Robert Romanowski
Do you ever get to go to the rainforest? Submitted by Alexander Junior High
I actually did get a once in lifetime opportunity to visit the Amazon rainforest! On May 19 2003, I traveled 2000 miles over 18 days down the mighty Amazon river. My other expedition team members included a Chicago public school teacher and a staff person from the Chicago Teacher's Center. We started in Iquitos, Peru and ended our journey in Belem, Brazil. Much like the current Project Peru, everyday we sent back video, pictures, and journal reports so the students in Chicago could follow in our footsteps. From the people we met to the animals and plants, it was an amazing experience that I will never forget. The Amazon is a place unlike any other on earth. I like to refer to it as a place where the "river meets the trees." When we were there it was the high water season. The floodwaters had reached their peek and were starting to recede. The water was still very high. In some places we were able to squeeze our zodiac, which is like a small inflatable raft with a motor on the back, in between the treetops. Yes we were able to touch the treetops! That's how much water there was. If you ever have an opportunity to visit the Amazon rainforest, I highly encourage you to do so. Just bring allot of sunscreen, raingear, and mosquito repellant.
Do the fish eat spiders?
There are a number of fish species in the Amazon that feed on insects. One in particular is the arawana. They don’t nickname it the “water monkey” for nothing. This fish has an upward pointing mouth and a long slender body. This helps it jump out of the water up to 3 ft to snatch insects and spiders that may be hanging from a branch over the water. You can tell allot about a fish by just looking at its mouth. Depending on whether the mouth is pointing upward, downward or directly in front, an observer can usually tell where a fish finds most of its food. In the case of the arawana, it is either near or above the water’s surface.
What is the water (in the river) like? What color is it? Can you see the bottom? Can you see fish from the boat?
In the Amazon floodplain, 3 different kinds of water can be found. The Amazon River itself is considered a sediment rich, or muddy river. It is the color of coffee with cream. It is impossible to see down to the bottom. Some other rivers or tributaries that are part of the Amazon floodplain are clear. If you were in a boat traveling down one of these rivers, you most likely would be able to see clear through to the bottom if it was shallow. The third type of water that can be found in the Amazon is blackwater. This water is very dark in color and resembles Coca-Cola. This water is so dark that it acts like a mirror, reflecting all the trees and clouds. Blackwater tributaries dominate in the western and central part of the Amazon basin, while clearwater rivers are more common in the east.
The footage you took of the river dolphins was amazing.
We'd like to know what the difference is between the pink and
gray dolphins. Thanks and keep exploring!
Pink dolphins are often referred to as the Amazon or “boto” dolphin. The pink dolphin has a long, low dorsal fin (this is the fin that runs down its back), large pectoral fins (these are the fins along the side of the body), a long pointed mouth and a large conspicuous forehead, which is often referred to as a melon. They average 5-6 ft in length and weigh about 80 lbs. They turn pinker in color as they get older. This pink color is due to the blood vessels that run in and just beneath the clear skin.
The gray dolphins are also freshwater dolphins but are more porpoise like in appearance. They have a larger dorsal fin, a smaller, less pointed mouth, and a smaller forehead or melon. Gray dolphins average about 4 feet in length and are a bluish-gray color.
What kind of plants grow under the water?
The Amazon River is full of plants. A very unique plant that can be found growing in floodplain lakes is the Giant Victoria water lily. These plants anchor themselves to the muddy river bottom and send up shoots, which produce the leaves and flowers that float on top of the water. The reason why it is called the giant water lily is because of it leaves. A single leaf can grow as much as 6 ft across and support the weight of a small dog or child! Imagine floating on a water lily leaf in the middle of a lake!
Another unique feature of this plant is its flowers. The flowers start off white. The sweet fruity odor of these flowers attracts beetles. Now why do you think this flower would want to attract beetles? Yes, for pollination! Once the beetle is inside the flower, the flower closes shut, trapping the beetle inside. The next day, after the flower has been pollinated, the flower reopens to release the beetle. The flower then changes colors, turning from a white color to a reddish purple. All this happens within 24 hours! I sure hope the Expedition team spots some of these lilies. They are magnificent indeed.
What kinds of animals do you see when you're on the boat?
During my expedition to the Amazon in 2003, we traveled over 2000 miles along the Amazon River from Iquitos to Belem and were able to see many animals from aboard the boat. One morning as the sun rose, we saw pink river dolphins sufacing for air. They were very beautiful with the orange glow of the sun highlighting their pink bodies. We also saw lots of sloths up in the trees. You had to use binoculars to really see them. They didn’t move around much and were quite lazy. In the distance, we heard the cries of howler monkies. Their howl is so loud that it could be heard from miles away! We also had a once in a life time experience to see a hyacinth macaw in the wild. These birds are highly endangered. No one on the boat had ever seen one in the wild before. It was a real treat!
Why do people sell endangered animals as pets?
Many people sell endangered animals as pets because there is a demand for them. Many people who buy these are probably not aware that these animals are so endangered. That’s why educating others about the rainforest and the animals that call it home is so important. If people were more aware of the situation, there wouldn’t be such a demand for some of these pets. We all can make a big difference if we teach others about what we learn.
What kinds of fish do people eat in the rainforest? What does it taste like?
In the Amazon people get most of the protein in their diet from fish. Fish is a very important part of their diet. Fish consumed in the Amazon include the tambaqui, peacock bass, catfish, and even piranha! We think of piranha eating people, not people eating piranha. Pirahna are actually very bony fish. Its hard to eat a piranha without getting a bone stuck in your teeth. Tambaqui is very sweet tasting. This is due to all the nuts, fruits and seeds these fish consume when they migrate into the forest during the high water season.