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The Amazon rain forest houses the Amazon River and rich ecological biodiversity. Taking up the majority of Brazil, the Amazon's biology and ecology is truly unique.
No place on Earth is as full of diverse life and landscape as the Amazon Rainforest. It spreads its tall trees and rich biodiversity over 40% of the South American continent. The Amazon River shares its name with its host, and is 11 times the volume of the Mississippi river. The massive water system begins in the Andes Mountains and winds its way 4,080 miles eastward to the Atlantic Ocean, rushing through the forests with tremendous force. The annual outflow of the river is responsible for 1/5 of the entire world’s freshwater flow. Everything about this habitat is super-sized. Amazon's Unique EcologyDespite its moist, humid conditions and massive growth across Brazil, much of the Amazon rainforest sits upon very poor soil. In The Central Amazon Floodplain: Ecology of a Pulsing System, Wolfgang J. Junk explains that the top two inches of soil contain 99% of the nutrients. The forest floor must be like a sponge to maintain minerals and nutrients throughout heavy rainfalls. He goes on to talk about the incredible diversity of plants, animals and insects that thrive in these unique conditions. One in five birds lives in the Amazon. More than a thousand species of frogs can be found in the Amazon basin. A single square mile may contain as many as 50,000 insects. The Amazon has few large animals; only about 800 different types. Amazon HistorySuch a large system has a deep history. About 15 million years ago, the Amazon River flowed west. Over the course of time, Earth's tectonic plates broke apart and the South American plate shifted into another plate, creating the Andes Mountain Range. At this point the Amazon could no longer flow into the Pacific Ocean and backed up, creating an area of freshwater pools and lakes. About 10 million years ago the massive river found its way east to the ocean. Climate Change and the AmazonToday the Amazon produces 20% of the Earth’s oxygen. Sadly, according to many studies, the Amazon is disappearing at a rate of about 52,000 sq kilometers per year. This large and unique forest is one of the biggest victims of biopiracy, despite Brazil’s strict environment-protection laws. The full value of the giant Amazon forest to the planet and humans is not even fully known. For instance, 25% of prescription medications were found in the Amazon rainforests, yet scientists have only tested 1% of the plants. The lush super forest holds many secrets we have yet to discover. SourcesAnderson, Lykke E., et al, (2002) The Dynamics of Deforestation and Economic Growth in the Brazilian Amazon Cambridge: University Press Public Broadcasting Service (www.pbs.org © 1995-2006) “Enter Into Amazonia”. Content Provided by Dr. Michael J. Balick. Retrieved May 1, 2006, from the World Wide Web: http://www.pbs.org/journeyintoamazonia/site.html Jordan, C.F., (1989) An Amazon Rain Forest: The Structure and Function of a Nutrient Stressed Ecosystem and the Impact of Slash-and-Burn Agriculture. France, UK, & USA: Parthenon Publishing Group & United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Junk, Wolfgang J., The Central Amazon Floodplain: Ecology of a Pulsing System. (1997) Germany: Springer-Verlag
The copyright of the article Amazon Rain Forest in Biogeography is owned by Stephanie Cox. Permission to republish Amazon Rain Forest in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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