AMAZON RAINFORESTS!!!

The Amazon rainforest is a moist broadleaf forest that covers most of the Amazon Basin of South America.

The majority of the forest is contained within Brazil, with 60% of the rainforest, followed by Peru with 13%, and with minor amounts in Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana.

The Amazon represents over half of the planet's remaining rainforests, and it comprises the largest and most species-rich tract of tropical rainforest in the world.

Being a tropical rainforest, it has the following characteristics:

Distribution:
Between latitudes 10 ºN and 10 ºS

It has the same type of climate as MANGROVES.

Leaves:

• Evergreen: Do not shed their leaves all year round.
• Year round high temperature and rainfall enable them to photosynthesize
• Continuously grow and shed leaves throughout the year
• Broad, thick and leathery to withstand heat
• Smooth and waxy to allow rainwater to run off easily
• Have downward- pointing drip tips to allow excess water to drip off during regular conventional rain

Bark and branches:

• Thin smooth barks
• Branches found on top one-third portion of trunks

Roots:

• Shallow as high rainfall provides much moisture in the top layer of soil
• Nutrients found in top layer of soil

1. Rapid decay of fallen leaves because of high temperatures and rainfall all year round



2. Leaf litter decompose and form humus rapidly.

• Therefore, tall trees have buttress roots that is 1-5m above ground.
  

Flowers and fruits:

• Colourful flowers and sweet-smelling fruits to attract insects for pollination and birds for seed dispersal
  

Structure and layers: See previous posts

Diversity of plant species:

• Dense
• 750 species per hectare
• 1500 species of other plants
• Hardwoods for furniture making

Examples:

1. Seraya
2. Keruing
3. Meranti
4. Mahogany
5. Chengal

Biodiversity in Amazon Rainforests:

• About 2.5 million insect species, tens of thousands of plants, and some 2,000 birds and mammals.
• To date, at least 40,000 plant species, 3,000 fish, 1,294 birds, 427 mammals, 428 amphibians, and 378 reptiles have been scientifically classified in the region.
• One in five of all the birds in the world live in the rainforests of the Amazon.

Scientists have described between 96,660 and 128,843 invertebrate species in Brazil alone.

Dangerous creatures:

• In the river, electric eels can produce an electric shock that can stun or kill.
• Piranha are known to bite and injure humans.
• Various species of poison dart frogs secrete lipophilic alkaloid toxins through their flesh.
• There are also numerous parasites and disease vectors.
• Vampire bats dwell in the rainforest and can spread the rabies virus.
• Malaria, yellow fever and Dengue fever can also be contracted in the Amazon region.