(time after time)

Geography part II

Friday, September 11, 2009 || 9:28 PM

Mangrove forest:

Mangrove forest are usually found in areas that experiences tropical climate. In the mangrove forests, trees are 2-40m in height. this is because the muddy soil is unable to withstand or to prove a firm support for the tall trees/ heavy trees. In the mangrove forest, there is high temperate and high rainfall all year round.

Unlike the Tropical rainforest or the Tropical monsoon forests where they have vertical layers of the forest, the mangrove forest have 3 horizontal layers namely: Brugeuria(inland zone), Rhizophora(Middle zone), Avicennia/ Sonneratia(coastal zone).

Characteristic of mangrove forest:
(i) density
-mangrove forests are not as dense as tropical rain forest or tropical monsoon forest
-trees do not grow very close to one another

(ii) leaves
-large and board to absorb maximum amount of sunlight
-waxy surface with drip tips to prevent water from collecting on leave surface and to prevent bacteria growth
-the leaves are evergreen as there are no seasonal changes in terms of temperature and amount of rainfall.

(ii)flowers and fruits
-they bear flowers all year round.
-fruits:

for Avicennia trees fruits, they are buoyant. when they fall, the tide and waves would bring the fruits of the Avicennia trees would float to other coastal area where they can germinate and grow.

for Rhizophora fruits, they have an elongated structure with a sharp tip. this is help it anchor firmly to the muddy soil.

(iii) roots

-Avicennia trees have pencil-like roots. the pencil like roots would be still be exposed to the air when it is during high tide or when the water level is high. the pore on the pencil like roots allow the Avicennia to get oxygen

-Rhizophora trees have slit or prop roots give a firm support for the trees in the muddy soil.
-Brugueria trees have kneed roots.

Temperate coniferous forest:

It is located 60 degrees North to 70 degrees North. examples of countries that have coniferous forests are Northern America, Canada and Russia. In the temperate coniferous forest, they experience the four season: Spring, summer, Autumn, Winter.In the temperate coniferous forest, there is low precipitation and low temperates.

Charateristic of temperate coniferous forest:
(i) structure:
-in the temperate coniferous forest, there are no distinct layers.
-the trees are uniform in height{ 20-30m in height}

-there is a sparse undergrowth as there is a continuous canopy layer. this prevent sunlight from reaching the forest floor. undergrowth consist of mosses and lichens as not many trees or species can survive the low precipitation or low temperatures.

(ii) leaves

-the leaves are evergreen. the trees retain the leaves so when the temperature is 6 degrees of above at any time of the day, they would be able to photosynthesize and make food.

-the leaves have small, needle-like leaves with thick waxy cuticles to prevent or to reduce the amount of water loss during transpiration.

(iii) branches and barks
-the branches are flexible. this prevents the snow from ammunulating on the trees.
-the barks are thick to protect itself from the harsh climate or from the cold winter.
-some trees are conical in shape. this will ensure that the trees will sway with the strong wind instead of toppling over.

(iv) flowers
- in the coniferous forest, they bear cones.
-cones can be male of female.
-male produces pollen grain

(v) roots
-trees have shallow, spreading roots.
-when the ice melts into water, with shallow spreading roots, the trees can absorb the water.

A day late stuffs.
Sounds like the song by Anberlin.
Ohwell, gonna go have dinner already. ciaos ! (: