Description of the variable rain forests of South America. Zone of variable humid subtropical forests

Monsoon forests are vast green areas with lush vegetation and rich wildlife. During the rainy season, they resemble equatorial evergreen forests. Found in subequatorial and tropical climate. They attract tourists and photographers with a variety of picturesque landscapes.

Description

Monsoon rainforests are most common in the tropics. Most often they are located at an altitude of 850 meters above sea level. They are also called deciduous due to the fact that the trees lose their leaves during periods of drought. Heavy rains return them to their former richness and color. The trees here reach a height of twenty meters, the leaves on the crowns are small. Evergreen species and many lianas and epiphytes are common in the undergrowth. Orchids grow in the monsoon zone. They are found in the Brazilian coastal mountain ranges, the Himalayas, Malaysia, Mexico, and Indochina.

Peculiarities

Monsoon forests in the Far East are famous for their diversity of plants and animals. Warm and humid summers and an abundance of plant food create favorable conditions for habitat of insects, birds, mammals. Conifers and broadleaf trees. Among the inhabitants of the forests, sable, squirrel, chipmunk, hazel grouse, as well as animals rare for climate zone Russia. Characteristic inhabitants of monsoon forests - Ussuri tiger, black bear, sika deer, wolf, raccoon dog. There are many wild boars, hares, moles, and pheasants on the territory. Reservoirs subequatorial climate are rich in fish. Some species are protected.

Rare orchids grow in the humid forests of Brazil, Mexico, and Indochina. About sixty percent are sympodial species, well known among gardeners. The red-yellow soils of monsoon areas are favorable for ficus, palm trees, and valuable tree species. The most famous ones include teak, satin, tallow, and iron. For example, it is capable of forming a dark grove from its trunks. In Indian botanical garden a huge banyan tree grows, which has almost two thousand (!) trunks. The crown of the tree covers an area of ​​twelve thousand square meters. Variable rain forests become a habitat for bamboo bears (pandas), salamanders, tigers, leopards, poisonous insects and snakes.

Climate

Which predominates monsoon forests? Winters here are mostly dry, summers are not hot, but warm. The dry period lasts three to four months. Average temperature air is lower than in humid tropics: absolute minimum -25 degrees, maximum - 35 with a "+" sign. The temperature difference ranges from eight to twelve degrees. Characteristic feature climate - long rainfalls in summer and their absence in winter. The difference between the two opposite seasons is huge.

Monsoon forests are known for their morning fog and low clouds. This is why the air is so saturated with moisture. By noon bright sun completely evaporates moisture from vegetation. In the afternoon, a foggy haze forms in the forests again. High air humidity and cloudiness persist for a long period of time. In winter, precipitation also falls, but rarely.

Geography

IN subequatorial belt due to loss large quantity precipitation and its uneven distribution, high temperature contrast, monsoon forests develop. On the territory of Russia, they grow in the Far East, have a complex topography, and a rich flora and fauna. There are humid forests in Indochina, Hindustan, the Philippine Islands, Asia, North and South America, and Africa. Despite the long rainy seasons and prolonged drought, the fauna in the monsoon forest areas poorer than in humid equatorial regions.

The most pronounced phenomenon of monsoons is on the Indian continent, where a period of drought is replaced by heavy downpours, the duration of which can be seven months. This change in weather is typical for Indochina, Burma, Indonesia, Africa, Madagascar, northern and eastern Australia, and Oceania. For example, in Indochina and the Hindustan Peninsula, the dry period in forests lasts seven months (from April to October). Trees with large crowns and arches grow in vast monsoon areas. irregular shape. Sometimes forests grow in tiers, which is especially noticeable from above.

Soil

Monsoon wet soils are characterized by a red tint, granular structure, and low humus content. The soil is rich in useful microelements such as iron and silicon. Sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium in wet soil very little. On the territory Southeast Asia Zheltozems and red soils predominate. Central Africa and are distinguished by dry black soil. Interestingly, as the rains stop, the concentration of humus in monsoon forests increases. The reserve is one of the forms of protection wildlife in an area rich in valuable plants and animals. It is in humid forests that many species of orchids are found.

Plants and fauna

Monsoon forests in subequatorial climate Hindustan, China, Indochina, Australia, America, Africa, Far East(Russia) are characterized by a variety of fauna. For example, in Southeast Asia, teak trees are common in variable humid zones, as are Indochinese laurel and ebony. There are also bamboo, vines, butea, and cereals. Many trees in forests are highly valued for their healthy and durable wood. For example, teak bark is dense and resistant to destruction by termites and fungi. Sal forests grow at the southern foot of the Himalayas. IN monsoon areas Central America has many thorny bushes. Grows in humid climate and valuable jat wood.

In subequatorial climates, fast-growing trees are common. Palms, acacias, baobab, spurge, cecropium, entandrophragma, ferns predominate, and there are many other types of plants and flowers. The humid climate zone is characterized by a wide variety of birds and insects. Woodpeckers, parrots, toucans, and butterflies are found in the forests. Among the terrestrial animals found in monsoon forests are marsupials, elephants, different representatives cat family, freshwater, amphibians, frogs, snakes. This world is truly bright and rich.

The subequatorial climate zone is transitional and occurs in the northern and southern hemispheres, from to tropical zones.

Climate

In summer, in the zones of the subequatorial belt, the monsoon type of climate prevails, which is characterized by a large number precipitation. Its characteristic feature is the change air masses from equatorial to tropical depending on the season of the year. In winter, dry trade winds are observed here.

The average monthly temperature varies between 15-32º C, and the amount of precipitation is 250-2000 mm.

