Did you know that the planet jungles store up to 50% of the CO2 that exists in the atmosphere? In this way, the abundant vegetation of jungle ecosystems help avoid air pollution, playing a really important ecological role. In addition to its vital function as lungs of the planet, the jungles of the tropical regions are authentic biodiversity reserves, both of animals and plants. This fact is due to the magnificent conditions that allow the development of the life of innumerable species, providing them with large amounts of food, as well as water, light and refuge.
Continue reading this Ecology Verde article to learn more details of the jungle ecosystem and its characteristicsand you will learn which species of flora and fauna house these immense tropical forests.
Types of jungle
The jungles flood the different and numerous tropical regions of the planet in which they are located. To classify them and know the different Types of jungles that existit is important to choose a classification parameter, for example, the type of weather and vegetation they present:
- Tropical jungles: Characterized by being the rainiest ecosystems on the planet, tropical jungles have numerous and immense trees and climbing plants. In this link you will know the flora and fauna of the rainforest.
- Low jungles: with vegetation adapted to the presence of numerous river courses, such as rivers and lagoons. Know more about A Low Selva, its fauna, flora and more characteristics here.
- Flood and swampy jungles: in which vegetation shows different adaptations to survive and develop in flooded soils and live with other characteristic organisms of these ecosystems (such as amphibians).
- Monzónic jungles: They give a marked rainy season combined with a posterior very dry station, which is why much of the vegetation that inhabits have developed periods of latency and/or less activity to survive the times of drought.
- Dry jungles: As its name indicates, these jungles are characterized by the extreme drought that live during long seasons, therefore with numerous species of deciduous trees, which support and manage the lack of water in the ecosystem better. Deepen this theme with this other post about the dry jungle, its characteristics, flora and fauna.
Now that we already know the different types of jungle that exist, it is also useful to know some examples of the jungles More striking and prominent on the planet, such as the missionary jungles (rainy tropical, located between Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay), Amazon jungle, Peruvian high jungle, low jungle (or Peruvian region of Omagua, east of the Andes), and the Lacandona jungle (in Mexico, with a great diversity of soils and topographies).
Tropical jungle ecosystem characteristics
The main characteristics of the tropical jungle They are based on the different physical factors that define it as tropical forestand they are:
- High humidity and presence of large cloud clusters.
- Warm weather throughout the year
- Frequent or intermittent periods of rains
- Clay soils, rich in various nutrients, such as magnesium, calcium and humus.
- Among the main functions of the jungles, the important ecological role they play by maintaining the global temperature of the planet, as well as its performance as C02 sinks and oxygen emitters, in addition to being natural protective ecosystems of the hydrographic basins in which they are located.
Flora of the jungle ecosystem
The Flora of the jungle It is adapted to the characteristics climatic conditions presented by these surprising ecosystems, including moisture and heat. Therefore, trees and plants that grow in jungles are characterized by the presence of Large sheets To capture large amounts of light and water, as well as different adaptations to disperse their fruits and seeds with the help of the numerous animals of the jungle that deal with it. Some of the most abundant species of jungle ecosystem vegetation are:
- Palm trees (Arecaceae family)
- Cedros (Pinnaceae family)
- Lianas
- Ferns (pterophyta class)
- Cane brava (Gynerium sagittatum)
- Caobas (Meliaceae family)
- Orchids (Orchidaceae family)
- Durian (Durio Zibethinus)
- Cocoa (Theobroma cocoa)
- Elephant ear (Xanthosoma Sagittifolium)
Jungle ecosystem fauna
In the jungle a rich and varied biodiversity of animal species is hidden. Many of them are poisonous species or camouflage specialists, since in an ecosystem with such life and color, it is essential to have some survival strategy.
In the jungles, insects, birds, reptile elusive, amphibious moisture amphibians, as well as mammals with different adaptations to the trees from which they get their food or after what they hide to hunt their prey, as well as numerous fish that inhabit the extensive rivers and lakes of these wonderful ecosystems. Some of the species of jungle animals most prominent are:
- Jaguars (Panthera onca)
- Capibaras (Hydrochaeris Hydrochaeris)
- Tucán touo (Ramphastos touo)
- Black caiman of the Orinoco (MELANOSUCHUS NIGER)
- Piranhas (serrasalmidae family)
- Frog poisonous (Phyllobates Terribilis)
- Green anaconda (Eunectes murinus)
- Lazy (Bradypus tridactylus)
- Electric eel (Electrophorus electricus)
- Blue Macaw (Ara Ararauna)
- Green Amazon (Amazonica Amazon)
To expand this information, we recommend that you take a look at this article on which animals live in the tropical jungle.
If you want to read more articles similar to Jungle ecosystem and its characteristicswe recommend that you enter our category of ecosystems.
- Alcaraz, F. (2012). Equatorial and tropical jungles. University of Murcia, Spain.
