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Forests
A geographic area characterized by a dense growth of trees and underbrush.
5,185 Questions
When is World Forest day celebrated?
World Forest Day is celebrated on March 21st every year. It is a day designated by the United Nations to raise awareness about the importance of forests and to promote sustainable forest management.
Who wrote you can't see the forest for the trees?
The phrase "can't see the forest for the trees" is a common idiom used to describe someone who is too focused on small details to see the bigger picture. The exact origin of the phrase is unknown, but it has been used in various forms in literature, music, and everyday language since at least the 16th century.
Does the deciduous forest have a lot of trees?
Yes, deciduous forests are characterized by a high density of trees that shed their leaves seasonally. These forests are known for their rich biodiversity and are home to a wide variety of plant and animal species.
Forests help people by providing clean air through the process of photosynthesis, regulating the climate by absorbing carbon dioxide, providing habitat for wildlife, and offering opportunities for recreation and stress relief. Additionally, forests are a valuable source of food, medicine, and raw materials for many communities around the world.
What county is the new forest in?
The New Forest is located in the county of Hampshire in southern England. It covers an area of over 200 square miles and is known for its ancient woodlands, heathlands, and wildlife.
Bush fires are wildfires that occur in forests, grasslands, or other open areas with vegetation. They can spread quickly and be difficult to contain, often causing damage to natural ecosystems and harming wildlife. Bush fires are typically fueled by dry conditions and high winds.
Why is the destruction of rain forests a concern?
The destruction of rainforests is a concern because they are vital for biodiversity, absorbing carbon dioxide, regulating our climate, and providing habitats and resources for countless species, including humans. When rainforests are destroyed, it can lead to loss of biodiversity, increased greenhouse gas emissions, and disruption to ecosystems with far-reaching environmental and social consequences.
What are some human impacts that can affect tropical dry forest?
Some human impacts that can affect tropical dry forests include deforestation for agriculture and logging, habitat fragmentation due to infrastructure development, and overgrazing by livestock. These activities can lead to loss of biodiversity, soil erosion, and disruption of important ecosystem services.
What are the two types of tropical forest?
The two types of tropical forests are tropical rainforests and tropical dry forests. Tropical rainforests are characterized by high rainfall and year-round warm temperatures, while tropical dry forests experience a pronounced dry season with less rainfall than rainforests.
What is the climate in tropical deciduous forest?
The climate in tropical deciduous forests is characterized by distinct wet and dry seasons. They typically receive high amounts of rainfall during the wet season, while the dry season experiences reduced precipitation. The temperature in these forests is generally warm to hot year-round.
What is the wind pattern of deciduous forests?
Deciduous forests typically experience varying wind patterns depending on the season and location. During the growing season, the canopy of deciduous forests can buffer the wind, creating a relatively calm environment below. In the winter, when trees are bare, these forests may be more exposed to prevailing winds.
IntroductionThe Deccan Thorn Scrub Forests harbor the last populations of the globally threatened Jerdon's courser (Rhinoptilus bitorquatus), rediscovered recently, eighty-six years since it was last recorded in 1900. Otherwise, the ecoregion is neither exceptionally species-rich nor high in endemism. Many ecologistsbelieve that the thorn scrub vegetation represents a degraded stage of the tropical dry forests, modified by human and livestock use over hundreds of years.
Location and General Description
Satellite view of southern India and northern Sri Lanka. (Photograph by National Geographic Society)
The ecoregion represents the thorn scrub vegetation in the arid parts of the Deccan Plateau. It sprawls across the Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra and also includes part of northern Sri Lanka.
