An itinerary to a tropical rainforest

(Image Source: http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/rainforest.htm)
Long story short, I stand here in the vast tropical rainforest near the Amazon River basin, perhaps the very root of the Earth's ecosystem. It is ridiculously humid here. Even though I was fully aware that the Amazon rainforests typically belong to a tropical wet climate group that has an average humidity between 77 and 88% and precipitation above 100 inches a year, such humidity in mid April simply doesn't make any sense. Thank god that there are seasons of less rain between June and October depending on the region. Unlike what many people think, tropical rainforests do have dry seasons. Check out the graph below if you still can't believe me.

 (Source: http://www.unique-southamerica-travel-experience.com/amazon-rainforest-climate.html)



Now I feel I should stop complaining and talk about the environment here. Grabbing my attention the most amid this true wonder of nature are the trees.

(Source: footage.shutterstock.com)

So many trees, all having distinct features--I have never seen such an amazing diversity in my life. Scientists say that about 100 to 300 species of trees can be found in 1 hectare area in Amazon. These trees are not just eye pleasing but extremely beneficial to mankind. Can you believe that approximately one-fourth of all human medicines are from these rainforest plants?
Also very interesting are the examples of natural selection exhibited by these trees. Unlike the trees we see in temperate climate zones, I realized that these trees have thin, smooth bark.

(Source: footage.shutterstock.com)

Trees in tropical rainforests like Amazon have been free from harsh climates, meaning that they did not necessarily have to protect themselves from intense cold and aridity by developing strong barks. Rather posing practical threats to these trees were epiphytes and parasites that often attach themselves to the tree trunk and suck out the nutrients. Soft, thin barks have appeared as a consequence of such environmental factors, increasing the tree's chance of survival by protecting them from harm.

 

 

(Source: apexplanet.blogspot.com,  footage.shutterstock.com)

Just as intriguing as the trees were, the diverse plants of the Amazon rainforest also seem to bear evidence of adaptation. We see in the first picture how the leaves are curved towards the below. Such unique shape has been helpful in shedding off the heavy rain as quickly as possible so that the branches don't get overly weighed down. Shown in the second picture are enormous leaves that cannot be found in ordinary environments. Tropical rainforests lack sunlight due to their thick tree canopies. Larger the leaf, the more sunlight it will absorb. Simple as that.

 

(Source: http://cougarbiology.pbworks.com/w/page/9016280/Tropical%20Rainforest%20Group%20C)

 

I have never seen such strange animals in my life here. Animals that can be found here are clearly distinguished by their bright colors and showy patterns, which may also be interpreted in an evolutionary perspective. The prime advantage of having a colorful appearance is that an organism can attract mates better. Especially in a dim, shady environment like a tropical rainforest where visibility is not very high, the importance of maintaining such bright colors must have been immense for mating and reproducing. The bright colors also contribute to an organism's survival by giving a warning to its predators, indicating that the game is highly toxic.

Insects and bacteria are organisms that play a crucial role in the ecosystem of the rainforest. The soil of Amazon is extremely shallow and innutritious. Long, chronic rain has washed away the nutrients from the soil for tens of thousands of years, causing the environment to have a short nutrient cycle. Insects and bacteria quickly decompose the organic garbage accumulated in the soil and subsequently allow the plants to absorb the released nutrients. The ecosystem would not be sustained without these decomposers.


The Producers - the trees, shrubs, bromeliads and other plants.
The Primary Consumers – the macaws, monkeys, agouti, tapir, butterflies, sloths, toucans.
The Secondary Consumers – the jaguar and boa constrictor.
The Scavengers –  the butterflies and  other insects.
The Decomposers or Detrivores – mushrooms, insects and microorganisms (bacteria).

(Source: http://www.exploringnature.org/db/detail.php?dbID=2&detID=1220)


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"Introduction", http://www.hqlist.demon.nl/gvg/ctkoppen.htm (Nov 2000)
"Köppen Biomes", http://www.tesarta.com/www/resources/library/biomes.html (Dec 2000)
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"Temperature", http://encarta.msn.com/find/print.asp?&pg=8&ti=00531000&sc=29&pt=1 (Dec.2000)
Allaby, Michael, Biomes of the world volume 7 Oxford: Anndromedia Limited1999
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"Rainforest Climate", http://passporttoknowledge.com/rainforest/GEOsystem/Rainforests/climate.html (March 2001)
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