"Destroying rainforest for economic gain is like
burning a Renaissance painting to cook a meal." Edward O. Wilson
The Amazon How much do you know about rainforests? A little? A lot? A rainforest is a forest with annual rain. The biggest rainforest in the world is the Amazon short for Amazonia. Let’s talk a little bit about it. Another word for the Amazon is Amazonia. Do you know how much of the Amazon is destroyed each second? The size of a whole football field of the Amazonia is destroyed each second. The Amazonia is one of the world’s greatest natural resources. The Amazonia’s vegetation continuously recycles carbon dioxide into oxygen, that’s how the Amazonia got the nickname “Lungs of our Planet”. The Amazon gets its name from the life force of the rainforest. The rainforest is located in Brazil.
Location The Amazon Rainforest is located in Brazil. The Amazon is located in South America. In Brazil is 60% of the land and the rest covers part of Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela. The Amazon is getting smaller every day. We need to buckle down and conserve this rainforest!
Location Map
Climate The Amazon Rainforest’s climate is hot and humid. There is lots of sunshine and moisture. It is tropical like every other rainforests. The climate is perfect for the animals that’s habitat are in the Amazon.
Emergent Layer The emergent layer is where the tallest trees grow. It towers as much as 200 feet above the forest floor with trunks that measure up to 16 feet around. These huge trunks are usually supported by buttress roots to protect against the high winds. Most of these trees are broad-leaved, hardwood evergreens. They are exposed to greater fluctuations of temperature, wind and rainfall than are their smaller companions. To hold water, leaves often have thick layers. Emergent’s may take advantage of the greater air movement above the canopy by developing winged seeds or fruits that are dispersed by wind to other parts of the forest. Sunlight is plentiful and animals such as eagles, monkeys, butterflies, insect-eating bats and snakes inhabit this layer, some never venturing below it.
Canopy Layer The primary layer of the rainforest, the canopy, extends beneath the emergent layer, rising to 150 feet (45m). Most canopy trees have smooth, oval leaves that come to a point. A possible explanation for this adaptation is that they shed rain quickly, discouraging the growth of lichens and mosses. At these higher elevations, the leaves have developed a highly reflective property that protects them from the
higher levels of intense radiation. This almost solid green shield filters out 80% of the light, preventing its transmission to the forest below. The canopy also stops the rain from reaching the plants below. The rain must run down the trunks of the trees or drip off the leaves. Photosynthesis is everywhere. Flowers and fruits abound. Many species flower simultaneously, aiding cross-pollination. In some species, flowers are produced on the trunks, making it easier for bat pollinators to find their way to the flowers. Monkeys, sloths, bats, Tree frogs, ants, beetles, parrots, hummingbirds and snakes, for example, can be found here, often never intruding into the lower layers in their life. Epiphytes, some 28,000 species worldwide, use every tree surface as a place to live. Hollow trunks of trees and pools of water in bromeliads often are micro-communities within the Canopy. Thick, woody vines are found in the canopy. These vines, called lianas, sometimes are as big around as a person. They climb the tree in the canopy to reach for sunlight. Epiphytes are plants that grow piggy back on the trees of the canopy, such as orchids, ferns, mosses, lichens and others. These plants grow in the canopy where light is more plentiful. The epiphyte uses the tree for support, getting water from the rain that falls. Some epiphytes can make their own food from sunlight and air. Many epiphytes produce beautiful, brightly colored flowers that we use as house plants. Bromeliads are epiphytes from the pineapple family. Orchids are another variety of epiphyte commonly adapted to home growth. There are more than 20,000 varieties of orchid. In tropical rain forests, orchids grow on tree branches, trunks or rocks. Epiphytes are commonly known as air plants.
