What are the air masses in the equatorial belt of Africa. African natural areas. Plants and animals of the equatorial belt

Geographical position, evenness of the relief contributed to the location geographical zones Africa (equatorial, subequatorial, tropical and subtropical) and natural zones twice on both sides of the equator. With a decrease in moisture north and south of the equator, the vegetation cover becomes more sparse and the vegetation more xerophytic.

In the north, there are many types of plants. In the center and in the south, the most ancient representatives of the planet's vegetation have been preserved. Among flowering plants there are up to 9 thousand endemic species. In the rich and diverse fauna (see. Nowhere in the world is there such an accumulation of large animals as in the African savannah. Elephants, giraffes, hippos, rhinos, buffaloes and other animals are found here. Characteristic fauna - a wealth of predators (lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, hyena dogs, jackals, etc.) and ungulates (tens of species of antelopes). Among the birds there are large ones - ostriches, vultures, marabou, crowned cranes, bustards, hornbills, crocodiles live in the rivers.

In the natural zones of Africa there are many animals and plants that are not found in others. The African savannas are characterized by the baobab, whose trunk reaches 10 m in diameter, the doom palm, the umbrella acacia, the tallest animal in the world - the giraffe, lions, the secretary bird. IN African forest(Gilea) inhabited by great apes gorilla and chimpanzee, pygmy giraffe okapi. Found in tropical deserts humped camel dromedary, fennec fox, and also the most poisonous snake mamba. Only lemurs live on.

Africa is the birthplace of a number of cultivated plants: oil palm, cola tree, coffee tree, castor beans, sesame, African millet, watermelons, many indoor flower plants - geraniums, aloe, gladioli, pelargonium, etc.

Wet zone equatorial forests(giley) occupies 8% of the mainland - the basin and the coast of the Gulf of Guinea. The climate here is humid, equatorial, warm enough. Precipitation falls evenly, more than 2000 mm per year. The soils are red-yellow ferralitic, poor organic matter. A sufficient amount of heat and moisture promotes the development of vegetation. By wealth species composition(about 25 thousand species) and the areas of Africa's humid equatorial forests are second only to humid South America.

Forests form 4-5 tiers. Giant (up to 70 m) ficuses, oil and wine palms, ceiba, cola tree, and breadfruit grow in the upper tiers. In the lower tiers - bananas, ferns, Liberian coffee tree. Among the vines, the rubber-bearing liana landolphia and the rattan palm liana (up to 200 m in length) are interesting. This is the longest plant in the world. Valuable wood have red, iron, black (ebony) wood. There are many orchids and mosses in the forest.

There are few herbivores in the forests and fewer predators than in other natural areas. Of the ungulates, the pygmy okapi giraffe is characteristic, hiding in dense forest thickets, forest antelopes, water deer, buffalo, and hippopotamus are found. Predators are represented by wild cats, leopards, jackals. Of these, the brush-tailed porcupine and broad-tailed flying squirrels are common. Monkeys, baboons, mandrills are numerous in the forests. great apes represented by 2-3 species of chimpanzees and gorillas.

The transition zone between the equatorial forests and are subequatorial variable-humid forests. They border the humid equatorial forests with a narrow strip. Vegetation gradually changes under the influence of a shortening of the wet period and an intensification of the dry season as one moves away from the equator. Gradually, the equatorial forest turns into a subequatorial, mixed, deciduous-evergreen forest on red ferrallitic soils. The annual precipitation decreases to 650-1300 mm, and the dry season increases to 1-3 months. A distinctive feature of these forests is the predominance of trees of the legume family. Trees up to 25 m high shed their leaves during the dry period, a grassy cover forms under them. Subequatorial forests are located on the northern edge of the equatorial rainforests and south of the equator in the Congo.

Savannahs and woodlands occupy large areas of Africa - the marginal rises of the Congo, the Sudanese plains, the East African plateau (about 40% of the territory). These are open grassy plains with groves or individual trees. The zone of savannahs and light forests encircles humid and variable-moist forests from the Atlantic to and extends north to 17 ° N. sh. and south to 20°S. sh.

Savannahs have alternating wet and dry seasons. In the wet season in the savannah, where the rainy season lasts up to 8-9 months, lush grasses grow up to 2 m high, sometimes up to 5 m high (elephant grass). Among the continuous sea of ​​​​cereals (cereal savanna), individual trees rise: baobabs, umbrella acacia, doum palms, oil palms. During the dry season, the grasses dry up, the leaves on the trees fall off, and the savannah becomes yellow-brown. Under the savannas, special types of soils are formed - red and red-brown soils.

Depending on the duration of the wet period, savannahs are wet or tall grass, typical or dry, and deserted.

