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Tropical Dry Forest . By: Jenn Jarosh. Dry Season Rainy Season. Most trees are dormant and 50% may be evergreen. Insects, mammals, and birds make seasonal migrations to wetter habitats. Trees, flowers and insects appear to pollinate. This is when the pace of life quickens.
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Tropical Dry Forest By: JennJarosh
Dry Season Rainy Season • Most trees are dormant and 50% may be evergreen. • Insects, mammals, and birds make seasonal migrations to wetter habitats. • Trees, flowers and insects appear to pollinate. • This is when the pace of life quickens. • Trees are tallest in the wettest areas.
Geography • Tropical dry forests occupy a substantial portion of the earths surface. • Africa- North and South of Central African Rain Forest • Americas- North and South of Amazon Rain Forest. West Coast of Central America, and North America along the West Coast of Mexico. • Asia- Most of India and Indochina Peninsula. • Australian Tropical Dry Forests form a continuous band across the Northern and Northeastern portions of the continent.
Climate and Soil • Dry season lasts between 6-7 months. ~About May to October. • Followed by abundant rainfall. That lasts about 5-6 months. ~About November to April. • Soil- Less acidic and richer in nutrients • However torrential rain makes the soil highly vulnerable to erosion
Biological Adaptations • Many frogs and insects burrow deep into mud • Birds and monkeys retreat to damp areas, such as stream beds. • These forests can support a surprising diversity of amphibians, and of course, reptiles can be very abundant in dry forest, where tough skin and hard-shelled eggs give them an advantage. • Deciduousness is not the only option. • Some have rich green chlorophyll filled bark.
Biological Adaptations • Deciduousness is not the only option. • Some have rich green chlorophyll filled bark. • Some vegetation has water storage tissues. ~ swollen roots ~ an extra waxy layer on leaves ~ nyctinasty- closing of leaves at night
Human Influences • Heavy human settlement has devastated the tropical dry forest. • The relatively fertile soil attracts agricultural development: ~Cattle ranches ~grain farmers ~cotton fields • Dry season makes the land more accessible and easier to burn.
Sources • Ecology Concepts and Applications • www.ceiba.org/loorecology.htm