Monsoon RainforestYasmin Eltalla, Amanda Gil, Sophia Viteri Period: 5

Two other namesMonsoon Rainforest:

● Dry Forest● Tropical Deciduous Forest

Biome ● The soil is nutrient-poor and acidic. ● Decomposition is rapid and soils are subject to heavy leaching.● The overall temperature varies little throughout the year and usually stays

around 20-25 degrees celsius.● After the long dry season, there are high amounts of rainfall in a monsoon

forest that can exceed 2000 mm.

Biome Location● Monsoon forests can be found within the region that falls between 10 and 25

degree North or South of the equator.● Monsoon Rainforests are found in tropical areas that have a long dry season

that are followed by long heavy rainfall.● Monsoon Forests can be found on the coastal regions of:

○ Southwest India○ Sri Lanka○ Bangladesh○ South western Africa, ○ French Guiana○ Northeast and southeastern Brazil

Climte Chart

Nutrient Flow Diagram

Biodiversity ● NICHE: In the highest stringybark lurks the White-bellied Sea-Eagle, patiently

scanning the surroundings and waiting for an animal to stray beyond the cover of the vine forest and onto the unprotected beach. The Eagle lives on the tree top, which continues its niche there.

● Banyan Fig, its widespread, embracing limbs making up the very heart of these stands. Denser parts of the canopy of Tuckeroo are broken only by the feathery heads of Carpentaria Palms, while the spreading canopy of the Maranthes tree, striking with moist, pink and ivory fruit, draws a crowd of pigeons and Flying-foxes.

● Monsoon forests are rich habitats that serve as the refuge for woodland beasts during the dry season. As a bonus, these habitats are usually situated near water: a spring, stream or wetland.

Biodiversity● The jungles are home to a profusion of birdlife, including pheasants, parrots, peafowl and

other wild fowl, and grouse. ● The Asian two-horned rhinoceros, the wild water buffalo, the gaur, and many kinds of deer

were once plentiful but are now reduced in number and protected. ● Elephants are numerous, and many are trained for work. Tigers, leopards, and wildcats are

still common. Bears are found in hilly regions, and gibbons and monkeys of various kinds inhabit the thicker parts of the forests.

● Snakes include pythons, cobras, and vipers, and crocodiles are found in the deltas. Turtles live in coastal regions, and edible fish abound in every stream.

Energy Flow● Light energy from the sun is converted to chemical energy by plants through the

process of photosynthesis. Photosynthesis produces lots of oxygen. Since there is large trees, much oxygen is produced.

Gross Primary Productivity● For monsoon forests, the gross primary productivity (the total biomass fixed by the

vegetation in a unit area within a unit time) has been estimated at 16 to 50 metric tons per

hectare per year. Net primary productivity, which is gross primary productivity less that

used by plants in respiration, is approximately 10 metric tons per hectare per year.

● This area receives much precipitation and heat, which are large two factors to larger trees.

Rainfall is 50% consumed, 25% evaporated, 25% runoff.

● While the GPP of monsoon forests is lower than that of tropical rainforests, the net primary

productivity is not so different, reflecting the lower diversity and complexity of the

consumer component of the monsoon forest ecosystem.

SuccessionMonsoons are formed when the sun heats the atmosphere and causes variations in temperature between the oceans and land masses. Monsoons are a seasonal reversing of wind direction that result from the atmosphere attempting to balance cool and warm air. Monsoon forests are well developed in Southeast Asia and are typified by tall trees and thickets of bamboo. A weak monsoon rainy season may cause drought, crop failures, and hardship for people and wildlife, however, heavy monsoon rains have caused massive floods that have killed thousands of people.

Human ImpactMDC

The European Monsoon, also called the Return of the Westerlies, is the west winds from the Atlantic that come with wind and rain. These winds start during the European winter and goes down as spring approaches in late March and April through May. It picks up again when rain arrives in two waves at the beginning of June and again in mid to late June.The Return of the Westerlies brings a series of low pressure centres to Western Europe where they create storms generating lower than average temperatures, rain or hail, thunder and strong wind.

Human ImpactGlobal warming is caused by humans because we poor waste disposal, ineffectively set up industries, pollution on landscapes and water bodies. Climatic changes affect monsoons over particular countries. Also, higher levels of greenhouse gases affect monsoon that results in poor crop yields, damage farmlands, and create drought like conditions. Vehicularisation and Urbanisation as well as Industrialisation are all human activities.

Human ImpactLDC

The monsoon of western Sub-Saharan Africa is the result of the seasonal shifts of the Intertropical Convergence Zone, seasonal temperature and humidity differences between the Sahara, and the equatorial Atlantic Ocean. It migrates north from the equatorial Atlantic in February, reaches western Africa around June, then moves to the south by October. The dry, northeasterly trade winds are interrupted by the northern shift and result to southerly, rain winds during the summer. The semiarid Sahel and Sudan depend on this pattern their precipitation.

Human ImpactDeforestation is also one of the main causes for reduction in rainfall levels, it creates drought like conditions. Also, increase levels of harmful gases; such as carbon dioxide because emissions cause the planet’s temperatures to increase.

How are monsoons handled?If you are outside:

1. Seek shelter immediately. Stay inside for 30 minutes after you hear the last thunder to ensure the storm passed. If there’s lightning in the area without shelter, stay away from isolated trees or open areas where you’re the tallest object.

2. Keep children and pets from playing in floodwaters. They’re full of harmful contaminants.

3. Avoid downed power lines. They could still be carrying a charge that could electrocute you.

4. Before storms strike, have a source ready to access emergency information if you are stranded.

How are monsoons handled?If you are driving:

1. Roads will be slick with oil when it starts to rain, as rain continues to fall, your car could hydroplane if you’re driving too fast.

2. Do not attempt to cross flooded roadways, it only takes a foot or two of water to float most cars.

3. Don’t attempt to drive through a dust storm, pull off to the right side as far as possible, turn off your engine, and stay inside your vehicle.

4. If you approach an intersection with a broken traffic signal, treat it as a 4-way stop.

How are monsoons handled?If you are home:

1. Make sure you have batteries, flashlights and a battery operated radio or TV in case the power goes out.

2. Turn off all unnecessary power equipment to reduce the draw on power companies.

3. Stay away from plumbing fixtures, lightning can travel along metal pipes.

4. Keep away from windows as high winds can blow heavy debris.

How are monsoons handled?If power goes out:

1. Switch off high usage items such as air conditioners, computers and televisions so there is no danger of overloading your system or damaging these products with voltage fluctuations when power returns.

2. Use surge protectors for your computer and electronic equipment for extra protection.

3. Turn on your battery powered radio or TV for information.

4. Limit how often you open doors so cool air stays inside. Same goes for your freezer and refrigerator.