Tropical and Subtropical Dry Broadleaf Forests
Tropical and subtropical forests grow in areas with warm climates. These are found in regions that receive lower rainfall (several hundred centimetres) year-round. They face drought due to long dry seasons. Tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests vary by geographic location.
Deciduous trees are found profusely. These trees possess characteristics that help them face the dry period. Deciduous trees’ leaves are waxy to prevent water loss from evaporation, and they store water in their tissues. Trees shed their leaves during the dry season to avoid moisture deprivation.
Tropical and Subtropical Dry Broadleaf Forests
Tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests are not dense, allowing sunlight to reach the ground, which helps grow thick bushes. However, they are less diverse than the rainforest. Parrots, monkeys, large cats, ground-dwelling birds, rodents, and others are found in tropical and subtropical dry forests. Many of these animals are adaptable to dry, challenging periods.
Tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests are found in the Lesser Sundas, southern Mexico, Southeast Africa, Indo-China, Madagascar, central Brazil, New Caledonia, East Bolivia, the North Andes valley, the Caribbean, and the coasts of Ecuador and Peru.
Southern Mexico and the Bolivian Lowlands are home to the World’s most diverse seasonal/dry forest. South America’s tropical and subtropical dry forests and the North-West Pacific coast are the most isolated, home to a variety of unique species.
Diverse endemics are found in the dry forests of Maputoland-Pondoland in South-Eastern Africa. Tropical forests found in Indo-China and Central India have a notable vertebrate fauna. Dry broadleaf forests of New Caledonia and Madagascar are peculiar and home to various taxa at a high taxonomic level.
Definition of Tropical Dry Forest
The tropical dry forest grows in areas with seasonal rainfall and warm climates. Deciduous trees are abundant in the Tropical Dry Forest. Trees shed their leaves during the dry season to avoid moisture deprivation. The leaves of these plants have a waxy coating to prevent water loss. They use their tissues to store water for the dry period.
What is a Dry Forest?
Dry forests result from low rainfall. They grow in areas with no foreseeable monsoon season, and rain can occur at any time, in small or large amounts. Trees in these forests are resistant to drought and exhibit unique adaptations. The dry forest is home to trees like Juniper, Olive, Oak, Pine, and Acacia.
Tropical Seasonal Forest Location
Tropical Seasonal or Dry Forests grow in seasonal climates (alternation between wet and dry seasons). These wildlife and forests are located towards the South and North of the Equatorial Rainforest and Subtropical Desert belts. They occur in two bands: between 10 degrees North and 20 degrees North, and between 10 degrees South and 20 degrees South.
Tropical seasonal forests are abundant in Indian forests, West Africa, South-East Asia, Northern Australia, the West Indies, Paraguay, and the southern parts of Mexico. Southern Mexico and the Bolivian Lowlands are home to the World’s most diverse seasonal/ dry forests.
Biodiversity pattern
Dry forests have a greater species abundance than moist forests, but these species are restricted in many regions. The most abundant plant species in dry forests are those of tropical dry forests. Though dry forests have high alpha and beta diversity, they’re still less than moist forests.
Minimum requirements
- Dry forest species need continuous riverine forests and a water source.
- Dry forest abundance in predators and vertebrates. Thus, a large natural area is required for their maintenance.
- A forest fire may occur at any time. Therefore, a large block of undamaged forest is necessary to absorb the damage from the periodic fire.
- Extensive dry forest areas are required to protect the subtle species from hunting.
Sensitivity to disturbance
Deforestation and burning severely affect the dry forest. The natural community of dry forests is altered by exotic species and overgrazing. Because of continuous and severe degradation, restoring dry forests is becoming increasingly taxing.
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