Question on Natural Vegetation :Difference between coniferous forest and tropical rain forest

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  1 Study the map which shows the global distribution of coniferous forests below carefully.
  
  (a) Based on the map above, what kind of conditions favour the growth of coniferous forests? [4]
  
  Coniferous forests are found in areas between 60 and 70°N of the Equator.
• These areas experience the cool temperate climate.
• Areas at this latitudes experience four seasons with winters as cold as -40°C and summers averaging 21°C.
• Precipitation at these areas is between 300 to 635 millimetres throughout the year.
  

(b) What are the differences between how coniferous forests and tropical rainforests adapt to their environments? [6]

• Coniferous forests have no distinct layers with tall trees which are generally 20 to 30 metres in height. There is also little undergrowth because of the low amount of sunlight received and low soil nutrient level.
• On the other hand, tropical rainforests have five distinct layers — the undergrowth layer, the shrub layer, the understorey layer, canopy layer and the emergent layer.
• Only a few species of trees grow in the coniferous forests because not many plants can adapt to the low temperatures and precipitation.
• However, a tropical can support many diverse species of flora. 1 hectare of tropical rainforest may contain more than 750 species of trees and 1500 species of plants.
• Tropical rainforests are extremely dense due to high temperatures and rainfall.
• The trees in coniferous forests are not as dense as the low temperatures and precipitation cannot support dense vegetation growth.