Tropical rainforest soils are typically shallow, nutrient-poor, and sometimes waterlogged. Trees in these environments often do not develop deep taproots for stability. Instead, they rely on widespreading, shallow root systems and buttress roots at the base of the trunk. Buttress roots are large, triangular supports that spread horizontally and vertically, increasing the tree's base area and providing stability against strong winds and the weight of the canopy and epiphytes.
The trees of tropical rainforest have buttress roots because :
Asked in UPSC CAPF 2015 · Topic: Ecology (Major Terrestrial Biomes)
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Answer: D. the buttresses have to bear the mechanical load of hardwoods
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