Global ecosystem typology

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T1.3 Tropical/Subtropical montane rainforests

Biome: T1. Tropical-subtropical forests biome

Contributors:
(texts)

These mountain rainforests are characterised by a single-layered tree canopy, with epiphytic ferns, bryophytes, lichens, orchids, and bromeliads draping tree branches. Grasses are rare or absent. At high altitude forest structure becomes less complex, with dwarf tree forms. Although rainfall is abundant (up to 6000 mm per year), productivity is limited by cool temperatures, wind exposure and shallow soils, although under the canopy a moist shady microclimate provides stable habitat for a frog, bird, plant and invertebrate species that are found nowhere else.

Key Features

Closed-canopy evergreen forests with abundant non-vascular epiphytes in warm/cool wet cloudy climates, diverse life forms.

Overview of distribution

Global tropical & subtropical mountains.

Profile versions

  • v1.0 (2020-01-20): DA Keith; NA Brummitt; A Etter
  • v2.0 (2020-06-15): DA Keith; NA Brummitt; KR Young; RT Corlett; A Etter
  • v2.01 ():
  • v2.1 (2022-04-06): DA Keith; NA Brummitt; KR Young; RT Corlett; A Etter Full profile available at official site

Main references

Selected references for this functional group:

  • Gradstein SR, Homeier J, Gansert D (2008) The tropical mountain forest – patterns and processes in a biodiversity hotspot The tropical mountain forest – patterns and processes in a biodiversity hotspot Biodiversity and Ecology Series 2. Göttingen, Centre for Biodiversity and Ecology DOI:10.17875/gup2008-702

  • Hamilton LS, Juvik JO, Scatena FN (1995) Tropical Montane Cloud Forests Ecological Studies 110. Springer-Verlag, Berlin

  • Ashton PS, Seidler R (2014) On the forests of tropical Asia: lest the memory fade Kew Publishing: Kew

Diagrammatic assembly model

Diagrammatic assembly model of T1.3 Tropical/Subtropical montane rainforests. See general notes on diagrams. Open image full size.

Maps

Maps are indicative of global distribution patterns are not intended to represent fine-scale patterns. The maps show areas of the world containing major (coloured red) or minor occurrences (coloured yellow) of each ecosystem functional group. See general notes on maps.

There are 2 alternative versions of the indicative map for this functional group, please compare description and sources below.

T1.3.WM.nwx_v1.0

The distribution of tropical montane rainforest was approximated from a model of environmental suitability based on climatic variables and cloud cover (Wilson and Jetz, 2016, Karger et al. 2021). Occurrences were aggregated to half degree spatial resolution and cells reclassified as major occurrences (>25% of cell area) and minor occurrences (< 25% of cell area). Open image full size.

Datasets

  • TCF-2021
  • EarthEnv-Cloud-v1.0

Map references

  • Karger, D.N., Kessler, M., Lehnert, M. et al. (2021) Limited protection and ongoing loss of tropical cloud forest biodiversity and ecosystems worldwide Nat Ecol Evol DOI:10.1038/s41559-021-01450-y

  • Wilson AM, Jetz W (2016) Remotely Sensed High-Resolution Global Cloud Dynamics for Predicting Ecosystem and Biodiversity Distributions. PLoS Biol 14(3): e1002415. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.1002415. Dataset available on-line

T1.3.web.alt_v2.1

The distribution of tropical montane rainforest was approximated from a model of environmental suitability based on climatic variables and cloud cover (Wilson and Jetz 2016). Occurrences were aggregated to half degree spatial resolution and cells reclassified as major occurrences (>25% of cell area) and minor occurrences (< 25% of cell area). Open image full size.

Datasets

  • EarthEnv-Cloud-v1.0

Map references

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