Question

The most striking difference between tropical rainforest and temperate is that
A. The tropical rain forests have the preponderance of angiosperms while the temperate ones have the preponderance of gymnosperms.
B. The trees of temperate forests are taller than those of tropical rainforests.
C. Giants of temperate forests are comparatively more mesophytic.
D. Tropical forests are comparatively more homogenous.

Answer 1

Hint: Mosses and lichens are known as epiphytes and their growth is mostly supported by a high amount of moisture. Temperate forests have a large number of deciduous trees, whereas tropical rain forests have dense canopies of vegetation.

Step by step answer: In an ecosystem, biodiversity forms an integral part. Different regions have various ecosystems. In an ecotone, two different ecosystems meet and interact with each other. The tropical rain forest is located near the latitude 280 north or south of the equator. The tropical rain forest has a large number of trees that have warm conditions and it has an average 50-260 inches of rainfall annually. It has a wide range of flora and fauna. About 70% of plants are trees and most of the trees are angiosperms. The precipitation is the characteristic feature of temperate forests. About 350 inches of precipitation is observed in warmer areas. Coniferous trees such as Douglas fir, Western red cedar, mountain hemlock, western hemlock, lodgepole pine, etc. are mostly found in temperate forests. Epiphytes are common in both tropical and temperate forests. Therefore, temperate forests consist of gymnosperms mostly.
Hence, the correct answer is option A.

Note: Epiphytes are common in both the forests but, in the case of tropical rainforests it has more amount of moisture that puts the least pressure or water stress on plants without roots. The tropical rainforest is a hot, moist biome found near Earth's equator. On the other hand, temperate rainforests are located along some coasts in temperate zones.