The Tropical Dry Forest - Often Overlooked and Under Threat by https://padlet.com/bcruz9019/ax1ztpgaa1rxk92d Bryan Cruz, Miriam Villegas, Anthony Camacho, and Pedro Delgadillo en-us 2021-02-22 06:58:38 UTC 2026-03-01 20:29:54 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f3de.png What Is A Biome? bcruz9019 https://padlet.com/bcruz9019/ax1ztpgaa1rxk92d/wish/1228071192 A "biome" is a comprehensive area of land distinguished by its vegetation, climate, and wildlife. There are five major types of biomes: aquatic, grassland, forest, desert, and tundra. Moreover, these biomes can be categorized into more meticulous categories, such as tropical rainforests, and temperate rainforests. ]]> 2021-02-22 18:35:01 UTC https://padlet.com/bcruz9019/ax1ztpgaa1rxk92d/wish/1228071192 Tropical Dry Forest? More like Tropical Savanna! - The Climate bcruz9019 https://padlet.com/bcruz9019/ax1ztpgaa1rxk92d/wish/1228112888         The climate that is present in tropical dry forests can be categorized as the "Kroppen Aw" type. This type of climate is characterized as having extended "dry seasons" during the winter. The temperature in this biome is generally high all year round, with the average temperature usually above 81F.  During the dry season temperatures typically hover around 99F. Tropical dry forests in parts of the Americas and Indochina typically receive 98 inches or more of rain each year but experience a dry period of 6 or more consecutive months with less than 4 in. Tropical dry forests in which most trees lose their leaves in the dry season, receive 32-71 inches of rain a year, with 5 consecutive months averaging less than 4 inches each.]]> 2021-02-22 18:42:38 UTC https://padlet.com/bcruz9019/ax1ztpgaa1rxk92d/wish/1228112888 Where Can I Find A Tropical Dry Forest? bcruz9019 https://padlet.com/bcruz9019/ax1ztpgaa1rxk92d/wish/1228117243         Tropical dry forests tend to exist in the drier areas north and south of the "tropical rainforest belt", south or north of the subtropical deserts, generally in two bands: one between 10° and 20°N latitude and the other between 10° and 20°S latitude. 
Moreover, this biome is found in southern Mexico, southeastern Africa, central India, Madagascar, New Caledonia, eastern Bolivia and central Brazil, the Caribbean, and along the coastlines of Ecuador and Peru.  ]]> 2021-02-22 18:43:26 UTC https://padlet.com/bcruz9019/ax1ztpgaa1rxk92d/wish/1228117243 A Diverse Community - Fauna bcruz9019 https://padlet.com/bcruz9019/ax1ztpgaa1rxk92d/wish/1229834680 Tropical dry forests boast a plethora of fauna and flora. This biome is one of the most diverse on the planet. By far the most famous resident of this biome is the Merriam's kangaroo rat (Dipodomys merriami). Other species of animals include the yellow-nap parrot (Amazona auropalliata), least grebe (Tachybaptus dominicus), angonoka tortoise (Astrochelys yniphora), and cayotes (Canis latrans). ]]> 2021-02-23 05:55:03 UTC https://padlet.com/bcruz9019/ax1ztpgaa1rxk92d/wish/1229834680 Often Overlooked but Under Threat - Threats Facing Tropical Dry Forests bcruz9019 https://padlet.com/bcruz9019/ax1ztpgaa1rxk92d/wish/1229836808         By far, the most Brobdingnagian threat affecting tropical dry forests and other biomes is deforestation. Deforestation is best defined as "the clearing or thinning of forests by humans." While this quandary may be more human in nature, there is another, more natural, danger facing this biome. Due to an increase in global temperatures, there has been an increased fire incidence and intensity. This particularly affects this biome, as the increased heat and "dry seasons" usually come together to form devastating fires that destroy the food source and homes of many native animals, threatening their survival.
        Moreover, around 2/3 of tropical dry forests in South America have been deforested and transformed to such an extent that such zones have been cleared and developed for pastureland and agriculture. Tropical dry forests vary from largely eradicated (Pacific Islands) to still extensive (The Americas), depending on the geographic region. Additionally, in certain regions, tropical dry forests are more endangered than rain forests. ]]> 2021-02-23 05:56:12 UTC https://padlet.com/bcruz9019/ax1ztpgaa1rxk92d/wish/1229836808 Tidbits and More! bcruz9019 https://padlet.com/bcruz9019/ax1ztpgaa1rxk92d/wish/1229840615
  • Most tropical dry forests have been burned to make way for farmland. 
  • Believe it or not, there are more tropical dry-forests than tropical rainforests.
  • The average rainfall of the tropical dry forest biome is 90 in. per year.
  • Tropical dry forests grow in places where rainfall is seasonal, not year-round. 
  • Tropical dry forests are usually warm year-round with alternating wet & dry seasons.  
  • This biome is distributed throughout parts of Africa, South & Central America, Mexico, India, Australia, & pacific islands. 
  • Tall, deciduous trees form a dense canopy throughout the wet season. 
  • During the dry season, almost all of the trees drop their leaves to conserve water.
  • Unlike tropical forests, sunlight can reach the trees here.
  • Trees (Ebony & teak) shed their leaves for water preservation.
    • ]]>     2021-02-23 05:58:03 UTC https://padlet.com/bcruz9019/ax1ztpgaa1rxk92d/wish/1229840615     A Diverse Community - Flora bcruz9019 https://padlet.com/bcruz9019/ax1ztpgaa1rxk92d/wish/1229845955         Deciduous trees, by and large, are the most common trees found in tropical dry forests. They are native species to this particular biome and provide shelter for a plethora of native animals. Aside from providing shelter for their inhabitants, these seeds provide food, in the form of seeds and fruits, to the myriad of animals that roam about.
    Epiphytes are also abundant in tropical dry forests that are found in Southern America and Indochina. Buttress Roots are very large roots that grow around the surface of the tree to help support large trees in the tropical rainforest. Additionally, during a "dry period", a leafless period occurs, which differs between species types.]]>     2021-02-23 06:00:40 UTC https://padlet.com/bcruz9019/ax1ztpgaa1rxk92d/wish/1229845955     Animal Adaptations https://padlet.com/bcruz9019/ax1ztpgaa1rxk92d/wish/1234366119         Due to the diversity of this biome, many animals have had to adapt to their surroundings in enthralling manners. For example, the Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is a nocturnal species that spends the day resting in the burrows and grassy nest of hollow logs or thick brush. It has a strong sense of smell to sniff out prey and then waits patiently to ambush it.        
            Coyotes enter the tropical dry forest from other biomes during the dry season. During this period, cayotes prey upon Jaliscan cotton rats (Sigmodon mascotensis). Once the dry season has ended, and the wet season begins, coyotes eat mangos and papayas, which are native to the biome.
            The Meriam's Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys merriami) has external fur-lined cheek pouches in which seeds can be stored for later use. It is nocturnal and active throughout the year. When the Kangaroo Rat is not active, it spends its time in shallow underground burrows.]]>     2021-02-24 01:48:59 UTC https://padlet.com/bcruz9019/ax1ztpgaa1rxk92d/wish/1234366119     References bcruz9019 https://padlet.com/bcruz9019/ax1ztpgaa1rxk92d/wish/1237171460 Ghose, Joyita. “The Case for Conserving Tropical Dry Forests.” Yale Environment Review, Take Environment Review, 24 Dec. 2020.  Accessed 20 February 2021.                                                  www.environment-review.yale.edu/case-conserving-tropical-dry-forests. 

