Found along the equator with the
sun directly overhead- rapid
photosynthesis
South Amercia, central
America, South east Asia
soil
Dead organic material and hot damp conditions on the
forest floor allows rapid decomposition to take place. This
along with the rainfall adds plenty of nutrients.
HOWEVER heavy rainfall quickly washes away these nutrients
despite the infertile soil the
rainforest survises because
flora and fauna remains in the
humid conditions and adds
utrients to the soil
vegetation structure
plant adaptations
plants are adapted to the
heavy rainfall- thick waxy
leaves that have pointed
tipsthaatb channel the water
so it runs off, so the weight of
the water doesnt damage the
leaf
tall ttrees
have butrress
roots- support
their trunks in
the shallow
soil.
climbing plants- use the tree
trunks to climb up to the light for
photosynthesis
Hot deserts
areas
North Africa, Middle East,
South West USA, Australia
mainly latitudes15 and 30 north and
south of the equator, along the tropic
of cancer and tropic of capricorn
climate
there is very little rainfall. when it
does rain varies alot, it may rain once
every two or three years.
Temperatures are
extreme-they range from
very hot in the day(45), to
cold at night(5)
soil
Hardly any leaf fall or rain so the
soil is not very fertile. it i usually
shallow with a gravely texture
vegetation
plant growth is pretty sparse due to the
lack of rainfal. plants that do grow include
cacti and thornbushes
plant adadptations
plant roots are exremely long to reach the deep
water supplies and spread out near the surface
to get as much water when it does rain
cacti have swolen stems to store water
and a thick waxy skin to reduce water
loss
the seeds of some plants only germinate
when it rains. The plants grow when
there is enough water to survive
temperature decidious forest
areas
Europe, japan, china, south USA
found at latitudes of 40-60 north and
south of the eqator
climate
4 distinct seasons, rainfall all year
but the summers are warm
soil
the soil is fertile because there
is a thick layer of leaf fall and
rains often which adds
nutrients to the soil
plant adaptations
trees are decidious- they drop
leaves in autumn to reduce water
loss in months when it is harder to
get water- frozen soil, lack of sun
for photosynthesis
wildflowers grow on the forest floow before
trees grow leaves and block out
photosynthesis
vegetation
tropical grassland
areas
mainly between latitudes of 5-15 north
and south of the equator