# naturally in a place #ith little or no human interference. An ecosyste! is a co!!unity of living organis!s$ including plants$ ani!als and people$ #ithin a physical environ!ent and the interactions et#een the!%

Chapter ": Natural Vegetation

Therefore$ natural vegetation &plants' are only a part of the larger ecosyste! that also includes ani!als and hu!ans% (o#ever$ natural vegetation plays an i!portant role in every ecosyste! ecause it provides food and shelter for ani!als%

Chapter ": Natural Vegetation

Natural vegetation can e grouped into 3 !a)or types:
Forests Grasslands *eserts

These vegetation types are +no#n as io!es%

Chapter ": Natural Vegetation

A io!e refers to the living part of an ecosyste!% (ence$ there are forest io!es$ grassland io!es and desert io!es%

Forest io!e: Tropical rainforest

Forest io!e: Te!perate deciduous forest

Forest io!e: Coniferous forest

Forest io!e: ,angrove forest

Forest io!e: Tropical !onsoon forest

Grassland io!e: Tropical grassland

Grassland io!e: Te!perate grassland

*esert io!e: (ot desert vegetation

*esert io!e: Cold desert vegetation &tundra'

-hy are there different types of natural vegetation.

There are !any types of natural vegetation !ainly due to the different types of cli!ate e/perienced in different parts of the #orld Te!perature affects vegetation ecause if it is too cold &less than 01C'$ fe# plants can gro#% 2n the other hand$ #ar! te!peratures &a ove 341C' allo# a undant plant gro#th%

-hy are there different types of natural vegetation.

5recipitation &rainfall' also affect vegetation ecause all plants re6uire #ater to gro#% ,ost trees re6uire !ore #ater to gro# than grass%

-hy are there different types of natural vegetation.

(ence$ !ost forests gro# in areas #ith high rainfall &a ove 7444 !! a year'% 8n areas #ith !oderate precipitation of et#een 344 !! and 7444 !!$ grasslands are !ore co!!on% 8n areas #ith less than 344 !! of rain$ deserts are found%

9ocation of *ifferent Types of Natural Vegetation

8t is therefore not surprising that different types of vegetation can e found in different parts of the #orld$ depending on the a!ount of rainfall and the average te!peratures found in those places% See the !ap on the follo#ing slide and descri e the distri ution of four different types of natural vegetation%

9ocation of *ifferent Types of Natural Vegetation

As you can see fro! the !ap:
Te!perate coniferous forests can e found !ainly far fro! the e6uator in the northern he!isphere & et#een 041N and :41N of the e6uator'%

9ocation of *ifferent Types of Natural Vegetation

As you can see fro! the !ap:
Tropical rain forests are found !ainly along the e6uator #hile tropical !onsoon forests are found slightly further a#ay fro! the e6uator% (o#ever$ oth these types of forests are found in the tropics & et#een 33%;1N and 33%;1S of the e6uator'% ,angrove forests can e found in coastal tropical regions%

Tropical rainforests
Tropical rainforests can e found in areas #ith a tropical e6uatorial cli!ate% Such places are located et#een 741N and 741S of the e6uator$ #ith high rainfall of a ove 7;44 !! a year and te!peratures of a ove 3:1 throughout the year% The three largest rainforests are the A!a<on rainforest$ the Congo asin rainforest and the rainforests in South= east Asia%

Tropical rainforests

Tropical rainforests: Structure

Tropical rainforests have a structure of five distinct layers: E!ergent layer: trees #ith a height of 34! to ;4! have long$ thic+ and straight trun+s and e!erge fro! the canopy layer%

SHRUB LAYER

UNDERGROWTH

Tropical rainforests: Structure

Canopy layer: trees have a height of 7;! to 34! and have #ide$ u! rella=shaped cro#ns that loc+ sunlight fro! reaching the lo#er layers of the forest%

