The subdeciduous tropical forest it is an arboreal plant formation where 50% or less of the individuals lose their leaves in the dry season. They are also called deciduous tropical forests or monsoon forests and occur in tropical climates with two seasons, one rainy and the other very marked dry..
These tropical forests have a complex structure, and can have up to 4 strata or levels of vegetation, including a well developed understory. They occur in soils from shallow to very deep, with good drainage and with a provision of groundwater.
These underground water reserves contribute to the fact that a relevant percentage of trees in these forests or dry to sub-humid forests manage to maintain their foliage. Unlike deciduous or deciduous forests, where more than 75% of individuals completely lose their foliage.
These tropical sub-deciduous forests are found in America from Mexico to northern Argentina and Paraguay. In Africa they spread discontinuously in the sub-Saharan region and in Asia they are located in India and much of Southeast Asia.
Subdeciduous tropical forests have a high biological diversity with trees over 30 m high and large predators such as jaguars and tigers..
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Subdeciduous tropical forests are transitional forests between deciduous and humid forests, differing from the former in the percentage of evergreen individuals. In the deciduous forests, almost all the trees lose their foliage in the dry season and in the sub-deciduous forests at least 50% of the individuals remain evergreen..
Deciduous (the ability to shed the entire foliage) is a strategy to cope with the lack of water. The plants perspire through the leaves and the loss of water vapor allows them to control the temperature, in addition to facilitating the absorption of water by the roots.
In the dry season, the plant must reduce water loss to prevent its cells from becoming dehydrated. Therefore, one strategy is to lose the leaves and enter a dormant state until the entry of the rains..
However, this leads to the plant stunting its growth and requires a great effort in energy and matter to replace all its foliage. Thus, in areas where water is still available in the dry season, some species develop strategies to take advantage of it and not lose the foliage.
One of the most common strategies is to develop deep roots in order to reach the water at the groundwater table. Under these conditions tropical sub-deciduous forests develop, as a mixture of deciduous and evergreen species.
Subdeciduous tropical forests arise in tropical climates that generally have two distinct seasons. However, a succession of two dry and two rainy seasons can also occur, as in the jungles of Cameroon (Africa).
They are characterized by high solar radiation throughout the year, with seasonal rains of 1,000 to 2,000 mm per year. Average annual temperatures range between 25 and 27 ºC, with a very defined dry season of up to 5 or 6 months a year..
These forests in most cases have deep and fertile soils, with a high content of organic matter. The latter mainly due to the important annual contributions of litter, although they can occur in areas with shallower soils..
These forests develop from low areas, about 100 meters above sea level, to 1,500 meters above sea level, both in plains and in mountainous areas..
Subdeciduous tropical forests have high biological diversity and a complex plant structure. The trees reach between 25 and 30 m in height, with protruding individuals of up to 50 m and up to four strata can occur.
Climbing and epiphytic species thrive in them, although their upper canopy is less closed than in the tropical rain forest. This less closed canopy and the loss of foliage by a high percentage of species in the dry season, allows more light to enter.
Subdeciduous tropical forests, semi-deciduous tropical forests, or monsoon forests or forests, are found throughout the tropical belt. In America they grow in Mexico and all of Central America, as well as in the north, northwest of South America, southeast of Brazil (Mato Grosso) and in the Gran Chaco (Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina).
In Africa these forests are sparsely located in central and southeastern Africa, as well as in Madagascar. Being particularly abundant in Nigeria, Cameroon, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique. Zambia and Angola.
While in Asia we find them from India and Sri Lanka to Thailand and throughout much of Southeast Asia.
In tropical America, these forests are home to tree species that are very large and are of timber importance. For example, the American cedar (Cedrela odorata, Cedrela montana) and mahogany (Swietenia spp.).
Other species are the linnet (Cordia alliodora), saqui-saqui (Pachira quinata) as well as the ceiba (Ceiba pentandra) with its barrel-shaped stem to store water. Other common trees are the jabillo (Hura spp.), rubber (Ficus spp.), saman (Samanea saman), and various species of Tabebuia and of Handroanthus (bignoniaceae).
There are species with large individuals such as the mijao (Anacardium excelsium) reaching up to 50 m. Also of trunks with peculiar colors, such as yellow in oil (Copaiba officinalis) and the copper in the naked Indian or mulatto stick (Bursera simaruba).
