How are tropical rainforests and temperate forests different? Answer: Tropical rainforests and temperate forests are different in several ways. Tropical rainforests have a hot and humid climate with average temperatures of around 25°C and rainfall of between 1,500 to 2,500 mm annually. In contrast, temperate forests have a milder climate with average temperatures of around 10°C to 20°C and an annual rainfall of between 750 to 1,500 mm. Tropical rainforests are characterized by dense vegetation, which has a layered structure, with tall trees forming an upper canopy and shorter trees, shrubs, and ground cover forming a middle and lower canopy. In contrast, temperate forests are characterized by more open vegetation, with fewer trees and more understory plants. Temperate forests are also typically deciduous, meaning that trees lose their leaves in the fall, while tropical forests are evergreen, with trees keeping their leaves year-round. The biodiversity in tropical rainforests is much higher than in temperate forests, with a greater number of species of trees, plants, and animals. Many tropical plants and animals are also found only in these environments. In contrast, temperate forests are home to a smaller variety of species, with many being found across larger areas. In terms of human impacts, tropical rainforests have been subject to widespread deforestation due to logging, mining, and agriculture, while temperate forests have been historically used for timber extraction and have also been impacted by land-use changes such as urbanization and agriculture. References: - National Geographic. (2021). Temperate forest. Retrieved from https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/temperate-forest/ - World Wildlife Fund. (2021). Rainforest. Retrieved from https://www.worldwildlife.org/habitats/rainforest - Pimm, S. L., Raven, P. H., & Peterson, A. T. (2020). Challenges of conserving tropical forests. Science, 365(6456), 1087-1088.