SHRUB LAYER

UNDERGROWTH

Tropical rainforests: Structure

>nderstorey layer: shorter trees #ith a height of 0! to 7;! gro#? they have oval=shaped cro#ns to catch sunlight passing through gaps in the canopy? younger trees are also found here%

SHRUB LAYER

UNDERGROWTH

Tropical rainforests: Structure

Shru layer: young trees and #oody plants are found here$ gro#ing up to 0! high%

SHRUB LAYER

UNDERGROWTH

Tropical rainforests: Structure

>ndergro#th layer: grasses$ !osses and fungi gro# sparsely here due to lac+ of sunlight? plants reach !a/i!u! height of ;!%
SHRUB LAYER UNDERGROWTH

Tropical rainforests: Structure

So!e plants$ called epiphytes overco!e the shortage of sunlight y gro#ing high up on tree ranches to get sunlight &e/a!ples: ferns$ orchids'% 2ther plants$ +no#n as lianas$ gro# up#ards to get !ore sunlight y #inding around tree trun+s%

Epiphytes

9ianas

,ushroo!s &Fungi' gro#ing on the forest floor

Tropical rainforests: Structure

5arasitic plants such as the strangler fig can also e found in the understorey and canopy layers% (o#ever$ due to the lac+ of sunlight$ the are fe# plants gro#ing in the undergro#th$ #hich is !ade up !ostly of decaying leaf litter%

5arasitic strangler figs

Tropical rainforests: *iversity

Tropical rainforests support the largest diversity of plant species of any io!e on earth% Scientists esti!ate that on average$ one hectare of rainforest contains :;4 species of trees and 7;44 species of other plants% ,any species of hard#ood trees such as chengal and !eranti can e found%

Tropical rainforests: *ensity

Tropical rainforests are also very dense$ #ith trees gro#ing close together% The large nu! er of trees is due to the high rainfall and te!peratures that allo# plants to gro# rapidly and in great nu! ers%

Tropical rainforests: 9eaves

Tropical forest trees are evergreens as the leaves re!ain green throughout the year% This is unli+e deciduous trees$ #hich shed their leaves in the autu!n or in the dry seasons% The leaves are also large to a sor as !uch as !uch sunlight as possi le% They are also #a/y and have drip tips to allo# #ater to drain off%

Tropical rainforests: Fruits and flo#ers

Trees in the tropical rainforest have rightly=coloured flo#ers to attract insect pollinators% They also have s#eet=s!elling fruits and flo#ers to attract ani!als for seed dispersal%

Colour and variety of flo#ers in the tropical rainforest

Rafflesia flo#er$ #hich uses the s!ell of rotting flesh to attract insect pollinators

Tropical rainforests: 9eaves

The ar+ of trees in the tropical rainforest is thin ecause they are not re6uired to protect the trees fro! dry or cold conditions% @ranches are also located in the top one=third portion of the trun+s and they are shaped li+e u! rellas to capture as !uch sunlight as possi le%

Tropical rainforests: Aoots

Aoots of tropical forest trees are shallo# ecause they do not need to reach deep into the soil for #ater% This also allo#s the roots to tap the a undant nutrients found in the layer of leaf litter of on the ground% So!e of the tallest trees have uttress roots to support their great #eight and prevent the!

Tree roots near the surface$ ,alaysia

Tropical !onsoon forests

Tropical !onsoon forests can e found in tropical areas in ands 741 and 3;1 north and south of the e6uator% They gro# in areas #ith high te!peratures &a out 301C' and rainfall &over 7;44!!'% (o#ever$ unli+e tropical rainforests$ it is found in areas #ith distinct #et and dry seasons% E/a!ples can e found in 8ndia and northern Australia%

Tropical !onsoon forests

Tropical !onsoon forests: Structure

>nli+e the tropical rainforest$ the tropical !onsoon forest has only three layers%

Tropical !onsoon forests: Structure

Canopy layer: 7;! to 34! in height$ ut the trees are !ore spread out$ this allo#ing sunlight to pass through% 2ther plants such as creepers$ vines$ epiphytes and parasitic plants can also e found%

