Continuous
When we travel, personal encounters with wildlife can instill a deep appreciation for the natural world and a desire to protect it for future generations. These live animals are from two tropical regions: rainforests of the Americas and Philippine coral reefs. As you examine these displays—one terrestrial, one freshwater, and one marine—consider how each organism adds to the overall health and beauty of the ecosystem. You may be inspired to visit these places one day.
Tropical Rainforests of the Americas – Most Varied Among the World's Rainforests
South America's rainforests receive 80 to 120 inches (200 to 300 cm) of rainfall a year. In comparison, San Francisco's average annual rainfall is 22 inches (56 cm).
Each rainforest has a distinct look, and dense plants covering the trees are typical of the Americas' rainforests. These plants, called epiphytes, include orchids, ferns, cacti, and bromeliads. High in the canopy, bromeliads form ideal microhabitats. Their overlapping leaf bases form pockets that fill with water. These tiny pools support poison dart frogs and other small animals in the relatively dry forest canopy.
Poison dart frogs sport bright colors that send a warning to predators: "Stay away, I don't taste good!" True enough, since they secrete distasteful and sometimes deadly poisons from their skin.
Amazon Flooded Forest – Seasonal Cycles of Flooding
The largest rainforest on Earth is found in the Amazon Basin. Stretching 3,100 miles (5,000 km) from the Andes Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean,
it covers about forty percent of South America. Each rainy season, rivers overflow and flood an area about the size of California. Waters can rise 66 feet (20 m) and remain for two to eight months.
These floodwaters feed the world's largest river, the Amazon, and serve as highways for people, dolphins, and fishes. About 3,000 different kinds of fishes live here. More than sixty species of tetras prefer clear, acidic waters stained deep brown by dissolved plant litter. Many species of catfishes live in murky, sediment-filled waters, and three species of angelfish inhabit waters rich with aquatic plants.
Philippine Coral Reef – Reef Life Communicates in Color
Often called "rainforests of the sea," coral reefs are very diverse ecosystems. Philippine reefs encompass about 10,000 square miles (26,000 sq. km), an area roughly 215 times the size of San Francisco. They support about 500 coral species and 2,000 fish species.
A dive beneath the surface of a tropical reef reveals dazzling, colorful fishes, corals, and invertebrates. Since coral reefs only grow in clear, sunny waters, animals can use color to communicate. Color helps attract mates, fools predators, signals danger, and advertises gender or age. Shapes and colors have evolved over time to ensure each species' survival. Stripes or spots against jewel-like colors act as camouflage among the colorful corals. Brightly colored surgeonfishes warn predators to stay away from their scalpel-like spines that can be raised as a weapon.
Live from the Tropics is sponsored by the San Francisco Airport Commission in conjunction with the California Academy of Sciences as part of an ongoing commitment to education.