By Parque de las Ciencias Andalucía-Granada
Parque de las Ciencias
From the Tropics to Winter in the Deciduous Forest
Set off on a journey around the world through the most typical species of the tropical rainforest and deciduous forest biomes.
ReadTree trunksParque de las Ciencias Andalucía-Granada
Components of life
There have been trees on Earth for more than 380 million years. Throughout their long history, they have become good geographical indicators and essential for life.
Generadores de servicios (2008)Parque de las Ciencias Andalucía-Granada
A more habitable world
Trees release oxygen into the air, reduce pollution, provide animals with shade, food, and shelter, maintain the soil, generate moisture, and make cities more habitable.
Deciduous forest (2008)Parque de las Ciencias Andalucía-Granada
Why not join us?
Join us on a journey around the world through trees from the different terrestrial biomes found in the Parque de las Ciencias. This exhibition looks at the tropical rainforest and deciduous forest biomes.
The tropical rainforest
Tropical rainforests flourish in warm climates, with abundant annual rainfall. This leads to luxuriant plant growth, with light being the limiting factor.
ImageBioDomo: a window to the tropical biome (2016)Parque de las Ciencias Andalucía-Granada
The bioclimatic landscape of the BioDome
Light here is scarce, and the high temperatures and abundant rainfall throughout the year result in lush vegetation. The forest is structured over different layers, which are highly diverse. The BioDome is a window into this bioclimatic landscape.
Life strategies: the vines (2016)Parque de las Ciencias Andalucía-Granada
A strategy for life: lianas
In the competition for light, some plants wind themselves around tree trunks, climbing until they reach a height that allows them to absorb as much light as they need to survive. They are called lianas, and they can climb scores of feet high.
Mangroves and salinity (2016)Parque de las Ciencias Andalucía-Granada
Mangroves and salinity
Mangroves are common in tropical coastal regions and estuaries. They are important because they protect coral reefs, provide shelter for animals, and are a source of natural resources. Mangrove leaves contain glands that remove excess salt from the water.
The special leaves of bromeliads (2016)Parque de las Ciencias Andalucía-Granada
Bromeliads and their special leaves
Epiphytic plants, such as bromeliads and orchids, grow up the tall branches of trees in search of sunlight. Their leaves have adapted to absorb rainwater, mist, and dew. You can see some of them in the BioDome's Amazon zone.
The deciduous forest
In this biome, the trees lose their leaves every year in the cold and dry winter season.
Deciduous forestParque de las Ciencias Andalucía-Granada
Colorful, falling leaves
The landscape of the deciduous forest varies throughout the year. In the fall, leaves stop producing chlorophyll, allowing other, secondary colors to appear: reds, oranges, and yellows. The leaves then grow old and fall from the trees.
Ginkgo Biloba: a living fossil (2005)Parque de las Ciencias Andalucía-Granada
Ginkgo biloba: a living fossil
The Gingko biloba is one of the most unique trees in the deciduous forest. It is considered to be a living fossil, because it is the only living representative of its species group. All of its relatives became extinct in earlier periods. There are fossilized leaves from this tree dating back to 250 million years ago.
The balance of ecosystemsParque de las Ciencias Andalucía-Granada
Discover other biomes
This exhibition explores the most typical species of biomes from the Mediterranean forest, the Mediterranean mountain, and the desert.
Texts: Parque de las Ciencias
Photographs: Arsenio Cañete