Tropical !onsoon forests: Structure

>nderstorey layer: Bounger trees can e found here$ a out 0! to 7;! in height%

Tropical !onsoon forests: Structure

>ndergro#th: the undergro#th contains a! oo and grass% *uring the #et season$ there is dense vegetation$ ut there is less dense vegetation during the dry

Contrast et#een !onsoon forest during the dry and #et seasons

Tropical !onsoon forests: *iversity

There are only a out 344 species of plants in a tropical !onsoon forest$ co!pared to a out 7;44 in a tropical rainforest% This is ecause fe# plants can survive a long ti!e #ithout #ater during the dry season% (o#ever$ !any valua le species of hard#oods such as tea+ and sandal#ood can e found%

Tropical !onsoon forests: *ensity

Tropical !onsoon forests are less dense then tropical rainforest as the trees do not gro# as closely to each other% As a result$ there are gaps in the canopy$ #hich allo# sunlight to pass through% This allo#s dense undergro#th to develop$ especially during the #et season%

Tropical !onsoon forests: 9eaves

Tress in tropical !onsoon forest are deciduous$ #hich !eans that their leaves fall off at certain ti!es of the year% This occurs during the dry season to allo# trees to conserve #ater% 9eaves are also #a/y and have drip tips as there is heavy rain during the #et season% So!e plants$ such as the a! oo$

Tropical !onsoon forests: Flo#ers and fruits

Flo#ers and fruits in tropical !onsoon forests are not as colourful or s#eet=s!elling as those in the tropical rainforest% They also tend to flo#er and ear fruit during the dry season%
Flo#ers and fruits of the co!!on tea+ tree &Tectona grandis)

Tropical !onsoon forests: @ar+ and ranches

Tropical !onsoon forest trees have thic+ and coarse ar+ that protects the! fro! heat$ dryness and even forest fires during the dry season% @ranches are also located in the !iddle section of the trun+ instead of near the top ecause sunlight is a le to reach the lo#er parts of the forest%

Aed eech tree ar+$ Australia

Tropical !onsoon forests: Aoots

The roots of trees in tropical !onsoon forests are deep in order to tap #ater during the dry seasons%

,angrove forests
,angrove forests can e found in are found et#een 33%;1 north and 33%;1 south of the e6uator in areas #ith a tropical cli!ate$ especially along sheltered coastlines and places #here rivers deposit sedi!ent$ such as river !ouths% Aainfall in !angrove forests is et#een 7444!! and 3444!!% E/a!ples include Sungei @uloh in Singapore and the Sundar ans in

,ap sho#ing location of !angrove forests

,angrove forests: Structure

Tropical forests are divided in three distinct horizontal <ones%

,angrove forests: Structure

Trees in the coastal <one are nearest to the sea have adapted to gro#ing in salt #ater and have reathing roots or aerial roots%

,angrove forests: Structure

Trees in the !iddle <one have prop roots or stilt roots to lift the! out of the sea #ater during high tide and give trees support%

,angrove forests: Structure

The inland <one contains trees that are least tolerant to salt #ater% These trees have +nee=li+e roots to give the! support%

,angrove forests: *iversity

2nly a s!all nu! er of trees can survive in the salty conditions along the coast% ,angrove trees$ ho#ever$ are halophytes$ #hich are highly specialised plants that have adapted to gro#ing in salty conditions% These trees provide valua le resources such as food$ !edicine$ fire#ood$ construction !aterials and charcoal%

,angrove forests: *ensity

,angrove forest has dense vegetation ecause of high te!peratures and rainfall% The canopy is dense and little sunlight gets through to reach the ground$ resulting in

,angrove forests: 9eaves

9eaves of !angrove trees are road to a sor sunlight and have drip tips to allo# rain to flo# off 6uic+ly% They are also thic+ and leathery to prevent #ater loss% So!e leaves contain glands that allo# the! to secrete e/cess salt% Salt is also stored in old leaves #hich then fall off and re!ove the salt fro! the tree%

