The tropical rainforest is found 5° north and south of the equator. It includes the Amazon and Congo basins and the coastal lands of Ecuador, West Africa and South-East Asia.
It is constantly hot and humid with up to 2500mm of rain a year.
The Gersmehl model of the rainforest
Biomass is largest due to high temperatures, high rainfall and long growing seasons. Rapid absorption from soils means that the rate of photosynthesis is high.
Soil store is small because high rainfall encourages leaching and uptake of nutrients is rapid.
Litter is s small store because high temperatures and moisture levels result in fast decomposition.
Structure
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