Wet, or tall grass, savannahs have an insignificant dry period (about 3-4 months), and the annual precipitation is 1500-1000 mm. This is a transitional area from forest vegetation to typical savannah. The soils, like those of the subequatorial forests, are red ferralitic. Among the cereals - elephant grass, bearded man, from trees - baobab, acacia, carob, doom palm, cotton tree (ceiba). Evergreen forests are developed along the river valleys.

Typical savannahs are developed in areas with precipitation of 750-1000 mm, the dry period lasts 5-6 months. In the north, they stretch in a continuous strip from to. In the southern hemisphere they occupy the northern part. Characterized by baobabs, acacias, fan palms, shea tree, cereals are represented by bearded man. Soils are red-brown.

Deserted savannas have less rainfall (up to 500 mm), the dry season lasts 7-9 months. They have a sparse grass cover, and acacias predominate among shrubs. These savannahs on red-brown soils stretch in a narrow strip from the coast to the Somali peninsula. In the south, they are widely developed in the basin.

African savannahs are rich in food resources. There are more than 40 species of herbivorous ungulates here, antelopes are especially numerous (kudu, eland, pygmy antelopes). The largest of them is the wildebeest. Giraffes survived mainly in national parks. Zebras are common in the savannas. In some places they are domesticated and replace horses (not susceptible to tsetse bites). Herbivores are accompanied by numerous predators: lions, cheetahs, leopards, jackals, hyenas. Endangered animals include the black and white rhino and the African elephant. Numerous birds: African ostriches, guinea fowls, francolins, marabou, weavers, secretary birds, lapwings, herons, pelicans. In terms of the number of species of flora and fauna per unit area, the savannahs of Africa are unmatched.

Savannas are relatively favorable for tropical farming. Significant areas of the savannas are plowed up, cotton, peanut, corn, tobacco, sorghum, and rice are cultivated.

North and south of the savannas are tropical semi-deserts and deserts occupying 33% of the mainland. it is distinguished by a very low amount of precipitation (no more than 100 mm per year), scanty xerophytic.

Semi-deserts are a transitional area between savannahs and tropical ones, where the amount of precipitation does not exceed 250-300 mm. A narrow strip in shrub-grass (acacia, tamarisk, tough cereals). IN South Africa semi-deserts are developed in the interior of the Kalahari. The southern semi-deserts are characterized by succulents (aloe, spurge, wild watermelons). During the rainy period, irises, lilies, amaryllis bloom.

IN North Africa occupies vast areas with precipitation up to 100 mm, in South Africa the Namib Desert stretches in a narrow strip along the western coast, in the south is the Kalahari Desert. According to vegetation, the deserts are grass-shrub, shrub and succulent.

The vegetation of the Sahara is represented by individual bunches of cereals and thorny shrubs. From cereals, wild millet is common, from shrubs and semi-shrubs - dwarf saxaul, camel thorn, acacia, jujube, euphorbia, ephedra. Solyanka and wormwood grow on saline soils. Around shotts - tamarisks. The southern deserts are characterized by succulent plants, appearance resembling stones. In the Namib Desert, a kind of relic plant is common - the majestic velvichia (stump plant) - the lowest tree on Earth (up to 50 cm tall with long fleshy leaves 8-9 m long). There are aloe, euphorbia, wild watermelons, bush acacias.

Typical desert soils are gray soils. In those parts of the Sahara, where groundwater is close to the surface of the earth, oases are formed. All the economic activities of people are concentrated here; grapes, pomegranate, barley, millet, and wheat are grown. The main plant of the oases is the date palm.

Animal world semi-deserts and deserts are poor. In the Sahara, among large animals, there are antelopes, wild cats, fennec foxes are found. Jerboas, gerbils, various reptiles, scorpions, phalanxes live in the sands.

Tropical rainforest natural area found on the island of Madagascar and in the Dragon Mountains. It is characterized by ironwood, rubber and rosewood trees.

transition zone between tropical deserts and subtropical evergreen forests and shrublands are subtropical semi-deserts and desert steppes. In Africa they occupy hinterland Atlas and Cape mountains, the Karoo plateau and the Libyan-Egyptian coast to 30 ° N. sh. The vegetation is very sparse. In North Africa, these are cereals, xerophytic trees, shrubs and shrubs, in South Africa - succulents, bulbous, tuberous plants.

Zone subtropical evergreen hardwood forests and shrubs represented on the northern slopes of the Atlas Mountains and in the west of the Cape Mountains.

