Flora of South America
Much of South America is exceptionally rich in flora. This is due to both the modern natural conditions of the continent and the peculiarities of its development. The tropical flora of South America has developed since the end of the Mesozoic era. Its development has proceeded continuously until the present time, without being disrupted by either glaciation or significant fluctuations in climatic conditions, as was the case on other continents.
On the other hand, the formation of the vegetation cover of South America, starting from the Tertiary period, occurred in almost complete isolation from other large land areas.
The main features of the flora of South America are connected with this: its antiquity, species richness and high degree of endemism.
The vegetation cover in South America has changed significantly less under human influence than on other continents of the globe.
The population density on the mainland is low, and vast areas in some parts of it are to this day almost completely uninhabited. Such territories have retained their natural soil and vegetation cover unchanged.
The vegetation of South America is a source of enormous natural resources - food, feed, technical, medicinal, etc.
d. But they are still used very little.
The flora of South America has given humanity a number of important cultivated plants. The first place among them is occupied by potatoes, the culture of which was known to the Indians long before the arrival of Europeans and is widespread in various regions of South America today.
Then from South America come the most common rubber plant, Hevea, chocolate tree, cinchona tree, grown in many tropical areas of the globe.
South America lies within two floristic regions. The main part of the continent is included within the Neotropical region. Its flora contains some elements common to Africa.
which indicates the existence of land connections between the continents until the Tertiary period.
The part of the continent south of the parallel 40° S. w. belongs to the Antarctic floristic region. Between the flora of this part of the continent and the flora of Antarctica.
Australia and New Zealand have similarities, which also indicate the existence of connections between these continents during geological history.
The general picture of soil and plant zones in the Neotropical region of South America is somewhat reminiscent of Africa.
But the ratio of individual types of vegetation and their species composition on these continents are different. If the main type of vegetation in Africa is savanna, then the vegetation cover of South America is especially characterized by tropical rainforests, which have no equal on Earth either in the richness of species or in the vastness of the territory they occupy.
Tropical rainforests on lateritic podzolized soils spread over a vast area in South America.
The population of Brazil calls them Selvas. The Selvas occupy a significant part of the Amazonian Lowland and adjacent areas of the Orinoco Lowland. slopes of the Brazilian and Guiana highlands. They are also characteristic of the Pacific coastline within Colombia and Ecuador. Thus, tropical rainforests cover areas with an equatorial climate, but in addition they grow on the slopes of the Brazilian and Guiana highlands, facing the Atlantic Ocean at higher latitudes, where there is abundant trade wind rain throughout the year.
In the rich tropical forests of the Amazonian lowland you can find many valuable plants.
These forests are characterized by great height and complexity of the forest canopy. In non-flooded areas, the forest has up to 12 tiers, and the height of the tallest trees reaches 80 and even 100 m.
More than a third of the plant species in these forests are endemic. Tropical rainforests rise along the mountain slopes to approximately 1000-1500 m, without undergoing significant changes.
Higher up they give way to depleted mountain tropical forests.
As climate changes, tropical rainforests are turning into red-soil savannas. In the Brazilian Highlands, between savannas and rainforest, there is a strip of almost pure palm forests. Savannas are distributed over a large part of the Brazilian Highlands, mainly in its interior regions. In addition, they occupy large areas in the Orinoco Lowland and the central regions of the Guiana Highlands.
In the south - in Brazil - typical savannas are known as campos.
Their vegetation consists of tall grasses. Woody vegetation is either completely absent or represented by individual specimens of mimosa, cacti and other xerophytic or succulent trees.
Campos of the Brazilian Highlands is a valuable but relatively underutilized grassland.
In the north, in Venezuela and Guiana, savannas are called llanos. There, along with tall and varied grass vegetation, there are isolated palm trees, giving the landscape a unique appearance.
In the Brazilian Highlands, in addition to the typical savanna, there are similar types of vegetation adapted to withstand a long dry period.
In the northeast of the Brazilian Highlands, a significant area is occupied by the so-called caatinga, which is a sparse forest of drought-resistant trees and shrubs.
Many of them lose their leaves during the dry season, others are distinguished by swollen trunks in which moisture accumulates. Caatinga produces red-brown soils.
On the Gran Chaco plain, in particularly arid areas, thorny dry-loving shrubs and sparse forests grow on red-brown soils. They contain a number of endemic woody forms containing large number tannins.
On the Pacific coast, south of the tropical rainforests, you can also find a narrow strip of savanna vegetation, which then quite quickly turns into semi-desert and desert.
Large areas of mountain-tropical desert vegetation and soils are found in the interior highlands of the Andes.
Subtropical vegetation occupies relatively small areas in South America.
However, the diversity of vegetation types in subtropical latitudes is quite large.
The extreme southeast of the Brazilian Highlands, which receives abundant rainfall throughout the year, is covered with subtropical araucaria forests with an understory of various shrubs, including Paraguayan tea.
Paraguayan tea leaves are consumed by the local population to make a common hot drink that replaces tea. Based on the name of the round vessel in which this drink is made, it is often called “mate” or “yerba mate”.
The second type of subtropical vegetation of South America - the subtropical steppe or pampa - is characteristic of the eastern, most humid parts of the La Plata lowland south of 30° S. This is herbaceous grass vegetation on fertile reddish-black soils formed on volcanic rocks.
