Land Ecology: Isla's Tropical Paradise of Praxia

The Rain forest

The continent of Praxia is located 30 degree. north and south of the equator. It's climate is ideal for the tropical biome that exists on Isla. Dense rain forests characterize most of Praxia's landscape. Its features of green trees look the same all year round. Picture yourself in a beautiful emerald-green forest. Trees above and around you stand about 100 feet tall. They block out most of the sunlight and the sight of blue sky above. This warm, moist, mysterious place makes a wonderful place for campers who can appreciate the beauty of the outdoors.

With temperatures ranging from 70 to 80 degrees F and plenty of rainfall, the trees and the plants have long lifespans. It contains various mixtures of plant and animal life.

There are three basic levels of tropical rain forest. The mangrove forest grows along the coast and in river estuaries. The lowland rain forest is found in the warm, humid inland where there is little dry season. There's a drop in temperature (1.1 degree F/ 0.6 degree C) for every 330 ft (100 m) increase in altitude). At altitudes 3,000 ft (900 m) and above, lowland rain forest changes to montane or high altitude forest. Mountainsides that are thickly forested at 10,000 ft (3,200 m) is referred to as cloud forest. Often two rain forest types merge so there are no clear boundaries.

The rain forest can be further divided into four distinct environments: the emergent level, the canopy, the understory, and the forest floor. The emergent level is composed of trees reaching 120 to 200 ft high and is adapted structurally to harsh conditions (low humidity, strong wind, constant exposure to the sun). The canopy consist of trees 75 to 90 ft high blocking 80% of the sunlight. Trees ranging 10 to 20 ft make up the understory with high humidity and stable temperature. At the forest floor few plants survive due to lack of sunlight. Those that survive, live on decomposing material from above. The soil is very poor in nutrients because of the quick absorption of dead materials.

Mountain Ranges and Volcanoes

Two great mountain ranges (the Atlas Mountains and the Titans Valley) lines up on the eastern and western regions of Praxia. The mountains can reach up to an average of 12,000 ft high. They are formed along fault lines where scientists predict that major primordial crustal/ tectonic plates collided and layers of rocks were forced together gradually folding against one another. Among these rocky giants are also some active volcanoes. Scientists theorize today that Isla's living organisms were derived at the edge of these volcanoes

The largest and currently the most unstable volcano is Mount Prometheus. It stands up to 7,000 ft. Its last eruption has the classic attitude of most Praxian volcanoes with lava or molten rock overflowing out of it's mouth, gas and small pieces of rocks bursting into the air raining ashes. The next eruption may be more violent with its mouth stuffed up by hardened lava.

Rivers and Lakes

The lakes and river valleys on Praxia are splendid sites to see. There are four major rivers. Two rivers travel from the Atlas Mountains and two from the Titans Valley. Its path from the mountains to the sea forms many V-shaped valleys, lakes, and they slowly wear away the land by carrying bits and pieces of rocks as they run down the mountains and out to the sea.

Author: Henry T. Lin