amazon
TRANSCRIPT
Tropical RainforestTropical Rainforest
IntroductionIntroduction
BrazilBrazil Amazon Tropical Amazon Tropical
RainforestRainforest Temperature no higher Temperature no higher
than 93 F (34 C) or lower than 93 F (34 C) or lower than 68 F (20 C)than 68 F (20 C)
Precipitation varies widely Precipitation varies widely from 1500 mm to 2000 mm from 1500 mm to 2000 mm per year with 3 – 5 months per year with 3 – 5 months dry seasons dry seasons
Amazon RainforestAmazon Rainforest
Tropical Rainforest is made up of tall trees in a Tropical Rainforest is made up of tall trees in a region of year around warmthregion of year around warmth
Average rain fall is 50 to 260 inches yearlyAverage rain fall is 50 to 260 inches yearly Rainforests cover less than 6% of Earth’s land Rainforests cover less than 6% of Earth’s land
surfaces and produce 40% of Earth’s oxygensurfaces and produce 40% of Earth’s oxygen About ¼ of all medicines come from rainforest About ¼ of all medicines come from rainforest
plants. A person with Lymphocytic Leukemia has a plants. A person with Lymphocytic Leukemia has a 99% chance of remission because of the rosy 99% chance of remission because of the rosy periwinkle. More than 1,400 varieties of tropical periwinkle. More than 1,400 varieties of tropical plants are thought to be potential cures for cancerplants are thought to be potential cures for cancer
Brazil - AmazonBrazil - Amazon
Let’s go to the AmazonLet’s go to the Amazon
What do you packWhat do you pack
Our AdventureOur Adventure
The CanopyThe Canopy
Tall trees growing close together so that their tops Tall trees growing close together so that their tops are close, forming a fairly continuous coverare close, forming a fairly continuous cover
The top layer called the emergent layer is the The top layer called the emergent layer is the huge trees rising high above the rest of the forest, huge trees rising high above the rest of the forest, they receive most of the sunshinethey receive most of the sunshine
The third layer is the under storey this is small The third layer is the under storey this is small trees and bushes, plants and fernstrees and bushes, plants and ferns
The fourth layer is the forest floor, few plants grow The fourth layer is the forest floor, few plants grow on the forest floor because there is almost no on the forest floor because there is almost no sunshine and this also provides food and shelter sunshine and this also provides food and shelter for animals that inhabit the forest floor.for animals that inhabit the forest floor.
Soil TypeSoil Type
Amazon rainforest can be considered “wet-Amazon rainforest can be considered “wet-deserts” in that they grow on red and yellow clay deserts” in that they grow on red and yellow clay like laterite soils which are acidic and low in like laterite soils which are acidic and low in nutrients. Most are very old and impoverished nutrients. Most are very old and impoverished especially in the Amazon. The soils are so especially in the Amazon. The soils are so weathered they are largely devoid of minerals but weathered they are largely devoid of minerals but rich with aluminum and iron oxide which gives rich with aluminum and iron oxide which gives tropical soils their distinctive reddish and yellowish tropical soils their distinctive reddish and yellowish coloration and are toxic in high amounts.coloration and are toxic in high amounts.
Ocelot – Leopardus PardalisOcelot – Leopardus Pardalis
The most common rainforest cat but rarely The most common rainforest cat but rarely being seenbeing seen
Smaller than a jaguarSmaller than a jaguar Feeds on Small Mammals mostly rodentsFeeds on Small Mammals mostly rodents He is hunted for his skinHe is hunted for his skin
Kinkajou – Potos Flavus or Honey Kinkajou – Potos Flavus or Honey BearBear
Related to the Olingo, Rintail, Cacomistle, Raccoon and Related to the Olingo, Rintail, Cacomistle, Raccoon and Coati may be mistaken for a ferret or monkey but not Coati may be mistaken for a ferret or monkey but not related to themrelated to them
Native to Central America and South AmericaNative to Central America and South America Is hunted for illegal pet trade for their furIs hunted for illegal pet trade for their fur Average Weight 2 -3 kg (4 – 7 lb) body length 40 – 60 cm Average Weight 2 -3 kg (4 – 7 lb) body length 40 – 60 cm
and tail length 40-55 cmand tail length 40-55 cm Kinkajou woolly fur consists of an outer coat of gold or Kinkajou woolly fur consists of an outer coat of gold or
brownish gray overlapping a gray undercoat with short legs brownish gray overlapping a gray undercoat with short legs and sharp clawsand sharp claws
He eats mainly fruit, figs with leaves and flowers making up He eats mainly fruit, figs with leaves and flowers making up only 10% of their diet sometime they will eat ants or bird only 10% of their diet sometime they will eat ants or bird eggseggs
Plant LifePlant Life
EpiphytesEpiphytes
Orchid – Flowing plants are different shapes and Orchid – Flowing plants are different shapes and sizes, they attract birds and insects. They are very sizes, they attract birds and insects. They are very colorful and smell wonderful.colorful and smell wonderful.