It consists of South American species of those genera of cereals that are widespread in Europe in the temperate steppes. There are species of feather grass, bearded grass, and fescue. Unlike the temperate steppes, the vegetation in the pampa grows throughout the year. The pampa is connected with the forests of the Brazilian Highlands by a transitional type of vegetation, where grasses are combined with thickets of evergreen shrubs.
To the west and south of the pampa, as precipitation decreases, vegetation of dry subtropical steppes and semi-deserts appears on gray-brown soils, gray soils and saline soils.
The subtropical vegetation and soils of the Pacific coast, according to the peculiarities of climatic conditions, resemble in appearance the vegetation and soils of the European Mediterranean.
Thickets of evergreen shrubs on brown soils predominate.
The vegetation of the temperate latitudes of South America is very peculiar.
There are two main types of vegetation cover, which differ sharply from each other, corresponding to differences in the climate of the eastern and western parts of the southern tip of the continent. The extreme southeast (Patagonia) is characterized by vegetation of dry steppes and semi-deserts of the temperate zone. This is actually a continuation of the semi-deserts of the western part of the pampa in a harsher and colder climate.
The soils are dominated by chestnut and gray soils; saline soils are widespread. The vegetation cover is dominated by grasses (for example, Argentine bluegrass) and various xerophytic shrubs such as cacti, mimosas, etc.
The extreme southwest of the continent, with its oceanic climate, slight annual temperature differences and high annual precipitation, has a peculiar vegetation, very ancient and rich in composition.
These are moisture-loving evergreen subantarctic forests, multi-tiered and very diverse in composition. In terms of richness of species and height, they are not inferior to tropical forests. They abound in lianas, mosses, and lichens. Along with various tall conifers, evergreen deciduous trees, such as southern beeches (Nothofagus), are common.
These moisture-soaked forests are difficult to clear and uproot. They are still preserved over large areas in an intact form and, almost without changing their composition, rise along the mountain slopes to a height of 2000 m. In these forests in the south, podzolic soils predominate, turning into forest brown soils in more northern areas.
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Regarding the situation in South America, especially at lower latitudes, different types of lateritic soil predominate. Hot forest areas with constant and abundant rainfall are characterized by ascites lateritic soils, which are difficult to separate from the very strong weathering of the earth's crust.
In areas with seasonal moisture, red, brown, red and red-brown soils are found.
Ancient ironbark has a significant distribution. Latitarization processes are still evident in the humid subtropical regions of the east of the continent, where they are characterized by fine aromas and reddish black prairie soils.
In addition, in the West, as well as in North America, they are successively replaced by gray-brown soil and gray soils, as well as western brown soils.
What plants grow in South America
The soils of the temperate temperate regions are brown forest soils in the west, chestnut and brown desert steppes in the east. The Andes have a distinct altitude with mountainous zonal soil types.
-Brown.
The specificity of the soil of South America, which is the most important process of tropical soil formation and weathering, is due to its location mainly in equatorial, tropical and subtropical latitudes.
The source contains areas where the continent's main soil types are separated: equatorial rainforests; alternately wet and tall savannah grass; xerophytic forests and shrubs on deciduous trees; Desert soil of tropical and subtropical groups; mountain floors with moderate half-life
South America is the 4th largest continent on our planet. If you look closely at the map, the continent resembles a drop of water. The continent is located in the southern hemisphere of the Earth.
Natural areas
There are 5 climatic zones on the continent:
- equatorial;
- subequatorial;
- tropical;
- subtropical;
- moderate.
Relief
The relief of the mainland is conditional can be divided into 2 zones It is a flat plain in the eastern part and a mountain range in the west.
The Andes Mountains are a continuation of the North American mountain range - the Cordillera. This is the longest mountain range on our planet.
Plant community
The flora of the mainland is diverse.
This is facilitated by a mild, warm climate and large amounts of precipitation. The flora on the continent varies depending on the climate zone.
So The tropical zone is dominated by jungle. And currently, scientists are discovering more and more new species of plants and representatives of the animal world of tropical forests.
The jungles of South America cover a larger area than similar areas in Africa.
The tropical forest contains rubber trees, melon and chocolate trees, various types palm trees, hevea, orchids.
In some areas The height of the forest cover reaches 100 meters. It could be a 12-tier community with unique flora and fauna associated with each floor.
To the south of the Amazon jungle, sparse deciduous forests begin. A typical representative of the flora of this part of the continent is the quebracho tree with strong and durable wood.
Moving south across the continent, travelers will cross savannahs and reach the famous South American plains - pampas. This is a classic steppe zone with feather grass, wild millet and forbs.
Occasionally there are thickets of mimosa and milkweed. The soils in this part of the continent are very fertile
The closer to the southern extreme point of the continent, the more sparse the landscape becomes. The pampas give way to a zone of semi-deserts and deserts. Here you can find dry bushes that form peculiar perecatipole cushions.
Fauna of South America
The fauna on the mainland also depends on the climate zone.
In the tropical forests Various species of monkeys, porcupines, and sloths live here.
Many species are adapted exclusively to life in trees. The lower tier of the forest is favored by tapirs and anteaters. Among the predators is the famous jaguar. Entomologists are still discovering new species of insects.
The forests are home to a large number of unique bird species - toucans and macaws.
Nature, plants and animals of South America
There are about 320 species of baby hummingbirds in South America alone.
