Tropical marine ecosystem

Tropical marine climate

Islands and coastal areas 10° to 20° north or south of the equator usually have a tropical marine climate. The climate of the tropical marine system is influenced by the sea. There are two main seasons the wet season and the dry season. The annual rainfall is 1000 to over 1500mm. The temperature ranges from 27°C to 30°C. The trade winds blow all year round. The trade winds are moist as they have past over warm seas.


Wet season

The wet season of the tropical marine climate occurs during the period when the conditions of the atmosphere are not stable. At this time, the regions (10° to 20° north or south of the equator) experience tropical disturbances. Around this time islands like Greneda are affected by the ITCZ (Intertropical Convergence Zone). The most rainfall comes during between July to September.

Dry season

The dry season occurs when the conditions in the atmosphere are stable. During the dry season there is less rainfall than in the wet season. Around this timethe tropical marine regions is influnced by anti cyclones. There is little difference between the wet and dry seasons.


The ecosystems of the tropical marine climate have to adapt to the dry season. Plants during the dry season must conserve water/moisture. However the extent of the adaptation depends much on the annual rainfall. Hygrophytic ecosystems occur when there is a short dry period with a few rain showers. The soil in this ecosystem holds adequate water for plant growth. The most of the tropical marine ecosystems are close to true rainforests.

Mesophytic ecosystem

The mesophytic ecosystem is also know an as a semi-evergreen forest. It is found where there is a long dry season that has little rainfall. There is less vegetation than in a rainforest and the layer structure is simpler. There are only 2 tree stories, trees shed their leaves or have very small leaves. This provides the plants a way to conserve moisture. There is fewer epiphytes than a rain forest has as the canopy is dry. In the dry season the ground is covered by leaves that will not decay until the soil is moist. The trees often flower during the dry season and start to grow during the wet season. The soil is usually latasol.

Xerophytic ecosystem

The xerophytic ecosystem is also know as dry woodland. It is found in areas of rain shadow in the tropical marine climate. This ecosystem often develops soils that drain quickly. The dry woodland is a lot different than the rainforest. The biomass is a lot less than a rainforest as there is little rain. The tallest of trees are only 15 to 25 meters high in the dry woodland. Dry woodland trees either have small leaves or shed their leaves. The trees have very thick bark and the trunks are crooked.


Mangroves grow in coastal wet lands which are called hydrophytic ecosystems. The vegetation at the coast are usually adapted to sandy soil. The montane forests and elfin wood lands grow on the cool, moist, mointainous regoins.

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