The forests of the Atlas Mountains form cork and holm oaks, Aleppo pine, Atlas cedar with an undergrowth of evergreen shrubs. Maquis is widespread - impenetrable thickets of hard-leaved evergreen shrubs and low trees (myrtle, oleander, pistachio, strawberry tree, laurel). Typical brown soils form here. In the Cape Mountains, vegetation is represented by Cape olive, silver tree, African walnut.

In the extreme southeast of Africa, where the humid subtropical climate, grow lush mixed subtropical forests, represented by evergreen deciduous and conifers with an abundance of epiphytes. The zonal subtropical forests are red soils. The fauna of the northern subtropics is represented by European and African species. In northern sub tropical forests inhabit Noble deer, mountain gazelle, mouflon, jungle cat, jackals, Algerian fox, wild rabbits, tailless narrow-nosed magot monkey, canaries and eagles are widely represented among birds, and in the south - earthwolf, jumping antelope, meerkats.

natural areas Africa is located symmetrically about the equator. Northern and - "dry". Deserts and semi-deserts prevail here, the outskirts are occupied by cruel-leaved forests and shrubs. Central (equatorial) Africa is "wet", humid equatorial and variable-humid subequatorial forests. To the north and south of Central Africa and in the elevated East - savannas and woodlands.

Moist equatorial forests (or tropical rainforests) are a geographical natural area that is located along the equator, shifting south.

Variety of flora and fauna.

The complex multi-tiered structure of the forest. There are four main tiers of tropical rainforest, which differ not only in flora, but also in animal life.

Availability humid climate with high rainfall and high temperatures.

The flora is predominantly represented by evergreen tree-like plants with poorly developed bark, as well as flowers and fruits formed on tree trunks and branches.

The conditions in which tropical rainforests grow are due to low air pressure, heavy tropical rainfall and heat. Under these conditions, various tropical crops such as coconut palm, banana tree, cocoa and pineapple are also well cultivated. These forests are called the "lungs" of the planet, but such a statement is controversial according to scientists who claim that tropical forest vegetation releases quite little oxygen into the atmosphere.

Climate

Rainforests are characterized by a humid and hot equatorial climate. There are slight temperature fluctuations throughout the year (from 24°C to 28°C), intense and uniform precipitation precipitation(from 2000 to 10000 mm per year) and high air humidity due to the high content of water vapor and reaching 80% and above. The seasons in this natural area are followed by a dry season and a season of tropical rains.

In conditions of such a climate, vegetation develops rapidly in the humid equatorial forests. The trees here branch weakly, have a dense evergreen crown, and the height of the trunks reaches several tens of meters.

The upper tier is represented mainly by palm trees and ficuses, and the lower tier is represented by tree ferns, lianas and large plants. At the foot of the trees, twilight always reigns, created by lush crowns, which is why, due to the lack sun rays rainforests have virtually no undergrowth.

The soil

Despite the growth of lush vegetation, the soil of tropical rainforests due to the hot climate is not very fertile and is very saturated with aluminum and iron oxides. The high content of these chemical compounds gives it a red or red-yellow color, and the rapid decomposition of plants under the influence of bacteria prevents the accumulation of the humus (fertile) layer of the earth.

Geographical position

Moist equatorial forests are widespread in tropical regions with an equatorial climate, such as Central and South America (Amazon basin), equatorial Africa, Southeast Asia(Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines), the northeastern region of Australia, as well as the Pacific Islands.

equatorial forests occupy the territory of the Congo river basin and the Gulf of Guinea. Their part is approximately 8% of the total area of ​​the continent. This natural area is unique. There is not much difference between the seasons here. The average temperature is around 24 degrees Celsius. The annual rainfall is 2000 millimeters, and It is raining practically every day. The main weather indicators are increased heat and humidity.

The equatorial forests of Africa are wet rainforests and are called the term "hylaea". If you look at the forest from a bird's eye view (from a helicopter or plane), then it resembles a green lush sea. In addition, several rivers flow here, and all of them are full-flowing. During floods, they overflow and overflow the banks, flooding large area sushi. Hylaea lie on red-yellow ferralitic soils. Since they contain iron, it gives the soil a red tint. There are not very many nutrients in them, they are washed out by water. The sun also affects the soil.

hylaea flora

More than 25 thousand species of flora live in the equatorial forest of Africa, of which a thousand are only trees. Lianas wrap around them. Trees form dense thickets in the upper tiers. Shrubs grow a little lower, and grasses, mosses, and creepers grow even lower. In total, 8 tiers are represented in these forests.

Gilea is an evergreen forest. The leaves on the trees last for about two, and sometimes three years. They do not fall at the same time, but are replaced one by one. The most common types are as follows:

• bananas;
• sandalwood;
• ferns;
• nutmeg;
• ficuses;
• palm trees;
• Red tree;
• creepers;
• orchids;
• breadfruit;
• epiphytes;
• oil palm;
• nutmeg;
• rubber plants;
• a coffee tree.

