Figure 4.17 Tropical forest climatographThe temperature is warm to hot and varies little throughout the year.
Precipitation is evenly distributed throughout the year, with annual rainfall
exceeding 80 inches (200 cm). The soil is nutrient-poor because competition is
intense for nutrients, with most nutrients being quickly assimilated and stored in
plant tissue. Decomposition is rapid, and soils are subject to heavy leaching. The
tree canopy in tropical forests is multilayered and continuous, allowing little
light penetration. Plants are highly diverse. Trees are tall, with buttressed trunks
and shallow roots, and are mostly evergreen, with large dark, green leaves.
Plants, such as orchids, bromeliads, vines (lianas), ferns, mosses, and palms, are
present in tropical forests.
Animals include numerous birds, bats, small mammals, and insects. More
than half of all tropical forests have already been destroyed.