In the savannah zone There are fewer animals, and they are adapted to life in open spaces. These are wild baker pigs, armadillos. Of the large birds, rhea ostriches feel great. Large cats - pumas and jaguars - also live in savannas. Of the small predators in the savannas, the savanna fox and the maned wolf live.
Pampas is a habitat for fleet-footed representatives of the animal world.
These are llamas, deer and predators such as the pampas cat and several types of armadillos.
In the Andes mountains Basically, the same species of animals live as on the flat part of the mainland. But there are endemics - animals unique to South America.
These are mountain llamas, spectacled bears, and charming chinchillas.
Detailed information about the diversity of nature on the South American continent can be found in the reports of various scientific societies.
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RARE PLANTS OF THE WORLD. Central and South America
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In Fig. on the left - Alstroemeria pelegrinica(Alstroemeria pelegrina L.), Alstroemeriaceae family - a plant with very beautiful flowers. Quite common in Brazil. Due to the collection of flowers and the improvement of beaches, many of its habitats were destroyed, leaving only a few scattered locations. Balsa or hare tree(Ochroma lagopus Sw.), Baobab family (Bombaceae) is a tall, over 30 m tree with bluish-gray bark and large palmate leaves. The fruits crack when ripe and then resemble hare's feet, since they are covered with white fluff inside. The name "balsa" translated from Spanish means raft: its wood has long been used for the construction of rafts. Balsa wood is one of the lightest in the world, very loose and soft, but dried, it acquires the hardness of oak. Currently, balsa has almost completely disappeared from the forests of America, surviving in small quantities only in the damp rain forests of Ecuador. |
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1 - Araucaria Chilean(Araucaria araucana (Molino) C. Koch), Family Araucariaceae - a very large dioecious tree up to 60 m high and up to 1.5 m in diameter. The leaves are hard, spiny, dark green, spirally arranged, and remain on the tree for up to 40 years. The cones are brown, spherical, weighing up to 1.6 kg. It has a disjunctive range of two sections. The smaller one is located on the western slope of the Coastal Cordillera at an altitude of about 700 m above sea level. sea, and the largest one is in the Andes, at an altitude of 1600-1800 m. It forms forests, especially on volcanic soils. The seeds are edible and the beautiful wood is used in construction. Listed in Appendix I of the CITES Convention. In Cuba, almost all cacti (Cactaceae family) have a local distribution and many are endangered, e.g. 2 - melocactus Matanzana(Melocactus matanzanus Leόn) and 3 - melocactus Guitarta(Melocactus guitartii Leόn). Listed in the IUCN Red List Cereus Robina, or tree cactus(Cereus robin i (Lemaire) L. Benson) – shrub or small tree 5-8 m high, bluish-green. The flowers are bell-shaped, brownish-green or brownish-purple. Grows in Cuba and Florida. In Cuba, almost all habitats have been destroyed. 4 - Micrantocereus golden yellow(Micranthocereus auri-azureus), Cactaceae family, is a rare cactus native to central Bahia (Brazil). Bahia (its central part) is very rich in melocacti, but they all need protection. It grows only in the central part of Bahia melocactus baienensis(Melocactus bahiensis (Br. et R.) Luetzelb.). It is endangered because in the places where it grows, local residents burn out grass and low bushes to improve pastures. Perhaps they have already disappeared melocactus covered with plaque(Melocactus pruinosus Werderm.) and melocactus amethyst(Melocactus amethystinus Buining et Brederoo). |
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1 - Mahogany wood, or switenia, or mahogany, or real mahogany(Swietenia mahagoni Jasq.), Meliaceae family, is an evergreen tree up to 15 m tall. Plants of South AmericaValued for its wood with narrow off-white sapwood and red-brown heartwood, very beautiful texture. For a long time, the plantings were exploited, since the wood of this tree was widely used for interior decoration of ships, artistic carpentry, etc. Mahogany was quite widespread in the forests of South and Central America. Currently, some reserves of this species remain in the inaccessible part of the Andes in Colombia and Ecuador. Due to increased exploitation, reserves of other valuable wood have also decreased significantly - large leaf mahogany(Swietenia macrophylla King.). 2 – Caesalpinia spinosa(Caesalpinia echinata Lam.), Family Caesalpiniaceae - a tree with red valuable wood and double-pinnate leaves, almost regular flowers. Range: Brazil, almost completely deforested due to valuable timber. 3 – Cocaine bush(Erythroxylon coca Lam.), Family Erythroxylaceae, is a densely leafy shrub with alternate oblong leaves and small white flowers in the leaf axils (cocaine is obtained from the leaves). Its natural habitat lay in Peru, Bolivia and on the eastern slopes of the Andes; now this plant is not found in the wild, but is widely cultivated on the islands of Java and Sri Lanka. The family contains 4 genera and about 200 species, distributed mainly in tropical America. |
4 in Fig. top - Miroxilon Pereira(Myroxylon pereira Klotsch.), Legume family (Fabaceae) is a tropical evergreen tree with odd pinnate leaves and whitish flowers.
It has a very limited range in El Salvador (the plant is destroyed to obtain Peruvian balsam). Cultivated on the islands of Java and Sri Lanka.
1 in Fig. below - Brassavola Perrini(Brassavola perrinii Ldl.), Orchid family (Orchidaceae) is a terrestrial orchid with a tuber 15-18 cm long, ending in one narrow leaf. Inflorescence of 3-6 flowers, yellow tepals, white lip.
