Question

If the tropical rain forest is removed, it does not regenerate quickly as compared to the tropical deciduous forest. This is because

1. the soil of rain forest is deficient in nutrients.
2. propagules of the trees in the rain forest have poor viability.
3. the rain forest species are slow growing.
4. exotic species invades the fertile soil of rain forest.

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 1 : the soil of rain forest is deficient in nutrients.

The correct answer is the soil of rain forest is deficient in nutrients.

• Rainforest Structure: 
  • ​Most rainforests are structured in four layers: emergent, canopy, understory, and forest floor.
  • Each layer has unique characteristics based on differing levels of water, sunlight, and air circulation.
  • While each layer is distinct, they exist in an interdependent system: processes and species in one layer influence those in another. 
    • Emergent Layer 
      • ​The top layer of the rainforest is the emergent layer. Here, trees as tall as 60 meters (200 feet) dominate the skyline.
      • Foliage is often sparse on tree trunks but spreads wide as the trees reach the sunny upper layer, where they photosynthesize the sun’s rays.
      • Small, waxy leaves help trees in the emergent layer retain water during long droughts or dry seasons.
      • Lightweight seeds are carried away from the parent plant by strong winds. 
    • Canopy Layer 
      • Beneath the emergent layer is the canopy, a deep layer of vegetation roughly 6 meters (20 feet) thick.
      • The canopy’s dense network of leaves and branches forms a roof over the two remaining layers. 
      • The canopy blocks winds, rainfall, and sunlight creating a humid, still, and dark environment below.
        • Trees have adapted to this damp environment by producing glossy leaves with pointed tips that repel water. 
    • Understory Layer
      • Located several meters below the canopy, the understory is an even darker, stiller, and more humid environment.
      • Plants here, such as palms and philodendrons, are much shorter and have larger leaves than plants that dominate the canopy. Understory plants’ large leaves catch the minimal sunlight reaching beyond the dense canopy. 
    • Forest Floor Layer 
      • ​The forest floor is the darkest of all rainforest layers, making it extremely difficult for plants to grow. Leaves that fall to the forest floor decay quickly. 
      • Also, The canopy blocks winds, rainfall, and sunlight, creating a humid, still, and dark environment below. Thus, soil in tropical rainforests becomes deficient in nutrients. Hence, option 1 is correct.

• The tropical rain forest :
  • A rainforest is an area of tall, mostly evergreen trees and a high amount of rainfall. 
  • Rainforests are Earth’s oldest living ecosystems, with some surviving in their present form for at least 70 million years.
  • They are incredibly diverse and complex, home to more than half of the world’s plant and animal species—even though they cover just 6% of Earth’s surface.
  • This makes rainforests astoundingly dense with flora and fauna; a 10-square-kilometer (4-square-mile) patch can contain as many as 1,500 flowering plants, 750 species of trees, 400 species of birds and 150 species of butterflies. 
  • Rainforests’ rich biodiversity is incredibly important to our well-being and the well-being of our planet. Rainforests help regulate our climate and provide us with everyday products.