Knowra Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests A terrestrial biome of warm, humid regions, characterized by broadleaf forests with high rainfall and little seasonal drought. It includes tropical rainforests and several related forest types.
Tropical rainforest : A dense, evergreen forest in the tropics with abundant rainfall and high biological diversity. The best-known forest type within this biome, marked by year-round warmth and rain.
Evapotranspiration : The transfer of water from land to atmosphere through evaporation and plant transpiration. Trees return large quantities of water vapor to the air, influencing regional rainfall.
Deforestation : The large-scale removal of forest, usually through conversion to another land use. Agriculture, logging, and infrastructure drive extensive losses of moist broadleaf forest.
Biodiversity : The variety of life across genes, species, and ecosystems. Moist broadleaf forests contain exceptionally rich assemblages of species.
Canopy (biology) : The upper layer of vegetation formed by the crowns of trees in a forest. Its layered canopy shapes light, habitat, and competition in these forests.
Cloud forest : A montane forest frequently immersed in low clouds or fog. At higher elevations, cloud capture supplements rainfall and sustains distinctive forests.
Forest fragmentation : The division of continuous forest into smaller, isolated patches. Fragmentation exposes remaining habitat to edge effects and isolates populations.
Carbon sink : A reservoir that absorbs more carbon from the atmosphere than it releases over a given period. Living biomass and soils store carbon, though disturbance can reverse that storage.
Rainforest : A forest receiving abundant rainfall, generally supporting dense vegetation and high species diversity. This broader category includes rainforests beyond the moist broadleaf biome.
Nutrient cycle : The movement and reuse of chemical elements between organisms and the environment. Rapid decomposition and nutrient uptake help sustain growth on often nutrient-poor soils.
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