Tropical Rain Forest

In tropical rain forests the atmosphere is always hot and humid. Plants are very close together in these forests and they grow very tall as they compete with each other for sunlight. Not very much sunlight reaches the ground therefore you would not expect to find many plants at ground level. The humidity, however, would be ideal for the development of fungi and bacteria.

Inside a tropical rain forest you would not only feel hot and humid but you would smell the rotting vegetation on the forest floor. Most of the animals living in this type of forest would be able to reach the top of the tall trees. Birds would be plentiful as well as climbing animals such as monkeys and snakes. The air would be filled with flying insects.

Return to the Biomes homepage

• The Earth
• Weather and Climate
• The Environment : The Atmosphere
• Hydrosphere,Lithosphere and Biosphere
• Questions relating to this chapter
• Top of Page

© Paul Billiet, Shirley Burchill, Alan Damon and Deborah James 2009