Discover the main differences between forest and jungle and how to identify them
Introduction
Nature is one of the most wonderful things that exist on our planet, and among its complexities, we can find different types of ecosystems such as forests and jungles. At first glance, they may seem the same, but in reality they have significant differences.
Forest
Forests are natural systems with a high density of trees and other plants. These cover large areas in temperate and tropical regions of the world.
- The vegetation is dense and found in layers.
- The trees are further apart, allowing sunlight to enter.
- The soils are usually deeper and wetter.
Jungle
Jungles are also natural systems with a high density of trees and other plants, similar to forests, but with distinctive characteristics.
- Plants and trees grow in extreme density, forming a roof that barely lets in sunlight.
- The soils are shallower, due to the large amount of accumulated organic matter.
- The fauna of the jungles is very diverse, with many species exclusive to these environments.
Main differences
Flora and Fauna
The jungles have a greater variety of Flora and fauna than forests, since the climatic conditions are different. In the jungles, there are a large number of species that adapted to low sunlight, including climbing plants and epiphytes. On the other hand, in forests the light conditions allow a greater variety of tree species.
Lighting design
In forests, lighting is more abundant than in jungles, due to the distance between the trees. In the jungles, the vegetation is very dense, which causes a lack of light and oxygen that makes passage difficult for some animals.
Climate
Another difference between forests and jungles is temperature and humidity. Jungles are found in warmer, wetter regions, while forests are located in colder, drier climates. Jungles also have a more stable temperature and constant humidity, making them ideal for the survival of certain animal and plant species.
Conclusion
In summary, although forests and jungles have many similarities, they are two different ecosystems. Forests have less dense vegetation, are located in drier and colder climates, and have greater tree diversity. On the other hand, jungles are warmer and more humid, have denser vegetation and a greater diversity of flora and fauna, especially with regard to climbing species.
You may also be interested in this related content:
- Difference between greenhouse effect and global warming
- Difference between difference between tsunami and tidal wave
- Difference between nitrification and denitrification