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The food web of the
Amazon
As
there is a plentiful and constant supply of food from the producers
(plants) this means that there are more primary
consumers (an animal that depends on plants e.g. caterpillar or
katydid) here than any other ecosystem.
This then means that there are more carnivores
(secondary consumers) and thousands of decomposers
to recycle the dead material. This
means the rainforest the most complicated food web
on earth. In order to survive
then the insects have developed many defences
such as camouflage and poisons. See our food web diagram below: |
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The
photo opposite is a katydid. What
level in the food chain is this?
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Here is our sloth (your teachers
think they are the closest species to our geography pupils!) but what
level in the food chain does it represent? |
| This is the blue crowned motmot. What
level in the food chain does it represent? |
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Here is our anaconda (like
a boa constrictor) What
level of the food chain is this? |
| Here is our millipedes - we could
have chosen termites if you prefer. What
level in the food chain do they represent? |
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The
rainforest as a climate control
The photo
shows leaves with drip
tips. |
| The rainforest
is a result of the equatorial climate but it also influences the climate.
The daily heating of the canopy causes transpiration from the
leaves and evaporation of surface water.
This water rises as vapour cooling and condensing and then falling
again as rain. Within 48
hours of falling 75% has been evapo-transpired back up to form more rain.
On average the rainforest has 75-100 convectional thunderstorms
each year. Without the trees this water would be lost to the rivers. |
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