Grows in Brazil. The genus includes about 15 species, distributed in tropical America from Mexico and the Antilles to southern Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia.
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The genus Anguloa comprises terrestrial orchid plants (Family Orchidaceae), which sometimes grow on bare rocks. Tubers with 2-4 leaves, solitary flowers. They grow in the Andes from Venezuela, Colombia to Peru. One of the decorative Colombian orchids 2 - Anguloa Klovesa(Anguloa clowesii Ldl.), with a tuber 8-14 cm long, 2-4 broadly elliptical leaves up to 50 cm long. The flowers are lemon yellow with a strong pleasant aroma. It is also found there 3 - Rucker's anguloa(Anguloa ruckeri Ldl.), - with flowers olive-green on the outside and yellow on the inside, with reddish-brown spots, the lip is dark red-brown. The Cattleya genus (Orchid Family, Orchidaceae) is one of the most popular and well-known in gardening practice. All wild cattleyas (and there are about 40 species) are distributed in tropical America, from Mexico to Brazil. They have cylindrical, spindle-shaped, flattened stems with 1-2 or more leathery leaves. The inflorescence is a terminal raceme with few flowers, sometimes a single flower. In Venezuela it grows on rocks at an altitude of 1000-1300 m. Cattleya Percival(Cattleya persivaliana Rchb. f.), endangered. Endangered in Honduras and Venezuela cattleya bowringa(Cattleya bowringiana Veitch.) with a multi-flowered raceme of small purple flowers. 4 - Cattleya Aclanda(Cattleya aclandiae Lindl.) is a rare endemic to Brazil. It is a small plant with relatively large olive green flowers with a magenta red open lip. |
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The emblem of Costa Rica is 2 in Fig. on the left is Cattleya skinneri Bat. Included in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna 4 in Fig. on the left is Cattleya trianae Rchb. with beautiful pink flowers with a dark crimson lip. Grows in Colombia. 1 - Lelia Dayana(Laelia dayana Rchb. f.), Orchid family (Orchidaceae) is a beautiful small plant with flowers less than 12 cm, their lip is vertical with purple lines. It grows only in the state of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). In eastern Brazil, in a narrow strip of coastal forest, epiphytic 3 - purple lily(Laelia purpurata Lindl. et Paxt.). This orchid is close to death both due to the destruction of many locations and due to predatory collection. Rare Brazilian lilies include Lelia Sinkoranskaya(Laelia sincorana Schltr.), 1 in Fig. down, with round, strong false bulbs and velvety white flowers. |
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Ubeautiful masdevallia(M. bella Rchb.) Orchid family (Orchidaceae) - one yellow flower covered with brown spots, with very long tails, the lip is white and looks like a fly. This epiphytic orchid grows in Colombia at an altitude of 1800-2000 m. Even higher (2300-3000 m) another species grows on the rocks - 2 - bright red masdevallia(Masdevallia coccinea Lindl.) with large violet-red flowers, the lip is light pink with a white tip. Representatives of this genus are found in Central and South America, in the Andes, where the climate is colder. 3 – Butterfly Orchid(Oncidium papilio Ldl.) grows in Venezuela and Trinidad and is very similar to the previous species. Due to commercial harvests, it is endangered. In Guatemala and Mexico, the bird's beak oncidium (Oncidium ornithorhynchum H.B. Kth.) is found with ovoid bifoliate tubers. The flowers are lilac-purple with wavy petals. 4 – Masdevallia chimera(Masdevallia chimaera Rchb.), has brownish-red flowers with lighter spots, their lip is shoe-shaped, light brown. Grows in Colombia, at an altitude of 1700-2000 m above sea level. seas on rocks and trees. |
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Found in Guatemala and Mexico 1 - oncidium "bird's beak"(Oncidium ornithorhynchum H.B. Kth.), Orchid family (Orchidaceae) with ovoid bifoliate tubers. The flowers are lilac-purple with wavy petals. Found in the mountains of Brazil 3 - oncidium swollen(Oncidium varicosum Ldl.). This genus contains about 530 species and has a range in tropical America - from Mexico to Brazil and Paraguay and the Bahamas and Antilles. In Ecuador, Costa Rica and Colombia at an altitude of 300-900 m above sea level. the sea is growing 4 - Kramer's oncidium, or Kramer's orchid(Oncidium krameranum Rchb. f.). It settles on old trees and woody vines. A single elliptical leaf emerges from the bulb, covered with a blackish-purple marbled pattern. The flowers are very reminiscent of a butterfly - orange-golden with brown spots. The lip is canary-gold with a brown spot. Male butterflies mistake the flower for another male and, defending their territory, attack the flower, pollinating it. This orchid is one of the most graceful and decorative species kind. 2 – Vanilla fragrant(Vanilla fragrans (Salisb.) Ames), Orchid family (Orchidaceae) - grows in tropical America from Mexico to South America, on the Antilles. Widely cultivated. Other types of vanilla have the same properties - fragrant vanilla(V. odorata Presl.) from Ecuador and vanilla pompom(V. pompona Schiede) with a habitat in southeastern Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia (at an altitude of 800-1500 m above sea level), Trinidad, Guiana. Pompom vanilla serves as a surrogate for real vanilla (it has a scent with a hint of heliotrope). |
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2 – Ipecuana(Caphaеlis ipecacuanha Willd.), Rubiaceae family, is a small plant with long thin rhizomes, a thin stem 30-40 cm high with several pairs of opposite evergreen broadly lanceolate leaves and a small head of small white flowers. It grows over a vast area in the upper reaches of the right tributaries of the Amazon (Brazil). Due to the mass harvesting of roots as medicinal raw materials, the number of the species is declining. It is difficult to cultivate Ipecuana, although its plantations have been established in India, Indonesia and Tanzania. 3 - Quillaya soap, or soap tree(Quillaja saponaria Molina), Rosaceae family, is a tree with evergreen leaves, the bark of which contains saponin. Grows in the subtropical forests of the coastal Cordillera. Due to exploitation, its numbers have sharply decreased. Populations have declined sharply wax palm from the genus Ceroxylon (Palm family, Palmaceae), growing in the Andes from Venezuela to Peru and Bolivia at high altitudes, where forests are replaced over large areas by coffee plantations. Threatened species include: 4 - Andean wax palm(Ceroxylon andicola Humb. Et Bonpl.) and the Colombian national tree Ceroxylon quinquiense (Karst.) H. Wendl. Endangered in Argentina acrocomia of the shunt(Acrocomia chunta Covas et Ragon.), whose numbers have declined as a result of exploitation. Another Argentine palm with a small range is 1 - euterpe edible(Euterpe edulis Mart.) - its apical buds are edible. |
Many of the American palms are rare. There are two species included in the IUCN Red List - Ekman pseudodate(Pseudophoenix ekmanii Burret) and calyptronoma river(Calyptronoma rivalis (O.F.
