An overview of tropical forest formations

Publication date: 26/10/2020
Extent: 26 pages

Contributions by: Alice Muchugi, World Agroforestry (ICRAF), Kenya; Sammy Muraguri, Kunming Institute of Botany, China; Hesti L. Tata, Forest Research & Development Centre, Indonesia; Jürgen Blaser, Bern University of Applied Sciences, Switzerland; and Patrick D. Hardcastle, Forestry Development Specialist, UK

Chapter synopsis: The type of forest encountered on any specific site on the planet is the result of the interaction between abiotic factors and the living organisms that together make up the ecosystem. This interaction is then further complicated by a range of influences that may be human, biological such as pollinators, pests and diseases or mechanical, such as wind, storms and wildfires. This chapter reviews environmental factors determining different types of tropical forest such as temperature, precipitation, sunlight, atmospheric and soil chemistry and mechanical factors. It then summarises key characteristics of different tropical forest formations such as moist evergreen forests/tropical rain forests, moist deciduous forests, tropical dry forests/ monsoon forests and tropical conifer forests.

DOI: 10.19103/AS.2020.0074.02