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Tropical Forest Subdivisions
Tropical Forests may be divided according to rainfall distribution. Besides rainfall, forests may be further classified according to their soil type, elevation, and forest structure. Source: http://homepages.wmich.edu/~kohlers/bios105/files/tropical%20forests.pdf
This classification is assigned to each ecoregion on the map, and visible when you hover over it.
Lowland Evergreen Rain Forests
These are the tropical rain forests that most people envision. High species diversity and no noticeable dry season.
Their canopies have multiple levels. Mature tree crowns may have a radius larger than 65ft (20m). Trees may grow like buttresses for physical support (See photo below).
Lianas, and woody climbers, with hooks for climbing are common.
Epiphytes are quite common too. These are plants that live on other plants, like orchids, ferns, and bromeliads.
Another characteristic plant are the hemi-epiphytes. This plants germinate on the canopy and grow roots down the trunk. A common example are Ficus species.
An example of a lowland evergreen rain forest is the Amazon Rain Forest.
Semi-evergreen Rain Forests
Characterized by a dry season or moderate draught. Some trees may show a seasonal leafless period.
Deciduous component may take one third of the upper canopy and sometimes deciduous trees may clump in one area of the forest.
Species diversity is lower than evergreen rain forests.
An example is the Odisha or Orissa semi-evergreen forests of west India.
Moist/Dry Deciduous Forests or Monsoon Forests
The length of the dry season increases to the point that most trees are deciduous.
Trees maybe leafless 2 to 6 months. Therefore light penetrates to the bottom of the forest much of the year.
Light penetration results in grass species being common. These forests grade into savannahs.
Some examples are Madagascar Dry Deciduous forests or South Deccan Deciduous forests in South India.
Montane Rain Forests
In mountainous regions in the tropics, there is a drastic change in vegetation as elevation increases.
Closer to summits the vegetation is shorter, about 5ft (1.5m). Plants also have small thick leaves.
Vines and buttresses are absent. Mosses are quite common.
An example of these forests are the Montane Rain Forests of the Andes in Central Colombia.
Also called Kerangas in Asia. These forests have a canopy that is low and uniform. There is no vertical stratification.
Leaves are small with brown to reddish colors. The amount of light that filters to the ground is high.
This type of forests have a high number of insectivorous plants, like pitcher plants.
Soils are Podzolic, therefore acidic and with good drainage.
An example of these forests, are the Sundaland Heath Forests in South Borneo.
Also called "mangal", these forests have salt or brackish water. These forests are common along coastlines.
Mangrove forests do not have a high plant diversity. Most belong to the Rhizosphoraceae family, or mangroves.
Mangroves grow in anaerobic waters with high salinity. These trees also have pneumatophores, which enable part of their roots to grow above water to get oxygen.
In South Bangladesh you can find the largest mangrove forests called the Sundarbans Mangroves.
Freshwater and Peat Swamp Forests
This forests are mainly characterized by the habitat rather than the plant structure.
Peat is non decomposed plant material that years ago, during glaciation or due to bad drainage.
They are associated with low lying areas near rivers, and are seasonally covered by rivers.
This inundation results in high nutrient content and fast growth of trees.
An example are the Tonle-Sap Mekong Peat Swamp Forests in south Cambodia.
Tropical Evergreen Rain Forest Plants
The canopy in most tropical forests has multiple layers. Inside it, every plant is competing for a ray of light.
The canopy architecture has an upper layer of emerging tall trees