Cook) L.H. Bailey). Pseudodate is a palm tree 4-5 m high with a single stem. The base of the stem is about 20 cm in diameter, and above the stem expands, forming a swelling up to 80 cm in diameter, which narrows to 15 cm near the crown.
The stem is very succulent, the leaves are up to 1.5 m long, the inflorescences are drooping, with numerous branches. Found in the Dominican Republic, in the far south, on dry Quaternary limestones. It is believed to be the wine palm described by the first explorers of the island.
Good light wine was prepared from its juice; the extraction of juice led to the extinction of this species. Calyptronoma is a medium-sized tree with a trunk up to 10 m, on which leaf scars are clearly visible. Crown of 15-20 feathery leaves. It grows on the island of Puerto Rico, east of San Sebastian. It grows along rivers in humid forests on limestone, at an altitude of 300 m. In 1970, no more than 20 palm trees of this species were recorded.
This species used to be more widespread, but disappeared due to fires and logging.
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In Fig. on the left - Cinchona (Cinchona succirubra Pav.), Rubiaceae family - an evergreen tree with opposite leathery shiny broadly elliptical leaves and light crimson flowers collected in panicles at the tops of stems and branches. The range is very limited, found in Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Colombia, on the eastern slopes of the Andes, at an altitude of 1600-3200 m, in humid forests. Trees were rapaciously cut down to obtain quinine (an anti-malaria drug). Currently widely cultivated in Southeast Asia and Africa. Guatemalan fir(Abies guatemalensis Rehder), Pine family (Pinaceae) - tree up to 45 m high. As a result of intensive logging and destruction of undergrowth by livestock, it has become very rare in Guatemala. Mexican Weymouth pine(Pinus aycahuite Ehrenb.), Pine family (Pinaceae) - a tree up to 30-45 m high with a conical crown, gray bark and very long needles, up to 30 cm. Its habitat lies in the mountains of Southern Mexico and Guatemala. It is intensively cut down for its valuable wood, the bark is peeled off to obtain tannins, which has greatly undermined the reserves of the species. |
Published based on the book: Belousova L.S., Denisova L.V.
Rare plants of the world. M.: Forest industry, 1983. 344 p.
South America is an amazing continent, full of contrasts and mysteries. Situated on six climatic zones at once, it has a unique and very diverse nature. Thanks to this, the fauna of South America is represented by the most interesting and unusual creatures.
Tropical rainforests
Animals and plants of South America are presented in all their diversity in the natural zone of the equatorial belt - tropical rainforests or selva.
The dense, lush vegetation of the jungle has left its mark on the living creatures that live here. To survive in such conditions, over many years of evolution they have all adapted to an arboreal lifestyle. This is the main one characteristic feature all animals of the rainforests not only of South America, but also of Africa and Asia.
There are a lot of monkeys in the jungle, which are represented by two large families:
- Marmoset monkeys - differ in tiny sizes, the smallest species reach only 15 cm in length. They stay on trees thanks to tenacious limbs with strong claws.
Rice. 1. Marmosets are the smallest monkeys in the world
- Cebids - large monkeys with an unusually well developed tail. In fact, it acts as a fifth limb - it is so effective in moving monkeys through trees. The most striking representatives of the cebid family are howler monkeys, capable of screaming incredibly loudly, as well as spider monkeys with very long, strong limbs.
But not only monkeys are great at climbing trees. In the middle and upper tiers of the equatorial jungle you can find sloths slowly moving from tree to tree. They feed on leaves and rarely descend to the ground.
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Even some anteaters are able to climb and move along a tree trunk. A very strong, prehensile tail helps them in this.
Small predators of the cat family also live in the jungle: jaguarundis, ocelots, jaguars. A rare, poorly studied bush dog is also found in forests.
However, the classes of reptiles, amphibians and insects are the most diverse and numerous in the jungle. Only here lives the most big snake in the world - anaconda, bright and often deadly poisonous tree frogs, incredibly large butterflies with a wingspan of 30 cm.
