Tropical Monsoon Forests

Tropical Monsoon Forests

• They are found in the tropics
• The place has high temperature [about 26° C] and rainfall[1500 mm per year]
• These place also have distinct wet and dry season/
• Example, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Southern China and Northern Australia.
• Mainly between 10°  and 25°  N and S of the equator
• Wet and dry season are caused by the monsoon winds.

Structure of Forest

• This forest has only 3 layers.
• Canopy,Understory ad Undergrowth.

CANOPY
- Trees here grow to 25 to 30m
- They are more spread out compared to Tropical Rainforest
- Epiphytes,creepers,vines and parastitic plants are found within this layer

UNDERSTORY
- Tress grow up to about 15m

UNDERGROWTH
- Thick bushes and bamboos cover the forest floor.

Diversity And Density

• There are few types of tress compared to Tropical Rainforest
• It is less dense compare to tropical rainforest
• Crown of trees do not interlock
• and thus the undergrowth is able to grow,

Leaves

• Are Deciduous.
• Meaning their leaves are shed during dry season
• this to minimise water lost.
• Leaves also have waxy surface to prevent growth of bateria during wet seasons.
• Other plants such as bamboo plant minimise water lose by having narrow leaves.

Flower and fruits

• Most of the tress bare fruits in the dry seasons

Barks and Branches

• Thick and coarse
• This protect the tree from the heat of dry season
• As dry seasons are really dry, forest fire happen and the barks can protect it from the fire.
• Branches are located at the middle as it do not need to fight for sunlight.

Roots

• Tress here have long and deep roots
• this is to tap water source from deep underground as water supply is not constant.