Question

Where are the tropical, temperate and boreal forests found? List the animals found in different types of forests.

Answer 1

Forests:

1. Forests form the dominant terrestrial ecosystem of the Earth and are found across the globe.
2. They cover nearly one-third of the planet.
3. Depending upon their location, forests are of three main types-tropical, temperate and boreal forests.

Tropical forests

1. Tropical rainforests are located 10⁰ north and south of the equator. These areas have tropical rainforest climate in which there is no dry season.
2. This type of forest is found in Central America, South America and the Amazon basin.
3. Fauna of Tropical rainforest: Brightly coloured birds such as parakeets, toucans, macaws are found in these forests. Animals such as monkeys, lemurs, sloth bears, leopards, elephants, deer are also found in these forests.

Temperate forests

1. Temperate forests are located between the 25° and 50° latitude and in both hemispheres.
2. These forests are further classified into temperate deciduous forests and temperate evergreen forests.
3. Fauna of Temperate rainforests: Animals such as fox, mountain lion, koala bear, black bear which can adjust to a cooler climate are found in temperate forests. Many birds such as woodpeckers and bald eagles are also seen here.

Boreal forests

1. These forests are also called Taiga or snow forests and are found towards the north of temperate region.
2. Such forests are mainly found in Canada, Alaska, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Siberia, Mongolia and Russia.
3. Fauna of Boreal forests: Animals such as moose, reindeer or caribou, deer, elk, wolf, fox, wood bison and chipmunk are found here.