Rainforests and Trees?

Question

why are trees diffrent? rainforest trees are taller and thin where as normally there thicker and broader.

if you get what i mean? & does anybody no what the people who live in there are called?

Thanx

MosherChick

Answer 1

It is for survival. the trees here must stand some severe weather and wind. In the jungle they are growing very near each others,so they must grow tall to get the sun light.

Answer 2

They are tall and thin because they are all in competition with each other to reach the light and break through what is known as the canopy in a rain forest. Where as normal trees that arent in rainforests dont have to compete as much for the light for photosynthesis so height isnt to much of a problem for them.

Answer 3

For one, there are several rainforests all over the world and the variety of trees in all of them differ.  The different sizes are just different species/ages.

Answer 4

Generally, It's evolution. Trees will grow tall to compete with other trees. But to say rain forest trees compete more than an average tree in the united states would be a very big assumption. For example, the giant sequoias in California occur in almost pure stands, or mixed with lodge pole and Ponderosa pine, and other, much shorter trees. They grow big because they can, not because they are competing. The evolutionary reason, may be lost in the past, much like the use of your appendix. And, because tropical trees don't have a real "winter", they have longer growing seasons, which gives them more time to put on some height (although they do have wet and dry seasons).

There is some speculation that rain forest trees, as well as coastal redwoods, can grow so tall because of the humidity. Trees require massive amounts of water, and evaporation is key to this process. This has to do with hydrogen bonding and the trees stomates (see link)... But, if there is too much evaporation, then the water supply could be cut off. If there is already moisture in the air (clouds, fog) then there is less evaporation stress, and the trees can grow taller.