| Although there are more tree species here than in any other habitat, they all have a similar shape and form, contributing to the similar overall appearance of rainforests throughout the world. The number of tree species in a single hectare is a common way to assess a region's biodiversity. |
An open area in a tropical forest of vine-covered trees. Photo by Maya Walters.
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The relative abundance of major types of rainforest plants -- "typical" broad-leaved trees, palms, and vines -- varies with location. There are three distinct areas of tropical rainforests: Southeast Asia, South and Central America, and Africa. Different species have evolved separately in each of these areas. It is not known where there is the greatest diversity of plants and animals. Since most tree species look so similar, it is hard even for trained biologists to identify them for certain. Often there are only a few people capable of distinguishing the differences between several species. The Southeast Asian forests were previously thought to be the most biodiverse regions in the world, where as many as 200 tree species could be found in a single hectare. This number has recently been overshadowed by the discovery of an incredibly diverse forest in Peru, where a single hectare contained 606 individual trees, belonging to a total of 300 different species! |
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