Liana – Vines that live over the rainforest, they link Liana – Vines that live over the rainforest, they link trees to each othertrees to each other
Passion flower – Colorful plants that attract Passion flower – Colorful plants that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Animals, birds and butterflies and hummingbirds. Animals, birds and people eat the fruitpeople eat the fruit
Strangled Fig Tree – This tree uses another tree to Strangled Fig Tree – This tree uses another tree to climb up to the sunlight.climb up to the sunlight.
Destructive IndustryDestructive Industry Logging for Tropical Hardwoods – this is the driving force of Logging for Tropical Hardwoods – this is the driving force of
destruction of the rainforests the tropical hardwoods like teak, destruction of the rainforests the tropical hardwoods like teak, mahogany, rosewood and other timers are used for furniture, building mahogany, rosewood and other timers are used for furniture, building materials, charcoal and other wood products in big business and big materials, charcoal and other wood products in big business and big profits. Several species of hardwoods are imported to build coffins. profits. Several species of hardwoods are imported to build coffins. Japan is the largest importer of tropical woods.Japan is the largest importer of tropical woods.
Fuel Wood and Paper Industry is an additional issue, one single steel Fuel Wood and Paper Industry is an additional issue, one single steel plant in Brazil making Japanese cars needs millions of tons of wood plant in Brazil making Japanese cars needs millions of tons of wood each year to produce charcoal used in manufacturing.each year to produce charcoal used in manufacturing.
Paper Industry consists of Japanese power plants and pulp mill. One Paper Industry consists of Japanese power plants and pulp mill. One single plant you need 5,600 square feet of rainforest burned to replant single plant you need 5,600 square feet of rainforest burned to replant in pulpwood trees.in pulpwood trees.
Once the rainforest is destroyed it is rare that it will regrow.Once the rainforest is destroyed it is rare that it will regrow.
PredatorsPredators
Predators of the AmazonPredators of the Amazon
Black Caiman – Largest Predator in Amazon river, has no Black Caiman – Largest Predator in Amazon river, has no other enemies grows to 20 ft long and reach up to 3,000 lb.other enemies grows to 20 ft long and reach up to 3,000 lb.
Jaguar – One of the most dangerous animals is an Jaguar – One of the most dangerous animals is an excellent hunter and swimmerexcellent hunter and swimmer
Piranha – Most feared creature has a powerful jaw and Piranha – Most feared creature has a powerful jaw and razor like triangular teeth that can shred flesh bone in razor like triangular teeth that can shred flesh bone in matter of seconds.matter of seconds.
Poison Arrow Frog – Very small in size but poisonous Poison Arrow Frog – Very small in size but poisonous enough to kill up to 100 people, has the most powerful enough to kill up to 100 people, has the most powerful poison know to man, Indian hunters use the poison on the poison know to man, Indian hunters use the poison on the tip of their arrows.tip of their arrows.
HabitatHabitat
Tropical Rainforests are unable to support Tropical Rainforests are unable to support human populations. Food resources within human populations. Food resources within the forest are extremely dispersed due to the forest are extremely dispersed due to the high biological diversity and what food the high biological diversity and what food does exist is largely restricted to the canopy.does exist is largely restricted to the canopy.
Food SourceFood Source
Coffee, chocolate, banana, mango, papaya, Coffee, chocolate, banana, mango, papaya, macadamia, avocado and sugarcane come macadamia, avocado and sugarcane come from the tropical rainforests. Coffee exports from the tropical rainforests. Coffee exports are worth $3 billion in 1970.In the mid 90’s are worth $3 billion in 1970.In the mid 90’s 40 million bananas were consumed and 13 40 million bananas were consumed and 13 million tons of mangos. Tropical forests million tons of mangos. Tropical forests supply 250 cultivated kids of fruit compared supply 250 cultivated kids of fruit compared to only 20 for temperate forests.to only 20 for temperate forests.
Fact SheetFact Sheet We are loosing the greatest We are loosing the greatest
biological treasure once 14% of biological treasure once 14% of the earth now 6%the earth now 6%
1 ½ acres are lost every second 1 ½ acres are lost every second to developing & industrial to developing & industrial countriescountries
½ of the world’s species of ½ of the world’s species of plants, animals and plants, animals and microorganisms will be microorganisms will be destroyed or severely destroyed or severely threatened over the next quarter threatened over the next quarter century because of the century because of the destruction in the rainforestsdestruction in the rainforests
We loose 137 plan, animal & We loose 137 plan, animal & insect species every dayinsect species every day
There was 10 million Indians There was 10 million Indians living in the Amazonian living in the Amazonian Rainforest 5 centries ago, now Rainforest 5 centries ago, now only 200,000only 200,000
Most medicine men are in their Most medicine men are in their 70’s and when he dies it is as if 70’s and when he dies it is as if a library has been burnt, the art a library has been burnt, the art dies with himdies with him
At least 80% of the developed At least 80% of the developed world’s diet originated in the world’s diet originated in the rainforest. Included is fruits, rainforest. Included is fruits, spices, vegetables, coffee and spices, vegetables, coffee and nuts.nuts.
121 Prescription drugs currently 121 Prescription drugs currently sold worldwide come from plant sold worldwide come from plant derived sourcesderived sources
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