In this post we are going to talk about the humid jungles, which is a special class of ecosystems with an abundant variety of fauna and flora, with its own peculiarities, and which are also recognized for having a warm and rainy climate, regardless of the time of year.
the humid forests
Between the types of jungle, humid forests occupy less than 7% of the earth's surface, but around two thirds of all species of living beings live in them, which includes animals and plants that are known to the world. man.
These forests are located in the areas that are close to the equator and the tropics, so they are present on continents such as South America, Africa and islands of Southeast Asia. Such is the case of the Congo in Africa; the humid jungle of Mexico, the humid jungle of New Guinea.
humid forest climate
The climate of the humid forests is hot and humid, which makes it possible for the plants to grow considerably, not only in size, but also in a variety of species. The rains in this type of forest are constant, throughout the year and reach up to 2000 mm per year. Temperatures in this kind of biome are usually higher than 18° C and have little change. Annual average temperatures range between 25° C and 27° C.
These conditions make the humid forests become an ecosystem that has a single season throughout the year. Usually, its soil is poor in nutrients, because the rains wash them away in a process called ferralitization.
Strata of the humid forest
Inside the humid forests there are different strata or layers made up of different kinds of vegetation at varying heights, which is part of the Types of Biodiversity. Among them we can find:
- Which is made up of fungi, bacteria and organic materials released by animals and plants. It is normally dark in color, because it does not receive sunlight, and it is very humid. There is the place where mammals and rodents live and we will find the roots of plants and trees.
- In this layer is where we will find the bushes, the trees of small species and the young trees that belong to species that are larger. It is also the place where birds and an immense variety of insects live. It is also a dark area, but in which the sun's rays do penetrate, making it possible for plants to carry out the function of photosynthesis.
- It is the area where the tops of the large number of jungle trees are found and where an immense variety of birds and mammals live.
- Over-canopy or emergent zone. It is made up of the trees that are taller in the humid forests, It can grow up to 60 meters.
rainforest flora
As we have already indicated, the humid forests are divided into different layers or strata among which their fauna and flora are distributed. The largest trees climb looking for sunlight, so it is usual for their stems to be very long and straight. The great diversity of the trees and plants of the humid forests conserve their leaves throughout the year, which is why it is a high evergreen forest. In humid forests you can get trees such as red cedar, ceiba or the highly prized mahogany.
In the space below that great jungle vegetation, is where bromeliads, lianas, lichens, mosses, ferns and orchids flourish. You can also find trees that are smaller, such as cork, rubberwood, soursop, cocoa rose or cocoa itself.
Fauna of the humid forests
Due to its richness in flora and its climate conditions, the fauna of the humid forests is also very exuberant and diverse and can be found in all the layers that make up the forest. The great diversity and set of animals is concentrated among the class of invertebrates, such as beetles, spiders, worms, ants and insects.
In this ecosystem of the humid forests you can also find mammalian inhabitants such as the raccoon, the anteater and the monkey; birds, among which it is possible to highlight the green parakeet, the royal toucan or the solitary eagle; and an extensive diversity of reptiles and amphibians such as salamanders, frogs and boa constrictors.
Examples of flora of the humid forests
Among the species of flora that inhabit the humid jungles, we can find the following: banana, cedar, mamey, bromeliad, ferns, orchids, coffee, heliconia, oil palm, mahogany, jasmine, passionflower, rubber, lianas or pitcher plants.
Examples of fauna of the humid forests
As for the animal species that have their habitat in this kind of ecosystem, we can find: owl, mamba, bat, crocodile, spider monkey, anteaters, iguana, jungle morrocoy, python, jaguar, tsetse fly, furry frog, parrot, mosquito and termite.
As we have mentioned, the jungle flora and fauna his Characteristics of an Ecosystem it is abundant, but it is also in a precarious balance, due to the activities and practices of commercial exploitation of man, which have endangered many of these species that we have mentioned.
