Introduction

Different types of ecosystems have been created through the interaction of climate, primitive rocks, flora, and fauna. These ecosystems are mainly of two types: terrestrial ecosystems and aquatic ecosystems. They cover a wide area called biomes. The boundaries of these biomes are roughly parallel to the axis. Forest ecosystems are one of the terrestrial ecosystems. Of all the ecosystems in the world, the forest ecosystem has the highest biodiversity. About 40% of the world’s land area is covered by forests. In India, the forest cover is only 19%. A forest ecosystem is one where high and dense vegetation grows and a variety of animals and birds can be seen. Forests are formed in areas with moderate to high rainfall. Forest ecosystems are divided into different categories based on their climate, topography, flora, fauna, soil, etc. One of these notable ecosystems is the rainforest ecosystem (1) & (2).

What is the rainforest ecosystem?

The rainforest ecosystem is one of the major ecosystems in the world. In this ecosystem, different species of insects, plants, animals, etc. can be observed. In this ecosystem the rainfall is moderate to high, where very large trees exist, different layers of vegetation are seen, and numerous plant and animal species congregate. Rainforest ecosystems are spread all over the world and are one of the oldest ecosystems.

Antarctica is the place in the world where rainforests are not visible because of the climate. These ecosystems were typically formed about 70 million years ago. About 6% of the world’s land area is covered by rainforests. A rainforest ecosystem is always covered by evergreen trees. This ecosystem is habitat to about 1,500 species of flowers, 700 species of trees, 460 species of birds, and 100 species of insects. The earth’s climate is controlled by the rainforest ecosystem (2) & (5).

Geographical distribution

Rainforest ecosystems have spread to different parts of the world. There are mainly two types of rainforest ecosystems in the world. These are tropical rainforest and temperate rainforest ecosystems. Tropical rainforest ecosystems have spread mainly from 10° north to 10° south latitude near the equator.

Temperate rainforest ecosystems are mainly located near the coastal area. These rainforest ecosystems have been created in all parts of the world where rainfall is very high or moderate. They developed in the tropical parts of South America (especially the Amazon basin), south-east Asia, north-western Australia, the Congo basin of Africa, the coast of Madagascar, the eastern Indian islands, the south-eastern part of China, the Pacific coast of North America, Chile, New Zealand, the western part of Tasmania, the southeast part of Australia, the north-west part of North America, etc. The biodiversity of these ecosystems is the largest among all the ecosystems in the world (5).

Interesting facts about the rainforest ecosystem

1. Rainforest ecosystems are the most complex ecosystems in the world. Different species of medicinal plants are found in this ecosystem. Many of these plants are used to treat malaria, heart disease, hypertension, tuberculosis, etc. Various antibiotics are also available from plants present in this ecosystem.
2. About 2,000 species of plants are found in this ecosystem.
3. Rainforest ecosystems control the earth’s climate.
4. The sun shines vertically in the rainforest all year round so the temperature here is very high.
5. About 40% of the flowers are found in the Australian rainforest which is not found anywhere else in the world.
6. Plants in the rainforest ecosystem are very dense and are evergreen species.
7. The main features of this rainforest ecosystem are high to moderate rainfall, high temperature, and the presence of dense and tall vegetation.
8. These ecosystems are inhabited by different types of animals. About 3% of the tropical rainforest is home to a variety of animals.
9. A rainforest ecosystem is an area that receives a lot of rainfall. The amount of rainfall here is at least 250 cm. The annual rainfall in the rainforest is about 400 to 500 inches.
10. About one-fifth of the world’s freshwater is found in tropical rainforests.
11. Rainforest ecosystems are a source of oxygen because of the large number of trees.
12. It also adds water to the air by transpiration. That water is absorbed by the plant for photosynthesis (2) & (5).

Types of the Rainforest Ecosystem

There are two types of rainforest ecosystems.

1. Tropical rainforest ecosystem

Tropical rainforest ecosystems are mainly located near the equator. These ecosystems develop in areas of the world that receive abundant rainfall and high temperatures.

The annual rainfall of this ecosystem is 200 to 250 cm and there is rainfall throughout the year. Temperature and relative humidity are high enough. Therefore, the growth rate of plants in this ecosystem is high.

This ecosystem is quite rich in terms of plant and animal resources. About 200 to 300 species of trees are observed within 1 sq. km. No other ecosystem in the world has so much species diversity.

Many layers of trees are seen in tropical rainforest ecosystems. The productivity of this ecosystem is very high. The rate of decomposition is very high in this ecosystem.  This ecosystem does not change the seasons due to the extreme warmth throughout the year. The tropical forests of India are divided into three classes. These are as follows

1. Moist tropical rainforest
2. Montane subtropical rainforest
3. Montane wet temperate rainforest (3).

2. Temperate rainforest ecosystem

Temperate rainforest ecosystems have developed in various coastal regions of the world. High-velocity winds and winter rainfall are the main climatic features of this ecosystem.