The Deccan Plateau itself was part of the ancient southern continent, Gondwanaland, that disintegrated during the Cretaceous to give rise to the Indian Subcontinent as well as Africa,Madagascar, Australia, South America, and New Guinea and some of the smaller islands such as New Caledonia and Tasmania. After the Deccan Plateau drifted northward to collide with the Eurasian continent about 50 million years ago, geological uplift gave rise to the Western Ghats Mountains along the western coast of the peninsula. This mountain range then intercepted the moisture-laden southwest monsoons and created a dry rainshadow in the vast plateau, affecting its vegetation. But in the more recent past, human influences have altered the vegetation to create vast areas of thorn scrub from what was believed to be tropical dry forests.
Annual rainfall in the ecoregion is less than 750 millimeters. All rain is received during the brief wet season, and there is practically no rainfall from November to April. Ambient temperatures can exceed a sweltering 40oC during the hotter months of the year.
The forest type in this ecoregion is mostly southern tropical thorn scrub, as defined by Champion and Seth (1968), but includes patches of tropical dry deciduous forests, which are believed to be the original vegetation. The former consists of open, low vegetation characterized by thorny trees with short trunks and low, branching crowns that rarely meet to form a closed canopy. The trees attain heights of 6-9 meters. The second story is poorly developed and consists of spiny and xerophytic species, mostly shrubs. During the brief wet season an ill-defined lower story can be discerned. The dominant vegetation is Acaciaspecies, with Balanites roxburghii, Cordia myxa, Capparisspp., Prosopis spp., Azadirachta indica, Cassia fistula, Diospyros chloroxylon, Carrisa carandas, and Phoenix sylvestris.
Changeable hawk eagle (Spizaetus cirrhatus), India. (Photograph by Rahula Perera)
Champion and Seth (1968) have also identified several habitat types within this vast thorn scrub ecoregion. In areas of particularly low rainfall and rocky soils, the thorn scrub transitions into a Euphorbia-dominated scrub (i.e., the southern Euphorbia scrub). Here the soil usually is bare, although some grassy growth may appear during the short monsoon season.
In parts of Tamil Nadu, where rainfall is even less, the vegetation is made up of open thorny forests with scattered Acacia planifrons that are characterized by umbrella-shaped crowns. This vegetation is described as Carnatic umbrella thorn forests by Champion and Seth (1968).
Scattered amid the thorn scrub are patches of dry grasslands that provide habitat for the native fauna. For example, the grasslands of southern Andhra Pradesh support a good population of the Indian bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) and blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra). The typical grasses in this habitat include Chrysopogon fulvus, Heteropogon contortus, Eremopogon foveolatus, Aristida setacea, and Dactylocteniumspp.
Patches of dry deciduous forests, especially along the Tirupathi Hill Ranges, are known for a large number of medicinal plants and various other species of botanical interest, among which are the rare endemic cycad (Cycas beddomei) and Psilotum nudum. The latter usually is found along steep escarpments. A small patch of the dipterocarp Shorea talura exists within the Chittoor forest division, part of which is being maintained as a preservation plot by the Forest Department of Andhra Pradesh.
The Srilankamalleswara Sanctuary between the Nallamalais and Sechachalam hill ranges is known for a rare, endemic tree species, red sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus). This area is also the southern distributional limit of the nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) in the Indian Peninsula.
Biodiversity FeaturesUntil the recent past, this ecoregion provided important habitat for the tiger (Panthera tigris) (in the Indian sector) and Asian elephant (Elephas maximus). But over the years, their populations have dwindled and even become locally extinct because of the adverse influences from the dense human population.
The mammal fauna in the ecoregion includes ninety-six species, including two endemic rodents and an endemic bat (Table 1).Table 1. Endemic Mammal Species. FamilySpecies Rhinolophidae Hipposideros schistaceus*Muridae Millardia kondana* MuridaeCremnomys elvira*An asterisk signifies that the species' range is limited to this ecoregion.
The endemic rodents are threatened. Other threatened species in the ecoregion include tiger, gaur (Bos gaurus), wild dog (Cuon alpinus), sloth bear (Melursus ursinus), chousingha (Tetracerus quadricornis), and blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra). The important elephant populations are now only marginally included within this ecoregion. Small wolf populations may still be left, although most have been eliminated by a combination of loss of prey and poisoning by people as retribution for livestock predation.
