- Presence of tall, closely set trees with crowns forming a continuous canopy
- Coexistence of a large number of species
- Presence of numerous varieties of epiphytes
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d)
Equatorial forests are also called tropical rainforests. These thick forests occur in the regions near the equator and close to the tropics. These regions are hot and receive heavy rainfall throughout the year. As there is no particular dry season, the trees do not shed their leaves altogether. This is the reason they are called evergreen.
O The thick canopies of the closely spaced trees do not allow the sunlight to penetrate inside the forest even in the daytime. A mature lowland tropical forest consists of several layers. The top layer of vegetation consists of scattered tall trees which tower above a closed canopy layer formed by the crowns of other trees. Hardwood trees like rosewood, ebony, mahogany are common here. (Statement 1 is correct)
O They are centres of biodiversity, holding an estimated half of the world’s plants and animals. The coexistence of a large number of species is an important characteristic of these forests. (Statement 2 is correct)
O In equatorial forests, numerous varieties of epiphytes were present. (Statement 3 is correct)