Understory Layer This area gets only 2-5% of the sunlight available to the canopy. Plants that survive in the understory include dwarf palms and softstalked species of families, such as the ginger family, acanthus and prayer plant. These plants seldom grow to more than 12 feet in height. Understory plants have a more difficult time with pollination because of the lack of air movement. Most rely on insects. Some produce strong smelling flowers, others produce flowers and fruit on their trunks. This phenomenon makes them more conspicuous to aid the process of pollination and seed dispersal. Many animals live here, including snakes, frogs, parakeets, leopards, jaguars and the largest groups of insects. Below the canopy is the understory. This level is has vines, smaller trees, ferns and palms. Beneath them are even smaller bushes and many kinds of ferns. This part of the forest also remains green all year round. A large number of plants from this level make up common house plants. This level receives very little direct sunlight or rainfall. These plants also have had to adapt to poor soil with few nutrients. They have developed features that help them to survive. For example, not producing flowers helps to conserve energy, and broad leaves allow the plants to take in as much light as possible. Effective use of water is a major problem for plants where rainfall ranges between 80 and 320 inches a year. That amount of water can cause plant rot, growth of mold and decay. To get rid of the excess water, many rainforest plants have slick, water repellant coatings on their leaves, shapes that allow rain to run off easily and spout-like "drip tips" that help drain water from the surface of the leaf.
Forest Floor Layer Almost no plants grow in this region of 0-2% light and 100% humidity. The few flowering plants that live here tolerate deep shade. The floor itself is covered with a litter of rapidly decomposing vegetation and organisms that break down into usable nutrients. A leaf that might take one year to decompose in a temperate climate, will disappear in just six weeks on the rainforest floor. A high proportion of the nutrients in the system are locked in the large biomass. There is heavy competition for these nutrients. This is why many trees are so shallow-rooted. Large mammals, such as tapirs, forage for roots and tubers. Insects, including termites, cockroaches, beetles, centipedes, millipedes, scorpions and earthworms, along with the fungi, use the organic litter as a source of food.
Orchids Orchids have been considered exotic plants for many, many years. Most species of orchids are easy to maintain as house plants. Jewel Orchids is one type of common orchid. Jewel Orchids are grown for their spectacular colorful leaves. Other orchids are grown for their sweet smelling fragrant flowers and their beautiful looks. Orchids are either, cool-growing, warmgrowing, or intermediate in their temperature needs. There are over 20,000 known species and orchids are especially common in moist tropical regions. Most orchids grow in bright indirect light. There are more than 100,000 orchid hybrids and cultivated varieties. Although temperate orchids usually grow in the soil, tropical orchids are more often epiphytes which grow non-parasitically on trees. They share a common pattern of three petals and three petal-like sepals. The lower petal has a very distinctive appearance. Orchids are a good example of epiphytes. The name orchid comes from the Greek word orchis. They’re named orchis because the shape of their bulbous roots. Orchids come in almost any different color including black, green, and purple. The one color you will never see in an orchid is blue. In 1848 people paid big money for the Phalenoposis Orchid because they were extremely rare at the time. Between 200 and 300 orchids are found annually. The Phragmipedium Kovachi Orchid was discovered in 2002, it
is now that main type of orchid.
Strangler Fig A Strangler Fig also known as a Golden Fig is a type of tree that is often found in tropical areas. It is part of the Mulberry family, which features tall, flowering plants. Strangler Figs first grow in the branches of other trees. The roots of Strangler Figs extend from their branches which grow downward. The roots eventually grow into the soil, and then make their way to the tree branches. Strangler Figs can grow up to 50 to 60 feet in height and have a diameter of 2 or 4 feet. Stranger Figs have a hollow trunk in which animals such as bats, monkeys, rodents and birds can live. They also provide yellow and purple fruit to these and more animals.
Squirrel Monkey Squirrel Monkeys are some of the most commonly seen monkeys in the Central American rainforest's, even though they are very shy. They average about 1 foot in length, their tails add on about another full foot. Squirrel monkeys weigh 1.5-2.5 lbs, and are active during the daytime. A average Squirrel Monkey can grow as long as 30 meters long. Squirrel Monkeys are very shy. Squirrel Monkeys live in groups or families that have anywhere from 10-35 Squirrel Monkeys. It is a larger group than most of the other monkey groups in the Amazonia. A male Squirrel Monkey can weigh up to about 750 g and a female, 500 g. The upper canine teeth on a male Squirrel Monkey are larger than the female’s canine teeth. Squirrel Monkeys are excellent climbers and leaper’s, they spend most of their time on trees. Squirrel Monkeys have the largest brain to body ratio than any other monkey species in the world. Their tail is not used to hang or grasp tree’s, it is used to balance the monkey while flying through the air from tree to tree. Once a baby Squirrel Monkey is born it stays and hangs onto its mothers back for the first 5-10 weeks. Male Squirrel Monkeys attain there maturity at about 4 years old and a female, 2 years old. Squirrel Monkeys eat fruits, insects, and flowers. Eagles and other bird of prey digest Squirrel Monkey.
