The Global Distribution of Tropical Rainforests

Tropical Rainforest Ecosystems

In this course, Professor Rob Marchant (University of York) explores tropical rainforest ecosystems, the conditions under which they develop, the threats they face, and the importance of their conservation. In the first module, we consider the global distribution of tropical rainforests, and especially the roles of temperature and moisture in determining where they form. The second module uses the Amazon as a case study to look at how tropical rainforests change over time and the factors which influence this, most importantly climate change and human activity. We continue examining the impacts of climate change in the third module, focusing particularly on how it is altering tropical species’ ranges, as well as exploring the ecosystem services provided by tropical rainforests. We conclude with a fourth module outlining strategies for the conservation of tropical rainforest ecosystems, notably REDD+, and the key role of carbon sequestration by these forests in combatting global warming.

The Global Distribution of Tropical Rainforests

In this module, we think about where tropical rainforest ecosystems are found, and the reasons for this. We focus on: (i) the importance of sunlight in the flourishing and distribution of life on Earth, and the greater intensity of solar energy in the tropics; (ii) the key roles of temperature and moisture in determining global patterns of ecosystem distribution, and how rainforests develop in especially hot, wet tropical conditions; (iii) why the tropics receive more solar energy than other parts of the Earth’s surface; (iv) how variations in precipitation influence where different tropical ecosystems form, such as rainforests and savannah; (v) wider global patterns of biodiversity, notably variations by latitude and altitude, and the locations of the world’s biodiversity hotspots.