Question

How are tropical rainforests and temperate forests different?

Answer 1

1. Seasonality and location. Temperate rainforests have four seasons: spring, summer, fall and winter. Tropical rainforests experience warm weather all year round and do not have the same set of seasons. This is due to the difference in latitude of the different forest types. Tropical rainforests are found near the equator, while temperate forests are found at higher latitudes where it becomes too cold for tropical rainforests to grow.

2. Rainfall: Tropical rainforests experience a much higher rainfall than temperate forests, often getting 80 or more inches of rain in a single year. By contrast, temperate forests recieve between 30 and 60 inches of rain a year.

3. Biodiversity: Tropical rainforests have a much higher biodiversity than temperate forests. This is because the higher temperatures and rainfall allow for greater plant growth, which allows for greater animal biodiversity. Organisms in tropical rainforests also do not have to be able to withstand the cold, which allows for a greater variety of species.

Answer 2

Tropical rainforests are found near the equator while temperate forests are found at higher latitudes where it becomes too cold for tropical rainforest to grow.