What is the difference between tropical subtropical and temperate rainforests

For example, most trees flare at the base. Vegetation is dense, tall and very green. Both types of rainforests are rich in plant and animal species, although the diversity is greater in the tropical rainforest. Broadleaf deciduous trees such as Brazil nut trees, mahogany trees, rubber trees, fig trees and cacao trees are just a few of the hundreds of tree species that live there. Many of the tropical rainforest plants have medicinal value.

In fact, over 25 percent of modern medicines come from tropical rainforest plant species. Tropical rainforest animals include monkeys, jaguars, sloths and tapirs, as well as a variety of snakes, frogs, lizards, and other reptiles and amphibians. Many insects thrive in the tropical rainforest biome because of the consistently warm temperatures and high humidity. A variety of migrating songbirds live there for part of the year, as well as year-round bird species including harpy eagles, hummingbirds, toucans, macaws and quetzals.

Temperate rainforest animals include:. Birds such as eagles, owls, woodpeckers and crossbills characterize this ecosystem.

A variety of insects, salamanders, frogs, snakes and turtles live mainly on the forest floor of the temperate rainforest. Emily Neal is a freelance science writer and nature photographer.

She has a B. Other rainforests in the region are made up of tree specie s like the Douglas fir, coastal Redwoods and Sitka spruce. All these trees are famous for their incredible beauty, enormous height, and ability to grow for thousands of years, making them the icons of the region.

This area is also particularly dear to our hearts because of its connection to our planting project to protect Southern Resident Orca and Salmon habitat. Another North American rainforest is the Appalachian temperate rainforest , which is located in the southern part of the Appalachian Mountains in the Eastern United States.

The forest extends through the Appalachian areas of western North Carolina, southwest Virginia, southeastern Kentucky, northern South Carolina, northern Georgia and eastern Tennessee. The high mountain environment creates habitat for over 10, northern species, including 2, different types fungi species and animals such as black bears, moose, white tailed deer, chipmunks, foxes, a variety of birds and over 30 species of salamanders!

As for tree species of the Appalachian temperate forests, conifer trees like the spruce, fir and mixed woods can be found growing in this region. The Valdivian temperate rainforest can be found on the west coast of Argentina and Chile. These forests are characterized by a dense understory of fern and bamboo , and have predominantly evergreen angiosperm trees. Though little recognized around the world, parts of the Valdivian rainforest are quite famous.

The Taiheiyo Evergreen Forests is an ecoregion located in southern Japan, consisting of, predominantly, evergreen broadleaf trees. The ecoregion spreads across an area of 53, square miles an area about the size of Florida on the Pacific Taiheiyo side of the islands of Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushi. The canopy's dominant tree species are the Japanese stone oak and the Japanese cedar, while the understory is composed of moso bamboo , mosses and lichens.

It's important to note that while these forests are home to thousands of animal, plant and fungi species, they have been negatively affected by human activity such as farming, mining, logging and urbanization in the past years.

This results in biodiversity and habitat loss, pollution and deforestation. If you want to help protect and restore these forests, along with many other types of forests around the world, consider planting a tree with us today! Tropical rainforests are found closer to the equator where it is warm. Temperate rainforests are found near the cooler coastal areas further north or south of the equator. The tropical rainforest is a hot, moist biome where it rains all year long.

It is known for its dense canopies of vegetation that form three different layers. The top layer or canopy contains giant trees that grow to heights of 75 m about ft or more. This layer of vegetation prevents much of the sunlight from reaching the ground.