    Janzen, Daniel H. “Tropical Dry Forests The Most Endangered Major Tropical Ecosystem.” Biodiversity., U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1 Jan. 1988.  Accessed 21 February 2021. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK219281/. 

    “Tropical and Subtropical Dry Broadleaf Forests.” WWF, World Wildlife Fund, 2018.  Accessed 20 February 2021. 
    www.worldwildlife.org/biomes/tropical-and-subtropical-dry-broadleaf-forests. 

    “Tropical Dry Forest.” Tropical Dry Forest  ·  University of Puget Sound, Slater Museum of Natural History, 2017.  Accessed 19 February 2021.
    www.pugetsound.edu/academics/academic-resources/slater-museum/biodiversity-resources/world-biomes/characteristics-of-bioclimatic/tropical-dry-forest/.

    Woodward, Susan L. “Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests.” Biomes of the World, Radford University, 2019. Accessed 19 February 2021. https://php.radford.edu/~swoodwar/biomes/?page_id=102. 

    ]]>     2021-02-24 16:30:53 UTC https://padlet.com/bcruz9019/ax1ztpgaa1rxk92d/wish/1237171460     In The End... bcruz9019 https://padlet.com/bcruz9019/ax1ztpgaa1rxk92d/wish/1237306704 What we should take from this project is that every biome has its place in the world. If we do not learn how to take care of them, we are all gambling away our future. On that note, we would like to finish off with this song. ]]> 2021-02-24 16:54:20 UTC https://padlet.com/bcruz9019/ax1ztpgaa1rxk92d/wish/1237306704 The Human Impact On Tropical Dry Forests vmiriam08 https://padlet.com/bcruz9019/ax1ztpgaa1rxk92d/wish/1238939427         Humans have left their mark on tropical dry forests and it shows. Deforestation has significantly affected dry tropical forests. Human activities such as logging, oil extraction, poaching, and road construction have harmed the tropical dry forest biome. 
            Additionally, the most common pressures causing deforestation and severe forest degradation in this biome are agriculture, mining, unsustainable forest management, and infrastructure projects. 
            Believe it or not, human pollution is also a huge factor in destroying the tropical dry forest. Pollution has made it difficult for plants to pollinate. There are a myriad of animals and plants that have become endangered because of this. Some have even gone extinct due to human activity. The impact humans have had on this biome cannot be understated.]]>     2021-02-25 00:06:03 UTC https://padlet.com/bcruz9019/ax1ztpgaa1rxk92d/wish/1238939427     A Padlet Presentation By... bcruz9019 https://padlet.com/bcruz9019/ax1ztpgaa1rxk92d/wish/1239022769  ❖  Bryan Cruz

     ❖  Miriam Villegas

     ❖  Anthony Camacho

     ❖  Pedro Delgadillo

    ]]>     2021-02-25 00:55:03 UTC https://padlet.com/bcruz9019/ax1ztpgaa1rxk92d/wish/1239022769