Figure 8.4
Tropical rainforest. (A) Tropical rainforest near Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia. Lianas are seen here growing up the trunks of tall trees to reach the light above. (B) Climate diagram for Sandakan. Tropical rainforests are found where the average annual temperature does not drop below 18°C (64°F) and an average of at least 250 cm (98 in) of precipitation falls each year. (C) Although tropical rainforest can occur within about 25 degrees north and south of the equator, this biome is found mainly within 10 degrees of the equator. About half of all tropical rainforest is found in the Amazon Basin in South America.(A. © Mattias Klum/National Geographic/Getty Images)