The Antarctic continent has never had a native or permanent population of humans. In 1998 the United States, Russia, Belgium, Australia, and several other countries signed one of an ongoing series of treaties to preserve Antarctica. The continent is used for peaceful international endeavors such as scientific research and ecotourism. Terrestrial Flora There are only […]

Most of Europe’s trees are similar to those in North America, but these are related by genus and are not members of the same species. This is true of oaks, maples, ashes, elms, birches, beeches, chestnuts, walnuts, apples, and hornbeams as well as conifers. Some of the native tree species of Europe have been brought […]

The tropical rain forest is discussed in depth elsewhere. In brief, it is a forest consisting of a dizzying variety of trees, shrubs, and other plants that remain green year-round. The growth is lush and usually includes both a dense canopy formed by the crowns of the largest trees and a thick understory of smaller […]

The Fiji Islands are mostly volcanic in origin and lie in the South Pacific Ocean between longitudes 175 degrees east and 178 degrees west and 15 degrees and 22 degrees south latitudes, about 1,300 miles (2,100 kilometers) north of Auckland, New Zealand. Some parts of the islands receive up to 13 feet (4 meters) of […]

The world’s largest tropical island, New Guinea is located north of Australia, just south of the equator. It is tectonic in origin, with large changes in elevation and many different habitats. Because of its size and varied terrain, New Guinea has a greater variety of habitats than any similar-sized land area in the world. In […]

Many of Europe’s flowering plants are similar to those in North America, belonging to many of the same genera but to different species. Some of the most common North American flowering plants have cousins in Europe, but their location varies according to their latitude and altitude. Climate and Soil The most important factor determining the […]

The primary characteristics of African tropical forests are their extremely lush growth, high species diversity, and complex structure. The diversity is often so great that a single tree species cannot be identified as dominant in an area. Relatively large trees, such as ironwood, iroko, and sapele, predominate. Forest trees grow so close together that their […]

Botanists view the region ranging from central China to the Himalayas to the northern part of South Asia as a key area for research into the origin of flowering plants. Native plant species in Asia are numerous; botanists also study Asian plants that are relics of ancient times, from millions of years ago, as well […]

Asian plants, which include ferns, gymnosperms, and flowering vascular plants, make up 40 percent of the earth’s plant species. The endemic plant species come from more than forty plant families and fifteen hundred genera. Asia is divided into five major vegetation regions based on the richness and types of each region’s flora: tropical rain forests […]

In all three types of forest a complex system of interrelationships governs the ecological well-being of the forest and its inhabitants. Trees and animals have evolved to fit into particular environmental niches. Some wildlife may need one resource provided by one species of tree in the forest during one season and a resource provided by […]

The boreal forest, which lies in a band across the northern United States, Canada, northern Europe, and northern Asia, is primarily a coniferous forest. The dominant species are trees such as white spruce, hemlock, and white pine. Mixed stands of northern hardwoods, such as birch, sugar maple, and red oak, may be found along the […]

Rice is the main food for humans in Asia, especially in the tropics. In temperate Asia, wheat one of the world’s main food sources joins rice as a primary food source. Various beans and peas provide plant protein in the human diet and are eaten with vegetables and grains. Asia has many tropical fruit plants, […]

The temperate forest lies between the tropical forest and the boreal, or northern, forest. The forests of the Mediterranean region of Europe as well as the forests of the southern United States are temperate forests. Trees in temperate forests can be either deciduous or coniferous. Although coniferous trees are generally thought of as evergreen, the […]

In the Atacama Desert, one of the world’s driest, some moisture is available, but it is limited to certain zones. Coastal regions below 3,280 feet (1,000 meters) receive regular fog (called camanchacas). Rainfall is so low in the Atacama Desert that even cacti (which normally store water) can hardly acquire enough water from rainfall alone, […]