,angrove leaves sho#ing their thic+$ leathery te/ture

,angrove leaves #ith salt glands

Salt #ater eing e/creted y glands on leaves

Salt crystals for!ing on the leaf of a !angrove tree

Another type of !angrove leaves #ith salt glands

,angrove forests: Flo#ers and fruits

,angrove tree flo#ers are generally colourful in order to attract insects%

,angrove forests: Flo#ers and fruits

@ecause !angrove trees live near the sea$ so!e of their fruits are uoyant and can float on #ater% This allo#s the! to e carried a#ay on the #ater to other areas of the coast #here they can ger!inate%

,angrove forests: Flo#ers and fruits

2ther types of fruits egin to gro# #hile still on the parent tree% Such fruits also have sharp tips to anchor the!selves into the soil% These adaptations allo# the fruits to start gro#ing into trees i!!ediately%

,angrove forests: Aoots

The roots of !angrove trees are specially adapted to the !uddy$ #aterlogged soil$ and also to the #aves that occur along the coastline% Trees in the coastal <one have aerial roots to allo# the! to reathe even though they are under#ater%

,angrove forests: Aoots

2ther types of roots include prop roots that help anchor the tree fir!ly and also help to lift it out of the sea #ater at high tide%

,angrove forests: Aoots

,angrove trees further inland have +nee=li+e roots that provide fir! support on the soft soil%

,angrove forests: Aoots

Finally$ so!e !angrove trees have special !e! ranes that can filter salt fro! the #ater that it

Coniferous forests
Coniferous forests can e found in areas #hich e/perience a cool te!perate continental cli!ate% These areas can e found et#een 041 and :41 north of the e6uator% Such places e/perience su!!er te!perature of 371C and #inters as cold as =C41C% 5recipitation is lo#$ #ith only 344 !! to 03;!! throughout the year% 8n #inter$ this precipitation falls as sno#%

,ap sho#ing the location of coniferous forests

Coniferous forests: Structure

Coniferous forests have only t#o layers% The canopy layer is !ade up of trees #hich gro# to a unifor! height of et#een 34! to 34!% Trees are gro# close together ut not as closely as trees in tropical rainforests% The undergro#th layer has very little vegetation ecause of the lo# a!ount

Coniferous forests: *iversity

*ue to the harsh$ cold conditions$ only a fe# species of trees gro# in coniferous forests% These include soft#ood trees such as pine$ spruce and fir trees$ #hich are useful for !a+ing paper$ !atches and furniture% 2ften$ coniferous forests contain only one to three species of trees gro#ing in a forest%

Fraser fir

@lue spruce

Coniferous forests: *ensity

*ue to cold te!peratures and lac+ of sunlight$ trees in coniferous forests cannot gro# as densely as those in tropical rainforests%

Coniferous forests: 9eaves

The leaves in coniferous forests are evergreen and are not shed% This allo#s the trees to !a+e full use of the short gro#ing season in su!!er% 9eaves are also needle=li+e to !ini!ise #ater loss%

Coniferous forests: Flo#ers and fruits

Coniferous trees produce cones instead of flo#ers and fruits li+e !ost other trees% These cones protect the seeds inside fro! the e/tre!ely cold conditions% Also$ the cones can e either !ale or fe!ale &and they can oth e on the sa!e tree'%

Coniferous tree sho#ing oth !ale and fe!ale cones

Coniferous forests: Aoots

Coniferous trees have shallo# spreading roots #hich ena le the! to a sor #ater fro! the surface during the short #ar! !onths% Aoots do not go deep as the ground there !ay e per!anently fro<en$ even during the su!!er%

Su!!ary: 8!portance of Forests

8n this chapter$ #e have learnt a out four types of forest and the adaptations they have to survive in their environ!ents% 8n the ne/t chapter$ #e #ill e/a!ine the i!portance of forests to oth the Earth$ as #ell as to the hu!ans #ho live on it%