The ecoregion's bird fauna consists of almost 350 species, of which three are near-endemics (Table 2).Table 2. Endemic and Near-Endemic Bird Species. FamilyCommon Name Species Glareolidae Jerdon's courserRhinoptilus bitorquatusPhasianidaeCeylon junglefowlGallus lafayetiiCapitonidaeYellow-fronted barbetMegalaima flavifronsAn asterisk signifies that the species' range is limited to this ecoregion.
The Jerdon's courser (Rhinoptilus bitorquatus) is a globally threatened species that was rediscovered in this ecoregion in 1986, after the last record in 1900 (Grimmet et al. 1998). The known population of this species is limited to a small area in this and the neighboring Central Deccan Plateau Dry Deciduous Forests. The Ceylon junglefowl (Gallus lafayetii) is limited to the ecoregion's area in northern Sri Lanka. The globally threatened lesser florican (Eupodotis indica) and Indian bustard are other birds of conservation importance in this ecoregion.
Current StatusMore than 90 percent of the ecoregion's natural habitat has been degraded or cleared, but one large block of habitat remains in southern Andhra Pradesh. The eleven protected areas cover more than 4,000 kilometers 2, but this represents just about 1 percent of the ecoregion area (Table 3). The Great Indian Bustard reserve accounts for most of the protected areas system.Table 3. WCMC (1997) Protected Areas That Overlap with the Ecoregion. Protected AreaArea (km2) IUCN Category Chandikulam 120 IV Vettangudi 20 IV Srivenkateswara 500 IV Nandur Madmesh War 80 IV Jaikwadi 230 IV Great Indian Bustard 2,600 IV Great Indian Bustart (extension) 250 PRO Sagareshwar 50 IV Ghataprapha 110 IV Tungabadra 90 DE Ranebennur 60 IV Total4,110 Ecoregion numbers of protected areas that overlap with additional ecoregions are listed in brackets.
Types and Severity of ThreatsThe forests in this ecoregion have been degraded to thorn scrub solely as a result of these human activities. Among the more serious sources of degradation is pastoralism, both from heavy cattle grazing and from forest produce extracted by the pastoralists. Several village pastures have been taken over by an exotic thorny shrub, Prosopis juliflora, resulting in the loss of grazing areas for the cattle and encroachment into the reserved forests or protected areas for grazing. The conservation status of the ecoregion was changed from endangered to critical after the analysis of projected threats from the human population. There is a common perception that these dry forests are not important for conservation. Therefore, grazing and forest clearing, especially for fuelwood, are rampant
Autotrophs in deciduous forest?
Those are some autotrophs in a Deciduous Forest.....
•American Beech
•Carpet Moss
•Common Lime
•Guelder Rose
•Lady Fern
•Northern Arrowwood
•Pecan
•Shagbark Hickory
•Tawny Milksap Mushroom
•White Birch
Temperate Forests contain deciduous trees, which are trees that shed their leaves every year. Majority of the deciduous forests contain trees like maple, oak, hickory, beech, evergreens, etc. Those varieties of trees create a close-knit canopy over the shrubbery on the forest floor. The varieties of soils and all the precipitation helps in the growth of the trees, who also have height to reach the radiation the sun provides.
What affect do people have on Temperate Forest?
People can have both positive and negative effects on temperate forests. Positive impacts include engaging in conservation efforts to protect and restore forest ecosystems. Negative impacts can include deforestation, habitat destruction, pollution, and invasive species introduction, all of which can disrupt the balance of the forest ecosystem.
Types of trees found in temperate evergreen forests?
Some common tree species found in temperate evergreen forests include Douglas fir, redwood, hemlock, and spruce. These trees are adapted to cooler climates and generally retain their needles year-round, hence the term "evergreen."
