Forest in a tropical region of Equator has ten times more vascular plants than a forest in temperature region of Midwest of the USA, although both are equal in terms of area . This is an example of

Options

A. Latitudinal gradient
B. Longitudinal gradient
C. Temperature gradient
D. Altitudinal gradient

Answer

To solve the question regarding the difference in the number of vascular plants in tropical and temperate forests, we can break it down into the following steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding the Context**: The question states that a forest in a tropical region near the equator has ten times more vascular plants compared to a forest in a temperate region, despite both forests being equal in area.

2. **Identifying the Key Concepts**: The key concepts here are:
- Tropical forests are located near the equator.
- Temperate forests are located further from the equator, typically in mid-latitude regions.

3. **Recognizing Patterns in Biodiversity**: It is a well-documented ecological pattern that biodiversity tends to be higher in tropical regions compared to temperate regions. This phenomenon is often attributed to factors such as climate, temperature, and historical factors that influence species richness.

4. **Defining the Gradient**: The difference in species richness between the equatorial (tropical) regions and the polar (temperate) regions is known as a **latitudinal gradient**. This gradient indicates that as one moves from the equator towards the poles, the number of species generally decreases.

5. **Conclusion**: Therefore, the scenario described in the question exemplifies a latitudinal gradient in biodiversity, where the tropical forest has a significantly higher number of vascular plants compared to the temperate forest.

### Final Answer:
This is an example of a **latitudinal gradient**.

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