Pink River Dolphin There are 5 different species of freshwater dolphins in the world. The Pink River Dolphin is the most popular. Pink River Dolphins are distantly related to sea dolphins. The average Pink River Dolphin brain is 40% larger than a human brain. They are the most intelligent of all the different dolphin species. The contamination levels of the Amazon River and the destruction of the rainforest are putting Pink River Dolphins at risk of extinction. Pink River Dolphins usually travel in groups from 5-8 dolphins. Pink River Dolphins are the friendliest of all of the other dolphins when it comes to human interaction. Pink River Dolphins usually swim at the bottom of the river floor to find their food. The dolphin is usually around 355 pounds when fully grown. They are around 6-8 feet long. Pink River Dolphins mate when the Amazon River is at its high. This time is between the months of May and July. Pink River Dolphins are almost blind because of the muddy waters they live and swim in. When Pink River Dolphins are born they are grey but the older they get, the pinker they get. The Pink River Dolphins skin isn’t actually pink, it just looks pink because its skin is so thin that you can see the blood inside of its body. An adaptation for the Pink River Dolphin is that it’s so flexible that it has the ability to weave through trees while rushing to get to its prey. They can reach up to 10 feet long and 200 pounds
Yanomami Tribe The Yanomamo also called Yanomami, and Yanomama, are deep jungle Indians living in the Amazon basin in both Venezuela and Brazil. We first discovered the Yanomami tribes in 1929. The population of the Yanomami Tribe in Brazil has about 11,700 Indians living in it. The Yanomami Tribe in Venezuela has about 15,193 Indians living in it. The Yanomami are believed to be the most primitive, culturally intact people in existence in the world. They are literally a “stone age” tribe. Cataloged by anthropologists as Neo-Indians with cultural characteristics that date back more than 8000 years, these are a Last Encyclopedia. They have never discovered the wheel and the only metal they use is what has been traded to them from the outside. Their numbering system is one, two, and more than two. They cremate their dead, then crush and drink their bones in a final ceremony intended to keep their loved ones with them forever. They are hunters and gatherers who also tend small garden plots. They are one of the most successful groups in the Amazon rain forest to gain a superior balance and harmony with their environment. They do not have any natural predators. The hunters hunt with bow and arrows or blow guns.
Ticuna Tribe The Ticuna also spelled Tucuna or Tikuna Indians are a group of Indians that have been living in the Amazon literally forever! We first came in contact with the Ticuna Indians in 1532. The population of their tribe now is about 32, 613 Indians. The Ticuna is an extremely artistic tribe that includes basketry, wood and stone sculpting, and mask making. They also make bark cloth which is natural fiber. They use this fabric for many things like making masks, parts of dolls, and they even use it as paper sometimes. They are one of the few Amazon tribes that paint just because they like painting. When a member of the Ticuna dies they put him or her in a canoe and let them drift down a river. They put things in the canoe that the person will need for afterlife. After they let a member go they will go and form a huge circle in the Amazon and start dancing in worship for the member that died. During the dancing they wear unique costumes and masks. The masks are all a different animal that’s habitat is in the Amazon. The masks they use in the ceremonies are made out of bark cloth.
Conclusion The Amazon Rainforest is 1-5 of our world’s oxygen. Why are we destroying it? We should be trying to SAVE it! The Amazon is nicknamed “Lungs of our Planet” for a reason. There used to be 14% of the Amazon left that number has shrunken down 8% very quickly. Are you just going to sit there? COME HELP SAVE THE RAINFOREST!
Food Web
Sited Sources http://hubpages.com/ http://www.gardenguides.com/ http://mongabay.com/ http://www.srl.caltech.edu/personnel/krubal/rainforest/Edit560s6/www/what.html http://www.rainforest-facts.com/ http://indian-cultures.com/Cultures/yanomamo.html http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/strangler_figs.htm http://www.ehow.com/facts_4913761_facts-orchid-plants.html http://www.worldwildlife.org/what/wherewework/amazon/index.html