On the other hand, in the undergrowth there are a large number of giant herbs such as heliconia, araceae, as well as palms. Similarly, climbers and epiphytes live here, such as bromeliads, orchids, araceae and bignoniaceae..
In the tropical sub-deciduous forests of the African continent, legumes are characteristic, especially of the genus Acacia. Combretáceas also abound (Terminalia spp.), urticaceae (Musang cecropioides), Canabaceous (Trema orientalis), Rutaceae (Vepris spp.) and Moraceae (Ficus spp.).
Orchids are also abundant in sub-deciduous tropical forests, for example in Nigerian forests there are more than 50 species.
In India there are species of euphorbiaceae such as Uapaca paludosa and combretáceas like Terminalia superba. Likewise sapotáceas (Gambeya boukokoensis), anonaceae (Cleistopholis glauca) and ramnaceae (Maesopsis eminii).
Other species have valuable wood such as teak (Tectona grandis) and Ceylon ebony (Diospyros ebenum). While dipterocaráceas (Dipterocarpus spp.), myrtaceae (Eugenia spp.) and Rubiaceae (Methadine, Rothmannia).
Subdeciduous tropical forests are home to a great diversity of fauna, including large predators such as tigers, numerous species of monkeys and birds..
In these forests inhabits the jaguar or American tiger (Panthera onca), as well as other species of felines such as the ocelot (Leopardus pardalis). Monkeys are also common, such as the howler monkey (Alouatta spp.), the spider monkey (Ateles spp.) and the capuchin monkey (subfamily Cebinae).
There is also the peccary or mountain pig (tayasuidos), the deer (Odocoileus virginianus), the armadillo (Dasypodidae) and the opossum or yellowtail (Didelphis marsupialis).
It is the habitat of birds such as the guacharaca (Ortalis ruficauda), the turpial (Icterus icterus) and various species of hawks (Accipiter spp.). As well as constrictor snakes like boas (Boa spp.) and poisonous like mapanares (Bothrops spp.).
The subdeciduous tropical forests of Africa are inhabited by the leopard (Panthera pardus), the wild dog (Lycaon pictus) and the chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes Y Paniscus bread). There are also species of duiqueros (Cephalophus spp.) which are small African bovines and wild boars such as the red hog (Potamochoerus porcus).
These forests also serve as a refuge for elephants (Loxodonta africana) and Kaffir buffalo (Syncerus caffer). While among the birds the guinea fowl (family Numididae) stand out, endemic to Africa.
In Asia the semi-deciduous tropical forests or sub-deciduous tropical forests are inhabited by the tiger (Panthera tigris) and the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus). As well as by various species of monkeys, such as the langur monkey (Semnopithecus entellus), considered sacred in India.
In Mexico there are various types of tropical sub-deciduous forests that are called there medium sub-deciduous forest and low sub-deciduous forest. These forests develop in warm subhumid climates with rains in the summer.
There are also sub-evergreen forests (Alta and Mediana) that correspond to transitional forms between the evergreen and sub-deciduous forests.
They are located between 50 and 1,229 meters above sea level, on the southern slope of the Pacific coast, Oxaca and in the central depression of Chiapas. As well as in the center of Veracruz, in the Costa Maya and in the Yucatan peninsula.
Among the common trees in these forests are legumes such as copomo (Hymenaea courbaril) and the ear (Enterolobium cyclocarpum). As well as a great diversity of moraceas of the genus Ficus called amate and malvaceas like the ceiba (Ceiba pentandra).
Likewise, the jabillo (Hura polyandra), the ramón (Brosimum alicastrum), the crawling (Astronium graveolens) and different species of Bursera (mulatto stick). Among the epiphytes there are araceae such as Anthurium tetragonium, orchidsCatasetum integerrimum) and bromeliads (Tillandsia brachycaulos).
In these jungles there is a large amount of fauna, with species of cats such as the jaguar, the ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) and jaguarundi (Puma yagouaroundi). Also small rodents of the genus Liomys, the tepezcuintleCuniculus paca), the gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) and the arboreal anteater (Mexican tamandua).
Of the primates are the saraguato or howler monkey (Alouatta palliata) and the spider monkey (Ateles geoffrogyi). Among the birds there are abundant species of parrots (Macaws and parrots), ramfástids (toucans) and the pacific chachalaca (Ortalis poliocephala).
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