Rice. 2. Tree frog
Wet forests are home to a myriad of birds, most notably various species of parrots and tiny hummingbirds.
Steppes, savannas and woodlands
Animals of South America, living in the drier and treeless natural areas of the continent, are adapted to life in open spaces.
Local predators are represented by the fleet-footed puma, the agile ocelot, the hardy maned wolf, and the Magellanic fox.
In the savannahs and steppes there are armadillos - amazing creatures that have inhabited our planet since time immemorial. Their features include a body covered with a durable shell. They are nocturnal and solitary, rarely forming pairs or small groups.
Common ungulates include Pampas deer, llamas, and peccary pigs. The steppes and savannas are home to many different rodents, lizards, and snakes.
A distinctive feature of the landscape of these natural areas is the large number of termite mounds. Termites, which are popularly called “white ants,” are capable of building huge nests several meters high, between which there is excellent communication through underground passages and tunnels.
Rice. 3. Termite mounds
Andes
The flora and fauna of the Andes have their own distinctive features. The mountains of South America are home to many endemic animals that have never crossed the border of their native natural zone.
Two species of wild llamas live here: vigon and guanaco. Once upon a time, local residents hunted them because delicious meat and excellent wool. However, now wild llamas in nature are very rare.
Only in the Andes can you find spectacled bears and wild chinchillas, whose fur is considered one of the most expensive in the world. The mountains are home to a large bird of prey - the condor, whose wingspan reaches 3 m.
What have we learned?
We learned what animals live in South America and what their characteristic features are. We found out who lives in various natural areas of the continent, as well as a description of the unique features of living creatures that were able to adapt to the conditions environment. The topic discussed is of great interest not only for high school students, but also for 4th grade students.
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South America is the 4th largest continent on our planet. If you look closely at the map, the continent resembles a drop of water. The continent is located in the southern hemisphere of the Earth.
Natural areas
There are 5 climatic zones on the continent:
- equatorial;
- subequatorial;
- tropical;
- subtropical;
- moderate.
Relief
The relief of the mainland is conditional can be divided into 2 zones It is a flat plain in the eastern part and a mountain range in the west. The Andes Mountains are a continuation of the North American mountain range - the Cordillera. This is the longest mountain range on our planet.
Plant community
The flora of the mainland is diverse. This is facilitated by a mild, warm climate and large amounts of precipitation. The flora on the continent varies depending on the climate zone.
So The tropical zone is dominated by jungle. And currently, scientists are discovering more and more new species of plants and representatives. The jungles of South America cover a larger area than similar areas in Africa.
The tropical forest contains rubber trees, melon and chocolate trees, various types of palm trees, hevea, and orchids. In some areas The height of the forest cover reaches 100 meters. It could be a 12-tier community with unique flora and fauna associated with each floor.
To the south of the Amazon jungle, sparse deciduous forests begin. A typical representative of the flora of this part of the continent is the quebracho tree with strong and durable wood.
Moving south across the continent, travelers will cross savannahs and reach the famous South American plains - pampas. This is a classic steppe zone with feather grass, wild millet and forbs. Occasionally there are thickets of mimosa and milkweed. The soils in this part of the continent are very fertile
The closer to the southern extreme point of the continent, the more sparse the landscape becomes. The pampas give way to a zone of semi-deserts and deserts. Here you can find dry bushes that form peculiar perecatipole cushions.
Fauna of South America
The fauna on the mainland also depends on the climate zone.
In the tropical forests Various species of monkeys live. Many species are adapted exclusively to life in trees. The lower tier of the forest was chosen by tapirs. Among the predators is the famous jaguar. Entomologists are still discovering new species. The forests are home to a large number of unique bird species - toucans and macaws. There are about 320 species of baby hummingbirds in South America alone.
In the savannah zone There are fewer animals, and they are adapted to life in open spaces. These are wild peccary pigs. Of the large birds, rhea ostriches feel great. Large cats - pumas and jaguars - also live in savannas. Of the small predators in the savannas, the savanna fox and the maned wolf live.
Pampas is a habitat for fleet-footed representatives of the animal world. These are llamas, deer and predators such as the pampas cat and several types of armadillos.
In the Andes mountains Basically, the same species of animals live as on the flat part of the mainland. But there are endemics - animals unique to South America. These are mountain llamas, spectacled bears, and charming chinchillas.
Detailed information about the diversity of nature on the South American continent can be found in the reports of various scientific societies.
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South America is the fourth largest continent and lies in the southern hemisphere. Five climatic zones determine the characteristics of the flora and fauna: equatorial, subequatorial, tropical, subtropical and temperate; most of the continent has a warm climate.
The plant and animal worlds are very rich, many species are found exclusively here. South America is a record holder in many ways; the longest and deepest river in the world, the Amazon, flows here, the longest Andes mountain range is located, the largest mountain lake Titicaca is located, it is the rainiest continent on earth. All this significantly influenced the development of wildlife.
Nature different countries South America:
Flora of South America
The flora of South America is rightfully considered the main wealth of the continent. Such well-known plants as tomatoes, potatoes, corn, chocolate trees, and rubber trees were discovered here.
The tropical rainforests of the northern part of the continent still amaze with the richness of species, and today scientists continue to discover new plant species here. In these forests there are different types of palm trees and melon tree. There are 750 species of trees and 1,500 species of flowers per 10 square kilometers of this forest.
