The tropical rain forest

Reference Type Journal Article
Year of Publication
1973
Contributors Author: Paul W. Richards
Journal
Scientific American
Volume
229
Issue
6
Pagination
58-67
Date Published
12/1973
Language
English
Download citation
Collection Topic
Call Number
T1.S5
Keywords
Abstract

This paper addresses the scarcity of nutrients. This effects the food crops, rainforest, and the rest if the ecosystem. The recycling of the minerals is very rapid. Fungi and the decomposition of rocks help in adding nutrients to the ground. The primary rainforest is surviving, but barely.

The idea of a substitute or secondary forest is what is to replace the primary forest. These are phases to the growth of the secondary forest. These are grasses, including herbaceous dicotyledons, vines, shrubs, etc. Next is trees, soft-wooded, fast-growing, and short lived. After that is a cycle, the primary forest begins to form. In order for the primary forest to take shape, the secondary forest must be undistributed.

URL
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/scientificamerican1273-58
DOI
10.1038/scientificamerican1273-58