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O Level Elective Geography

Chap 3: Types of Natural Vegetation

Tropical Tropical Monsoon Mangrove Forests Coniferous Forests

Rainforests Forests (Mangroves)

Distribution in  Between 10° N &  Between 10° to  Between 23.5°N  Between 60° &
the world S of the Equator 25° N & S of the & S of the Equator 70° N of the
Equator Equator
 Tropical  Tropical  Tropical climate,  Cool continental
equatorial monsoon climate: especially along climate
climate: high temp high temp (26°C) & sheltered coastal experiencing the 4
(27°C) & high high rainfall regions & places seasons, low temp

m
rainfall (1500mm) (1500mm), with where rivers (-40°C to 21°C) and

co
distinct wet & dry constantly deposit low precipitation
seasons clay & slit. (300mm to
635mm)

e.
 Amazon Basin,  SEA (India),  Alaska, northern
Congo Basin, SEA southern China, USA, northern
(Singapore)
ur
northern Australia Canada, Russia
Structure 5 vertical layers: 3 vertical layers:  3m to 40m No distinct layers:
ct
-Emergent -Canopy  3 horizontal trees grow
-Canopy -Understorey layers: uniformly in
le

-Understorey -Undergrowth -Coastal zone height (20m to

-Shrub -Middle zone 30m) in pure
ga

-Undergrowth -Inland zone stands

Diversity of plant Largest High biodiversity, 4 main halophytes Low biodiversity-
me

species biodiversity of all but lower than TR (salt-tolerant pure stands of

biomes: year- due to inconsistent plants) single species: few
round high temp & rainfall (lack of -A… plants can adapt to
w.

rainfall enables water in dry -S… climate/ the low

itself to support seasons) -R… temp &
ww

large variety of -B… precipitation

plants climate does not
support growth &
survival of most
plant species
Density  Extremely dense:  Dense plant  Dense canopy: Not dense: low
tropical growth (but less continuous temp/rainfall does
equatorial climate than TR): canopy formed to not support
encourages -Dense during compete for dense/abundant
dense, abundant wet season sunlight vegetation growth
vegetation -Slightly sparse  Sparse
growth. during dry undergrowth:
season canopy blocks
sunlight from

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 Crowns of close  Dense reaching the

trees interlock undergrowth: ground
forming a sunlight is able
continuous to pass through
canopy gaps in canopy
 Sparse
undergrowth:
continuous
canopy blocks out
most sunlight
from reaching the
ground
Leaves  Evergreen: high  Deciduous: shed  Evergreen: no  Evergreen: to
rainfall leaves during dry seasonal changes allow
throughout the season to  Broad leaves photosynthesis
year minimize water with drip tips when temp > 6°C
 Large and broad loss through  Thick leathery  Needle-like
leaves for transpiration surfaces to leaves to reduce
maximum SA for  Waxy drip tips to reduce water loss water loss
photosynthesis allow rainwater through through
 Waxy, drip tips to to drain off, transpiration transpiration
allow rainwater preventing  Salt secretors  Leaves store
to drain off, bacteria growth  Ultrafiltrators water for use in
Characteristics and adaptations

preventing winter
bacteria growth
Flowers &  Flowering &  Flowering &  Colourful to  Female cones
fruits fruiting all year fruiting during attract insects for produce seeds
round dry season pollination  Male cones
 Colourful & sweet  Buoyant fruits produce pollen
smelling fruits for elongated with
insect pollination/ sharp tips to
seed dispersal anchor itself in
soft muddy soil
Bark and  Thin, smooth  Thick coarse No adaptation  Thick barks to
branches bark (no barks to protect protect against
protection trees from heat long cold winters
needed) & dryness, to  Downward
 Branches found withstand sloping flexible
on uppermost ⅓ extreme heat branches to allow
portion of trunks from forest fires snow to slide off
for maximum  Branches located
sunlight around middle of
trunks

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Roots  Shallow roots  Deep tap roots  Aerial roots:  Shallow,

which spread for tapping exposed to take spreading roots
widely underground in oxygen, an to absorb water
 Buttress roots to water during dry adaptation to the from soil surface
support the season, due to O2 deprived soil when snow melts
incredibly tall inconsistent caused by
trees which rainfall waterlogged
compete for conditions
sunlight  Prop & kneed
roots: provide
firm support in
muddy soil

Structure of the TR and TMR

m
co
Tropical Rainforest Tropical Monsoon Forest
Emergent  Emergents reach a height of up to 50m

e.
30-50m and their crowns appear above the
canopy
 They have tall, straight trunks as they
compete for sunlight
ur
Canopy  The wide crowns of tall trees interlock  Crowns of trees do not interlock to
ct
15-30m to form a continuous canopy form a continuous canopy as they do
 It prevents sunlight from penetrating not grow as closely as TRs
le

into the lower layers  More sunlight is able to pass through

 Presence of plants, epiphytes and other gaps of canopy
ga

parasitic plants  Presence of plants, epiphytes and

other parasitic plants
me

Understorey  Trees have narrower, oval-shaped  Trees in the understorey are about
6-15m crowns and grow under gaps of the 15m in height
w.

canopy where sunlight can pass

through
 Tree saplings & woody plants growing
ww

Shrub
5-6m up to 6m are found
 Presence of shrubs, ferns and plants
which require less sunlight
Undergrowth  Dark and damp as very little sunlight  Bamboo thickets and grasses grow
0-5m reaches this layer densely during the wet season
 Plant growth is sparse due to lack of  The undergrowth is less dense during
sunlight in the undergrowth the dry season when rainfall is
 Mainly grasses, fungi and leaf litter insufficient
which decomposes quickly to release
nutrients into soil

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