1. Tropical Dry Forest
By: Jenn Jarosh

2. Dry Season Rainy Season
Trees, flowers and insects appear to pollinate.
This is when the pace of life quickens.
Trees are tallest in the wettest areas.
Most trees are dormant and 50% may be evergreen.
Insects, mammals, and birds make seasonal migrations to wetter habitats.
After migrations= along rivers or to the nearest rain forest.
After quickens= First storms arrive, trees produce leaves, and transform the landscape.
Mostly insect/animal pollinate, but wind does to.

3. Geography
Tropical dry forests occupy a substantial portion of the earths surface.
Africa- North and South of Central African Rain Forest
Americas- North and South of Amazon Rain Forest. West Coast of Central America, and North America along the West Coast of Mexico.
Asia- Most of India and Indochina Peninsula.
Australian Tropical Dry Forests form a continuous band across the Northern and Northeastern portions of the continent.

4. Climate and Soil Dry season lasts between 6-7 months.
~About May to October.
Followed by abundant rainfall. That lasts about 5-6 months.
~About November to April.
Soil- Less acidic and richer in nutrients
However torrential rain makes the soil highly vulnerable to erosion
Nutrients- than in rain forests.

5. Biological Adaptations
Many frogs and insects burrow deep into mud
Birds and monkeys retreat to damp areas, such as stream beds.
These forests can support a surprising diversity of amphibians, and of course, reptiles can be very abundant in dry forest, where tough skin and hard- shelled eggs give them an advantage.
Deciduousness is not the only option.
Some have rich green chlorophyll filled
bark.
Howler monkey and giant cerambycid beetle.
After bark= this lets them photosynthesize even when there no leaves.

6. Biological Adaptations
Deciduousness is not the only option.
Some have rich green chlorophyll filled
bark.
Some vegetation has water storage tissues. ~ swollen roots ~ an extra waxy layer on leaves ~ nyctinasty- closing of leaves at night

7. Human Influences
Heavy human settlement has devastated the tropical dry forest.
The relatively fertile soil attracts agricultural development:
~Cattle ranches
~grain farmers
~cotton fields
Dry season makes the land more accessible and easier to burn.

8. Ecology Concepts and Applications
Sources
Ecology Concepts and Applications