Are both deciduous and coniferous forests found in humid subtropical climate?
Deciduous forests are more common in humid subtropical climates due to higher rainfall and warmer temperatures. Coniferous forests can also be found in some humid subtropical regions, typically in areas with higher elevation or cooler microclimates.
The clearing of forest lands for agriculture, infrastructure, or urban development can result in habitat loss, biodiversity decline, increased carbon emissions, and disruption of ecosystems. It can contribute to deforestation, soil erosion, and loss of valuable ecosystem services that forests provide. Conservation efforts and sustainable land management practices are crucial to mitigate these negative impacts and preserve forest ecosystems for future generations.
How are broad-leaved trees adapted to living in deciduous forest?
They adapt to the deciduous forest by shedding their leaves in the fall and they regrow them in the spring to avoid being killed by drying and freezing temperatures. Thus they survive through the winters. They also shed their leaves so they do not lose water rapidly.
~Unknown Tree Examiner
How much rain does the coniferous forest get a year?
I've found some resources that I think will help to answer your question about how much light, soil and water coniferous forests get.
The first resource is called "Coniferous Forest". It describes the amount of rainfall these types of forests receive. The website also details the types of plants present and the differing climates found in coniferous forests.
go to earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Experiments/Biome/bioconiferous.php
This resource is sponsored by the Earth Observatory at Nasa so I believe it's reliable.
The second resource entitled, "The Forest Biome" details the type of soil that temperate and coniferous forests have. This website also relates the type of canopy that is present, which determines the amount of sunlight that can penetrate to the forest floor. Also discussed is the average amount of yearly rainfall.
go to ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/forests.php
This website is provided by the University of California Museum of Paleontology, which is a respected organization. As a result, I feel it's trustworthy.
The third source, "Coniferous Forests", also relates the type of soil and vegetation that grows on the forest floor. This source also discusses the amount of light and snowfall that makes its way through the canopy layer.
go to panda.org/about_our_earth/ecoregions/about/habitat_types/habitats/coniferous_forests/
This source comes from WWW Global, a well-known and highly respected organization.
I found these resources by searching for the phrase, "coniferous forests" in the search engines Yahoo! and Google (quotation marks not needed).
What are the three levels of a forest?
the first level of the forest is upper cannopy. the top level of the forest formed by the leaves and branches of the tsllest trees. Upto 35% of rain is caught in the canopy.different birds (owls, oriols,etc) and insects(aphids, tent catterpillers,etc)make their homes here
the second level of the
What plants are in the tropical seasonal forest?
In the tropics there are no real seasons (as there are in temperate climates) and therefor the plants that grow in the tropics do not show seasonal behaviour.
However, in the tropics plants do still have times for flowering, seeding etc. but these are no synchronised across all species. There are also some climates where there are wet (when plants are able to grow) and very dry periods (when plants wither) some plant species are adapted to this variability.
When did slash and burn start?
Slash and burn agriculture practices date back thousands of years, with evidence of its use found in various ancient civilizations around the world. The practice involves cutting down and burning vegetation to clear land for cultivation, and has been traditionally used by subsistence farmers in tropical regions.
Why does the northeast have so many forests?
The northeast has many forests due to a combination of factors such as the region's climate, soil conditions, and historical land use practices that have allowed forests to thrive and regenerate. Additionally, the area has lower population density compared to other regions, which has contributed to the preservation of forests.
In the tales of sherwood forest who was robins love?
Robin Hood's love interest in Sherwood Forest was Maid Marian. Maid Marian is often portrayed as a strong and independent woman who shares Robin's values of justice and helping the oppressed.
What kind of plant life dominates the coniferous forest biome?
Coniferous trees, like pine, spruce, and fir, dominate the coniferous forest biome. These trees have adapted to the cold and harsh conditions of the biome by retaining their needle-like leaves year-round and producing cones to reproduce. Understory plants in these forests tend to be shade-tolerant and include species like ferns and mosses.