The forest is so dense that it is extremely difficult to move through it; vines also make movement difficult. A characteristic plant for the tropical forest is the ceiba. The forest in this part of the mainland can reach a height of more than 100 meters and is distributed into 12 levels!
To the south of the jungle there are variable-humid forests and savannas, where the quebracho tree grows, which is famous for its very hard and very heavy wood, valuable and expensive raw materials. In savannas, small forests give way to thickets of cereals, shrubs and tough grasses.
Even further south are the pampas - the South American steppes. Here you can find many types of grasses, common to Eurasia: feather grass, bearded grass, fescue. The soil here is quite fertile, since there is less rainfall and it is not washed away. Shrubs and small trees grow among the grasses.
The south of the mainland is a desert, the climate there is more severe, and therefore the vegetation is much poorer. Shrubs, some types of grasses and cereals grow on the rocky soil of the Patagonian desert. All plants are resistant to drought and constant weathering of the soil, among them are resinous chañar, chukuraga, and Patagonian fabiana.
Fauna of South America
The fauna, like the vegetation, is extremely rich; many species have not yet been described or qualified. The richest region is the Amazonian jungle. It is here that you can find such amazing animals as sloths, the smallest birds in the world, hummingbirds, a huge number of amphibians, including poisonous frogs, reptiles, including huge anacondas, the world's largest rodent, the capybara, tapirs, jaguars, river dolphins. At night, the ocelot, a wild cat that resembles a leopard but is found only in America, hunts in the forest.
According to scientists, the jungle is home to 125 species of mammals, 400 species of birds and an unknown number of species of insects and invertebrates. The aquatic world of the Amazon is also rich; its most famous representative is the predatory fish piranha. Other famous predators are crocodiles and caimans.
The savannas of South America are also rich in fauna. Here you can find armadillos, amazing animals covered with plates - “armor”. Other animals that can only be found here are anteaters, rhea ostriches, spectacled bears, pumas, and kinkajou.
In the pampas of this continent there are deer and llamas that live in open spaces and which can find here the grasses on which they feed. The Andes have their own special inhabitants - llamas and alpacas, whose thick wool saves them from the high mountain cold.
In the deserts of Patagonia, where only tough grasses and small shrubs grow on rocky soil, mainly small animals, insects, and various types of rodents live.
South America includes the Pacific Galapagos Islands, where amazing turtles are found, the largest representatives of the family on earth.
Potatoes, rice, corn, beans. Many endemics
The list of tree flora representatives alone takes up dozens of pages. These plants of South America are mainly represented by legumes. They are a decoration of tropical forests. Among trees with spectacular flowering, the central place is occupied by the Caesalpiniaceae family. The tallest representatives of the flora of the floodplain part of the Amazon are mimosa. Trees of this species reach a height of sixty meters. In the forests of South America, tropical plants such as euphorbia and laurel, muscataceae and cutraaceae, as well as lecithinaceae, are widespread.
The Brazilian Hevea plant brings the greatest benefit to the world's population. This tree, which belongs to the spurge family, produces rubber. The plant has a rather thick trunk. Its dimensions can exceed one meter in width. The height of this tree can reach thirty meters. Interesting plants are also found in Brazilian regions. Trees belonging to the Cutraceae family also produce rubber. First of all, it finds its use in the manufacture of chewing gum. Valuable wood, which is not inferior in quality to real mahogany, is produced by large-leaved twistia.
The plants of South America, which grow especially lushly in the tropical thickets of the Amazon, are clearly represented by various types of vines. From certain types of it, local Indians produce curare poison, which is applied to the tips of their arrows.
Palm trees grow on the part of the floodplain that is subject to flooding. Many of their species are used as food by the local population.
Plants of South America are also represented by the cocoa (or chocolate) tree. This type of flora reaches a height of ten meters. Representatives of these trees are most often found in the lower reaches of the Amazon River.
Tropical forest areas border vast areas of grassland containing tall herbaceous plants. They are mainly represented by cereals. During flood periods, individual sections of such a meadow can separate from the top layer of soil and float in the direction of the current like floating islands.
Plants of South America growing on the edge of the floodplain are clearly represented by marsh and aquatic communities. Thanks to the warm and humid climate, they develop especially luxuriantly here.
A rather unusual plant, which is most widespread in the tropical territory of South America, is kirkazon. This is a genus of vines and herbs. Unusual large flowers appear on the stems of the plant. Thanks to them, Kirkazon is widely used by landscape designers. It can be found in home gardens, greenhouses and parks. Since ancient times it has also been used medicinal properties. Kirkazon serves as a general strengthening agent for the body. He is able to calm nervous system and normalize the functioning of the digestive tract. At the same time, its anti-inflammatory and diuretic function is manifested. The beneficial substances contained in the root of kirkazon are used to dilate blood vessels. The tincture of this medicinal plant helps with malaria and febrile conditions, cure gynecological diseases and get rid of gastric and intestinal disorders. As an external remedy, Kirkazone is used for allergic manifestations, scrofula and wounds that do not heal for a long time.
On the other hand, the formation of the vegetation cover of South America, starting from the Tertiary period, occurred in almost complete isolation from other large land areas. The main features of the flora of South America are connected with this: its antiquity, species richness and high degree of endemism.