The average amount of annual precipitation in temperate rainforest ecosystems is 350 cm. The plants of the temperate rainforest ecosystem are evergreen in nature.

The temperate rainforest is a habitat for parasitic plants and ferns. The net primary production of this ecosystem is quite high.

Rainfall is high but the evaporation rate is low in this ecosystem. Due to the low temperature, the rate of decomposition of organic matter is also quite low. Lake of soil fertility and low temperatures have somewhat reduced the productivity of this ecosystem (4).

Components of rainforest ecosystems

An ecosystem is made up of different biotic and abiotic components. Rainforest ecosystems are also affected by some abiotic and biotic components. These are described below.

Abiotic components of the rainforest

Abiotic components are all of the non-living things in an ecosystem. If one factor is removed or changed, it can affect the entire ecosystem and all of the organisms that live there. Abiotic components of the rainforest ecosystems are soil, sunlight, rain, rocks, and temperature.

1. Temperature

Rainforest ecosystems are spread all over the world where the temperature is either very hot or cool. For example, temperatures in tropical rainforests are very high. The average annual temperature in this region is 27°c. On the other hand, temperate rainforest ecosystems are a little farther from the equator so temperatures are not too high. The average annual temperature here is between 15 °C to 20 °C.

2. Soil

The soils in the rainforest ecosystems are not particularly fertile. In dense forests, raindrop does not fall directly to the ground. That is why the soil is not easily eroded. The main soils in this region are laterite soil. The soil in this region is unsuitable for agricultural work. The amount of organic matter in the soil is very low due to excess rainfall. The surface of the soil is only 1 to 2 inches thick. Chernozem soils are found in some places.

3. Sunlight

The amount of sunlight in the tropical rainforest varies depending on how tall a tree is. Although tropical rainforests receive 12 hours of sunlight daily, less than 2% of sunlight reaches the ground.

The tropical rainforest has thick vegetation, often forming three separate layers- the canopy, the understory, and the ground layer. On the other hand, temperate rainforest ecosystems are farther from the equator, so they do not emit sunlight vertically. So the difference in temperature between these two ecosystems can be noticed.

4. Rainfall

Since we are talking about the rainforest, rainfall is an important part of the discussion of abiotic components. Rainforests are considered to be the wettest places on earth, some getting rain every day. Dense water vapors are usually in the same region because of the different weather patterns around the rainfall, meaning that the rains have effectively their own mini-climate.

Through the consistent amounts of rain, rainforests generally stay humid all year, aiding in the decomposition of dead organisms on the forest floor. Rainfall also erodes the rocks, usually becoming very smooth and round in the rainforests. The amount of rainfall in the ecosystem is very high. The annual rainfall in this ecosystem is 200 cm or sometimes more. Depending on the amount of rainfall, the plants in the ecosystems are greatly affected.

Biotic components

The biotic components of the rainforest ecosystems are producers, consumers, and decomposers. How these affect the rainforest ecosystem is discussed below (5).

1. Producers

Different species of trees, shrubs, bromeliads, and other plants, etc. are the producers of this ecosystem. They produce their own food and take it to the next level.

2. Consumers

Macaws, monkeys, butterflies, sloths, etc. are the primary consumers of the rainforest ecosystem. Ocelots, tapirs, birds of prey, etc. are the secondary consumers. The jaguar and boa constrictor, piranha, etc. are the tertiary consumers of the rainforest ecosystem. The primary consumers survive by taking the producers as food. And the secondary consumer survives by eating the primary consumer. The tertiary consumer takes primary and secondary consumers as food.

3. Decomposers

Termites, earthworms, some bacteria, and fungi are some of the decomposers of the rainforest ecosystems. They decompose dead plants and consumers in the rainforest ecosystems.

Importance of rainforest ecosystem

This ecosystem is an important part of the earth. About 6% of the world’s land area is covered by rainforests.  So the importance of this ecosystem is limitless. The importance of the rainforest ecosystem is discussed below.

• Rainforest ecosystems are called the lungs of the whole world. Because rainforest ecosystems are the source of oxygen. Rainforest absorbs carbon dioxide and releases oxygen.
• Rainforest ecosystems play an important role in the world’s climate. This ecosystem controls the earth’s climate.
• There are many species of trees in the rainforest ecosystem that can be used to make cancer drugs.
• The water cycle is controlled by this ecosystem.
• Rainforest ecosystems maintained floods, droughts, erosion, etc. (1) & (2).

From the above reasons, it is understood that rainforest ecosystems are very important for the environment. Today’s environmental issues are taking place in the environment due to natural and human activities. Landslides, floods, deforestation, storms, etc. are currently occurring which is causing extensive damage to the animals and plants living in this ecosystem. As a result, the ecological balance is being destroyed. And the biodiversity of the earth is being destroyed. So it is very important to preserve this ecosystem. If this ecosystem is preserved, the plants and animals present in the ecosystem will be protected. The food chain between them will be maintained properly.   As a result, both ecological balance and biodiversity will be preserved.