| There is a far greater diversity of most animal and plant groups near the equator. There are far more species of birds, insects, trees, reptiles, and other animals inhabiting tropical forests than temperate forests. This pattern is reversed in only a few cases -- for example, there are very few salamanders in the tropics compared to the number in temperate areas. |
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Biodiversity is highest in a tropical forest with a wide range of habitats and opportunities for different species. In one of the most biodiverse forests in the world, there are 300 tree species in a single hectare. Photo courtesy Suzanne Longacre. |
| Why do the tropical rainforests support such an enormous variety of life? One argument is that the climate is much more hospitable and it is easier for animals to live and find food where temperatures remain fairly constant all year long. It was believed that the vast glaciers that covered northern areas had been a major factor in the extinctions of northern mammals, and the seasonal climate changes kept biodiversity low. While this is certainly not entirely "wrong", it is now known that the reasons for tropical diversity are much more complicated. |
biodiversity -- page 3 of 4
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[tropical forests] [forest life] [amphibians] [climate] [temperate regions through time]
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