The vegetation cover in South America has changed significantly less under human influence than on other continents of the globe. The population density on the mainland is low, and vast areas in some parts of it are to this day almost completely uninhabited. Such territories have retained their natural soil and vegetation cover unchanged.
The vegetation of South America is a source of enormous natural resources of food, feed, technical, medicinal, etc. But they are still very little used.
The flora of South America has given humanity a number of important cultivated plants. The first place among them is occupied by potatoes, the culture of which was known to the Indians long before the arrival of Europeans and is widespread in various regions of South America today. Then from South America come the most common rubber plant, Hevea, chocolate tree, cinchona tree, grown in many tropical areas of the globe.
South America lies within two floristic regions. The main part of the continent is included within the Neotropical region. Its flora contains some elements common to Africa, which indicates the existence of land connections between the continents until the Tertiary period.
The part of the continent south of parallel 40 S. w. belongs to the Antarctic floristic region. There are similarities between the flora of this part of the continent and the flora of Antarctica, Australia and New Zealand, which also indicates the existence of connections between these continents during geological history.
The general picture of soil and plant zones in the Neotropical region of South America is somewhat reminiscent of Africa. But the ratio of individual types of vegetation and their species composition on these continents are different. If the main type of vegetation in Africa is savannah, then the vegetation cover of South America is especially characterized by tropical rainforests, which have no equal on Earth either in the richness of species or in the vastness of the territory they occupy.
Tropical rainforests on lateritic podzolized soils spread over a vast area in South America. The population of Brazil calls them Selvas. Selvas occupy a significant part of the Amazonian lowland and adjacent areas of the Orinoco lowland, the slopes of the Brazilian and Guiana highlands. They are also characteristic of the Pacific coastline within Colombia and Ecuador. Thus, tropical rainforests cover areas with an equatorial climate, but in addition they grow on the slopes of the Brazilian and Guiana highlands, facing the Atlantic Ocean at higher latitudes, where there is abundant trade wind rain throughout the year.
In the rich tropical forests of the Amazonian lowland you can find many valuable plants. These forests are characterized by great height and complexity of the forest canopy. In non-flooded areas within the forest there are up to 12 *kosmopark*.*com*/*materiki*/*flora*-*uzhnoy*
In Cuba, almost all cacti (Cactaceae family, Cactaceae) have a local distribution and many are endangered, for example, 2 - Matanzanus (Melocactus matanzanus Le#972;n) and 3 - Guitarta melocactus (Melocactus guitartii Le#972;n) . The IUCN Red List lists the Robin's Cereus, or tree cactus (Cereus robini (Lemaire) L. Benson), a shrub or small tree 5-8 m high, bluish-green. The flowers are bell-shaped, brownish-green or brownish-purple. Grows in Cuba and Florida. In Cuba, almost all habitats have been destroyed.
4 - Micranthocereus auri-azureus, Cactaceae family - a rare cactus growing in the central part of Bahia (Brazil). Bahia (its central part) is very rich in melocacti, but they all need protection. Only in the central part of Bahia does Melocactus bahiensis (Br. et R.) Luetzelb. grow. It is endangered because in the places where it grows, local residents burn out grass and low bushes to improve pastures. It is possible that the melocactus pruinosus Werderm. and the amethyst melocactus (Melocactus amethystinus Buining et Brederoo) have already disappeared.
1 - Mahogany tree, or Swietenia, or mahogany, or true mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni Jasq.), Family Meliaceae - an evergreen tree up to 15 m tall. Valued for its wood with narrow off-white sapwood and red-brown heartwood, very beautiful texture. For a long time, the plantings were exploited, since the wood of this tree was widely used for interior decoration of ships, artistic carpentry, etc. Mahogany was quite widespread in the forests of South and Central America. Currently, some reserves of this species remain in the inaccessible part of the Andes in Colombia and Ecuador. Due to increased exploitation, the reserves of another valuable tree, large-leaved mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla King.), have also decreased significantly.
2 - Caesalpinia echinata Lam., Caesalpiniaceae family, tree with red valuable wood and double-pinnate leaves, almost regular flowers. Range: Brazil, almost completely deforested for its valuable timber.
3 - Cocaine bush (Erythroxylon coca Lam.), Family Erythroxylaceae, densely leafy shrub with alternate oblong leaves and small white flowers in the leaf axils (cocaine is obtained from the leaves). Its natural habitat lay in Peru, Bolivia and on the eastern slopes of the Andes; now this plant is not found in the wild, but is widely cultivated on the islands of Java and Sri Lanka. The family contains 4 genera and about 200 species, distributed mainly in tropical America.
4 in Fig. top - Myroxylon pereira Klotsch., Legume family (Fabaceae) tropical evergreen tree with odd-pinnate leaves and whitish flowers. It has a very limited range in El Salvador (the plant is destroyed to obtain Peruvian balsam). Cultivated on the islands of Java and Sri Lanka
In the southeast of the country, along the Brazilian Highlands, araucaria forests of the Brazilian, or Paranan, araucaria (pinheiro, or “Brazilian pine”) extend. Along with it, embuia, tabebuia, and cordia grow, and in the undergrowth of yerbamate, Paraguayan tea is prepared from its leaves. Araucaria forests are subject to intensive exploitation.
Along the Atlantic coast and at the mouth of the Amazon, mangrove forests are dominated by red mangrove, with a mixture of black mangrove (Avicennia marina) and white mangrove (Conocarpus erecta). Tannin is extracted from the bark of these trees.
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