Hylaean fauna

Animals and birds are found in all tiers of the forest. There are a lot of monkeys here. These are gorillas and monkeys, chimpanzees and baboons. In the crowns of trees there are birds - banana-eaters, woodpeckers, fruit pigeons, as well as a huge variety of parrots. Lizards, pythons, shrews and various rodents crawl on the ground. A lot of insects live in the equatorial forest: tsetse flies, bees, butterflies, mosquitoes, dragonflies, termites and others.

In the African equatorial forest, special climatic conditions. There is a rich world of flora and fauna. Human influence is minimal here, and the ecosystem is virtually untouched.

The equatorial belt is located on both sides of the equator of our planet - from 5 ° -8 ° N. sh. up to 4°—11° S sh.

Equatorial waves reign here all year round. air masses. This is the only belt that is not continuous and whole. It is located between subequatorial belts. Due to the influence of equatorial air masses, the high temperatures, can not be strong winds and maintain optimal moisture levels.

Natural zones of the equatorial climate zone

Feature of the equatorial climate zone is the absence of differences in seasons. All year round Temperatures are about the same across the regions. Both winter and summer average temperature here is about +30 degrees. Annually 2000-7000 mm of precipitation falls in the form of heavy rains.

hot and constant climate formed by absorption of solar radiation. The amount of this energy exceeds the permissible norms.

The equatorial climatic zone is characterized by the presence of a variety of plant species. Their growth is facilitated by constant moisture. Tropical and permanently humid forests are widespread in the equatorial territories. In these forests grow palm trees, iron, bread and chocolate trees.

From animals there are many insects, frogs, snakes and monkeys.

The Amazonian lowland of South America, equatorial Africa, the Gulf of Guinea, the Greater Sunda Islands - an equatorial climate reigns here.

Climate of humid equatorial forests of the countries of the world

Moist equatorial forests got their name due to the territories in which they are formed. They grow in the Amazon, in the valleys of the Congo and Lualaba rivers. Permanently wet forests occupy vast areas in the Greater Sunda Islands.

Such forests are formed exclusively in the conditions of the equatorial climatic zone. Its climate is ideal for constant tree growth. In order to saturate the vegetation with the right amount of moisture, constant precipitation is needed, more than 2000 mm per year. Also, these trees do not like the cold, and this climate provides them with constant heat.

Moist equatorial forests are located mainly near the continental coasts, where warm currents dominate. These forests are impenetrable jungles that are home to most of the living beings on the entire planet.

Permanently wet forests consist of several layers of vegetation. Trees reach 30-40 meters in height. And eucalyptus trees growing in Australia reach 100 meters in the air.

Moist forests are very difficult to study, so it is impossible to say exactly how many species of the animal world live there. Only a small part of this green world has been explored. And it is already known that 2/3 of all life on Earth lives here.

The plants of these territories are characterized by large leaves. The sheets have special slots and holes that protect them from damage by raindrops.

The fauna of these forests is very diverse. There are snakes, lizards, frogs, spiders, insects and midges. Generally, all animals are small size. This allows them to move freely through the world of endless jungle.

The soils are rust-colored, they are called red-yellow ferralitic, contain a lot of iron and aluminum. The soils are not fertile, firstly, there is a strong leaching, and secondly, the rapid process of litter decomposition, nutrients are immediately absorbed by plants, do not accumulate.

A typical equatorial forest plant leaf is usually dark green in color and oblong in shape with an elongated "nose" at the end. This is a dropper that helps to free the surface of the sheet from a layer of water after rain or dew. This surface is often glossy, and the leaf itself is rather hard (this can be seen in the ficus growing in our house).

In the equatorial forests there are many vines, mainly with lignified stems, less often herbaceous. Their trunks reach a diameter of 20 cm, and the leaves are raised to the height of the tree crowns.

Orchids The forms of these flowers are so sparkling with originality and fabulous beauty that it simply takes your breath away from such magnificence!

natural areas of Africa. Name Constantly moist Equatorial forests Geogvf. position On both sides of the Equator, Congo Basin, Gulf of Guinea coast. Climate Equatorial “Damp heat” One season January +25 June +24 Daily rains Soils Poor. Red-yellow Feralite (rich in iron) Vegetable world More than 10,000 species, multi-tiered. Ficuses, palms, bananas, creepers, ferns. Fauna Human influence Ants, gorillas, chimpanzees, okapis, hippos, tsetse flies, leopards, bush pigs, reptiles, geckos. Deforestation, the disappearance of valuable tree species and rare species animals.