When we enter the recreated tropical rainforest at the Biodôme, we’re hit by a wave of heat and humidity. We are quickly enthralled by an abundance of tropical plants and a host of animals interacting with their environment.
As we walk along the main path through the ecosystem, the air is filled with the scent of humid earth, which is fed by decomposing leaves. Between majestic tree trunks and leaves with intriguing shapes, dappled light barely reaches the ground. From sudden rustling noises to furtive shadows and flapping wings, it’s clear that the rainforest is bursting with life, even if we can’t always see it.
A wide array of exotic plants and animals
Through the forest understory, which is covered with herbaceous plants, we can glimpse young trees and shrubs seeking out a gap in the canopy. Above them, species such as the satinleaf and big-leaf mahogany form a web of greenery. Golden lion tamarins make their presence known by producing calls that echo through the treetops.
From the elevated walkway, we can see kapok trees and Mexican sterculia growing over 20 metres high. With luck, we might catch a glimpse of the southern two-toed sloth in the canopy of these leafy giants.
The path leads us into a cave, where a colony of Jamaican fruit bats hangs from the ceiling. The cave is also home to brightly coloured poison frogs that can be spotted among the bromeliads. Further along, capybaras swim in their pond alongside redtail catfish and tambaqui, while red-footed tortoises munch on greenery nearby.
Continuing on, in the swamp overhung by the Guiana chestnut, red ibises and roseate spoonbills lend their exotic colours to the scenery. There are constant and complex interactions between species. Even at the Biodôme, birds spread the seeds from black sapote and acerola after feasting on their fruit.
In the wild
In the Americas, the tropical rainforest spans from the lowlands of the Amazon to the areas of southern Mexico with elevations under 1,000 metres. In these areas, there is constant heat and frequent rainfall. This results in air that is saturated in humidity, allowing plants to grow year round. In this type of landscape, any free space quickly becomes overtaken by plant life.
A few facts and figures
The tropical rainforest at the Biodôme recreates a gently winding stream that traverses various sections of the ecosystem.
Daytime temperature: 25 to 28 degrees Celsius
Nighttime temperature: 21 to 22 degrees Celsius
Relative humidity: 70 to 80 %
Total surface area: 2,600 square metres (the largest ecosystem at the Biodôme)
Automated lighting system: 12 hours of sunlight per day, year-round