The rainy season is characterized by high rainfall (almost 95% of the year) and lasts about 2-3 months. When tropical easterly winds prevail, the climate becomes arid.

Countries of the subequatorial belt

The subequatorial climate zone passes through the countries of: South Asia (the Hindustan Peninsula: India, Bangladesh and the island of Sri Lanka); Southeast Asia (Indochina Peninsula: Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines); southern part North America: Costa Rica, Panama; South America: Ecuador, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, Guiana; Africa: Senegal, Mali, Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Sudan, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania , Burundi, Tanzania, Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Angola, Congo, DRC, Gabon, as well as the island of Madagascar: Australia;

Natural zones of the subequatorial belt

Map of natural zones and climate zones of the world

The subequatorial climate zone includes the following natural zones:

• savannas and woodlands (South America, Africa, Asia, Oceania);

And woodlands are predominantly found in the subequatorial climate zone.

Savannas are mixed grasslands. The trees here grow more regularly than in the forests. However, despite the high density of trees, there are open spaces covered with herbaceous vegetation. Savannas cover about 20% of the Earth's land area and are often in the transition zone between forests and deserts or grasslands.

• altitudinal regions (South America, Africa, Asia);

This natural zone is located in mountainous areas and is characterized by climate change, namely a decrease in air temperature by 5-6 ° C as the altitude increases above sea level. In areas of altitudinal zonality, there is less oxygen and reduced atmospheric pressure, as well as increased ultraviolet radiation.

• variable-humid (including monsoon) forests (South America, North America, Asia, Africa);

Variably humid forests, along with savannas and open forests, are mainly found in the subequatorial zone. The flora is not distinguished by a wide variety of species, unlike wet equatorial forests. Since this climate zone has two seasons (dry season and rainy season), the trees have adapted to these changes and are mostly broad-leaved deciduous species.

• wet equatorial forests(Oceania, Philippines).

In the subequatorial zone, moist equatorial forests are not as widespread as in the equatorial zone. They are characterized complex structure forests, as well as a wide variety of flora, which is represented by evergreen tree species and other vegetation.

Soils of the subequatorial belt

This belt is dominated by red soils of variable rainforests and tall grass savannas. They are characterized by a reddish tint, granular structure, and low humus content (2-4%). This type of soil is rich in iron and has negligible silicon content. Potassium, sodium, calcium and magnesium are found here in negligible quantities.

Mountain yellow earth, red earth and lateritic soils are common in Southeast Asia. In South Asia and central Africa, black soils of dry tropical savannas are found.

Animals and plants

The subequatorial climate zone is home to fast-growing trees, including balsa trees and members of the cecropia genus, as well as trees that grow longer (more than 100 years), such as sweetenia and various types entandrophragm. Gabonese mahogany trees are common in humid tropical forests. Here you can find baobab, acacia, various types of palm trees, milkweed and parkia, as well as many other plants.

The subequatorial climate zone is characterized by a variety of fauna, especially birds (woodpeckers, toucans, parrots, etc.) and insects (ants, butterflies, termites). However, there are not many terrestrial species, these include.

Variably moist forests grow in those areas of the Earth where precipitation in the form of rain does not fall all year round, but the dry season does not last long. They are located in Africa north and south of the equatorial rain forests, as well as in northeastern Australia.

Look geographical location zones of variable humid forests on the map of natural zones.

The life of variable humid forests is closely related to seasonal climate changes: during the dry season, under conditions of moisture deficiency, plants are forced to shed their leaves, and during wet season dress again in foliage.

Climate. IN summer months temperature in areas variable-humid forests reaches 27 degrees Celsius, in winter months The thermometer rarely drops below 21 degrees. The rainy season comes after the hottest month. During the summer rainy season there are frequent thunderstorms, and there may be continuous cloud cover for several days in a row, often turning into rain. During the dry period, some areas may not receive rain for two to three months.

Variably humid forests are dominated by yellow earth and red earth forests. soil. The structure of the soil is granular-lumpy, the humus content gradually decreases downwards, on the surface - 2-4%.

Vegetation.

Among the plants of variable humid forests, evergreen, coniferous and deciduous trees are distinguished. Evergreens include palm trees, ficus, bamboo, all kinds of magnolia, cypress, camphor tree, tulip tree. Deciduous trees are represented by linden, ash, walnut, oak, and maple. Among the evergreens, fir and spruce are often found.

Animals.

The fauna of the variable humid forests is rich and varied. The lower tier is home to many rodents, large animals include elephants, tigers and leopards; monkeys, pandas, lemurs, and all kinds of felines find refuge among the tree branches. Meet Himalayan bears, raccoon dog and wild boar. The variety of birds is represented by pheasants, parrots, partridges and black grouse. Pelicans and herons live on the banks of rivers and lakes.

Man has destroyed a significant part of the variable rain forests. In place of cleared forests, rice, tea bushes, mulberries, tobacco, cotton, and citrus fruits are grown. It will take a long time to restore lost forest areas.

Variably wet forests. The zone of variable wet (including monsoon) forests extends in the east and south of Eurasia. The vegetation here is represented by conifers and deciduous trees(cedar, pine, oak, walnut, gingko) and evergreens (palms, ficus, bamboo and magnolias), which grow mainly on red-yellow soils. Animal world also characterized by significant species diversity: monkeys, tigers, leopards, as well as endemics - bamboo bear(panda), gibbon, etc.

Slide 11 from the presentation « Natural areas Eurasia". The size of the archive with the presentation is 643 KB.

Geography 7th grade

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