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Our Biome...
A biome is a large geographical area of distinctive plant and animal groups, which are adapted to that particular environment.  The climate and geography of a region determines what type of biome can exist in that region. 

The Amazon Rainforest is the biggest forest in the world and it is the last space covered with tropical plants and animals.  Nine countries share this rainforest, including Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Suriname, French Guiana, and Guiana.  We currently are located in Brazil.  Here it is hot and humid and it rains for at least two hours each day.  Because of the weather conditions, many organisms thrive here.  As a result, the Amazon Rainforest is a valuable natural resource because its vegetation recycles carbon dioxide into oxygen.  In fact twenty percent of the earth’s oxygen in produced by the Amazon Rainforest.  The Amazon river flows through the rainforest and it is the second largest river in the world!  There are many indigenous tribes that have been friendly and welcoming since our arrival.

The Amazon Rainforest is broken down into four layers of communities.  The emergent layer (top level)- consists of trees.  The next layer is the upper canopy-  it consists of canopy trees.  The layer beneath that is the understory- it consists of plants, 60 ft. trees, and shrubs.  The lowest layer is the forest floor- it has almost no plants and it is shaded.  Today more than 20% of the Amazon Rainforest has been destroyed!

Some animals that live in the rainforest are: Kinkajous, Harpy Eagles, Leaf Cutter Ants, Tiger Catfish, and the Clearwing Butterfly.


This is a Kinkajous.           This is a Harpy
                                                                                                   Eagle.                                                                                                 
      

 This is a Leaf Cutter Ant. This is aTiger
                                                                                                      Catfish.           


This is a Clearwing Butterfly.      


Some of the plants that live in the Amazon Rainforest are: Ageratum, Maracuja (passion flower), Kapok Tree, Angel's Wings, Heliconia Rostrata, and Wild Pepper.



This is Ageratum.   This is Maracuja
                                                                                               (passion flower).            

  This is a Kapok Tree.          This is called Angel's
                                                                                       Wings.



This is called Heliconia   This is a Wild Pepper.
                            Rostrata.