Vertical stratification - tropical rain forest, Biology

Assignment Help:

Vertical Stratification - Tropical Rain Forest

In a tropical rain forest, vertical stratification is very clearly seen. In addition to the different layers described above, there are lianas and climbers that twine around the .trees. A forest with four or five strata can support a greater diversity of life forms as compared to grassland with only two strata. Stratification is also seen in the underground plant parts, that is, the root and the rhizome systems. Root systems of different plant species tap moisture and nutrients from different soil depths. This enables them to avoid competition and too much exploitation of a particular soil layer.

Coming back to the above-ground parts of vegetation, the canopy which is the primary site of energy fixation, it has a major influence on the rest of the forest community.

A canopy is said to be open when considerable sunlight reaches the lower layers. In such cases the shrubs and understory tree strata are well developed. In a closed forest most of the sunlight is intercepted by tree canopies. The understory plants remain deprived of direct sunlight consequently the lower strata is comprised of shade tolerant species with poor growth of herbaceous layer. In such situations species requiring intense sunlight are absent or flourish only in the gaps created by the death of top canopy trees.


Related Discussions:- Vertical stratification - tropical rain forest

Enzyme-linked receptors, Numerous receptors have intrinsic or tightly relat...

Numerous receptors have intrinsic or tightly related enzyme activity.  On the required of ligand to their extracellular face like receptors undergo a conformational change and acti

Why do leaves change color, Why do leaves change color? Leave is the fo...

Why do leaves change color? Leave is the food factories of plants. During the spring and summer, leaves are actively making food and they are filled with chlorophyll, which giv

Green house effect and global warming, The Term "Green House" effect was fi...

The Term "Green House" effect was first introduced by j. Fourier in 1827. The green house effects are the rise in temperature of earth because certain gases in the atmosphere (CO2,

Zoonoses disease-salmonellosis, Salmonellosis Salmonellosis is an infe...

Salmonellosis Salmonellosis is an infection caused by bacterial species belonging to the genus Salmonella and usually associated with the ingestion of food containing salmonel

Phytoflagellates - protozoan, Phytoflagellates – Protozoan Phytoflagel...

Phytoflagellates – Protozoan Phytoflagellates are autotropbs that possess chlorophyll or other related pigments, and store food as fats, oils and starches (other than glycogen

Explain the oligosaccharides (dp: 3-9) - carbohydrates, Explain the Oligosa...

Explain the Oligosaccharides (DP: 3-9) - carbohydrates? Oligosaccharides consists of short chains of monosaccharide units joined by covalent bonds. The glycosidic bond may be α

Undescended testes (cryptorchidism), Undescended Testes (Cryptorchidism) ...

Undescended Testes (Cryptorchidism) Undescended testes is a ccmmon disorder. It may be unilateral and may be classified as ectopic cryptorchidism, when the testes are normal

Estimate the molar mass of protein, Estimate the molar mass of protein? ...

Estimate the molar mass of protein? An aqueous solution of the protein bovine serum albumin, containing 2:00 *10 -2 g of protein per cubic centimeter, has an osmotic pressure

Define alanine cycle, Alanine cycle Alanine Cycle  :  In the alanine ...

Alanine cycle Alanine Cycle  :  In the alanine cycle the pyruvate formed from glycolysis  in  the muscle is converted  to alanine by transamination  reaction. Alanine is rele

Ways in which genetic recombination occurs during meiosis, Define two ways ...

Define two ways in which genetic recombination occurs during meiosis. Genetic recombination happens during crossing- over and independent assortment.

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd