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h Polylepis Forest Genus: Polylepis Species: spp. The Polylepis forest is located in the Andes Mountains. Polylepis forests occur at altitudes of up to 4,500 meters in sheltered areas. Most of the original forest is in the cold Western Cordillera of Bolivia. There is only ten percent left of the original forest. There are over 15 million trees in just the Andean zone. The exotic plants have grown close to the Polylepis forest causing shading of the native trees. In the Polylepis forest there are 20 evergreen tree species that are characterized by gnarled shapes. The trees have a thick and dense laminated bark with small green and gray leaves. Loss of high mountain forests is considered the major cause of water scarcity in many parts of the Andes. A lot of forest birds live in the Polylepis forest. The Polylepis forest is a very bright colored forest. Polylepis is a group of tree species belonging to the rose family. Fifteen species of the Polylepis genus grow in South America, from northern Venezuela to northern Chile and Argentina. The highest number of species grow in Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia. The forest has to adapt to the unstable water supply. Birds had to adapt to the small range sizes. The Peruvian Polylepis forests contain three of South America's endangered birds. Great colored parrots and toucans live in the forests, as does the Royal Cinclodes. The forests are vegetated with little-leafed plants. Polylepis trees are evergreens, so they begin photosynthesis as soon as the weather gets warmer. The small leaves prevent water loss (cold, dry conditions). The thick, red peeling bark on the trees protects them from animals and fire damage. The Andean people use the Polylepis forest for many reasons. Fifty-six percent of the forest is used for medicines. Twelve percent is used for human food. And nine percent is used for construction and ritual purposes. Over all about thirty-five percent of the most useful plant species are only found inside the forest. The animals, like the birds use the forest for food. The Tropical Polylepis woodlands are highly endangered. The forests began disappearing during the time of the Incas, when much of its wood was used for building material and firewood. After the conquistadors brought their sheep and cattle, more forests were lost to grazing. Today native peoples still use the wood for building and heat. Loss of the forests have caused landslides threatening villages and roads. Only 10% of Bolivia's original Western Cordillera Polylepis forests remain. Only 1% of the forest survives in the Eastern Cordillera where eight out of nine of Bolivia's Polylepis species grow. Loss of the habitat is rapidly destroying one of Ecuador's most precious treasures: the natural diversity. There is a project going on to help the Polylepis forest. The project involves buying 400 acres of native Andean forest. By purchasing this land, they can replant it with Polylepis trees and stop water erosion. by Amanda B. 2002 bibliography: Kessler, Michael. "Forgotten Forests of the High Andes", http://www.plant-talk.org/stories/15andes.html (Nov. 1, 2001) Hjarsen, Thor. "The Effects of Plantations in the Andes" http://www.itto.or.jp/newsletter/v7n2/15effects.html (Nov.14, 2001) "The Project", http://www.interconnection.org/fny/page1.htm http://www.interconnection.org/fny/page1.htm (Nov. 1, 2001) "The Place", http://www.interconnection.org/fny/page3.htm (Nov. 1, 2001) "Proyecto Polylepis web page", http://www.abcbirds.org/international/polylepis.htm (May 24, 2001) Pictures: Bosque Polylepis.jpg, http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/FloraData/201/Chapters/chapter4.shtml polylepis_leaf.jpg, http://www.karisgarden.com/index/indexmtor.htm ttp://go-passport.grolier.com/ The Andes provide an almost complete laboratory of the world's vegetation. The influence of elevation can be seen in the eastern ranges of Peru. Here the Amazon selva (rain forest) covers the Atlantic-facing slopes up to approximately 4,000 feet (1,219 meters); above, a subtropical forest occurs; still higher is the zone of hardier and smaller tree vegetation; beyond, bush and grasses are encountered, encroaching on alpine plants, which persist despite trying conditions until the snow line is reached. Peru can be used again as an example to show influences of rainfall on Andean vegetation. On the lower eastern slopes, heavy rainfall and high temperatures encourage a tropical hardwood rain forest; on the lower western slopes is one of the most desolate deserts in the world, with only xerophytic (drought-resistant) plants, such as cacti, when any plants are to be found at all. Finally, latitudinal contrasts result in temperate rain forest, even grassland, in southern Chile and an equatorial rain forest on the lower Pacific-and Atlantic-facing slopes of Colombia and northern Ecuador. In the tropical areas, climate and vegetation depend chiefly on elevation. The foothills, up to about 3,000 feet (900 m) above sea level, are called the tierra caliente (hot land), an area of tropical rain forests. Above this zone, extending to about 6,500 feet (2,000 m), is the tierra templada (temperate land), with mixed deciduous trees and grasslands. Still higher, up to about 10,000 feet (3,000 m), is the tierra fría (cold land), with coniferous forests, hardy grasses, and shrubs. Still higher, there are Alpine pastures, called páramos, that extend above the tierra fría to the snow line. Wild Potato Genus: Solanum Species: spp. The wild potato is a relative of the cultivated potato, and is found in the alpine biome of the Andes Mountains. In Latin, the word alps means high mountains and the word alpine comes from the word alps. The weather conditions in the alpine biome are severe. Plants have to survive in extreme temperatures, heavy snowfall and strong winds. You can find the potato in places in the Andes where the the temperature ranges from 60 to 70 °F during the day, and frost at night. Most of the wild potato plants are hard to find, and grow in few places. Wild potatoes are found in thickets and waste areas. Wild potatoes are found in 16 countries. Bolivia, Peru, Argentina, and Mexico are where 90% of the wild potatoes are found. There are about 199 species of wild potato. In the northern Andes, farmers grow potatoes in the lower Paramos. The Paramos are at 3000 and 4000 meters above sea level. The central Andes have a climate that is semi-arid. Potatoes are grown on the Puña or Altiplano which are high altitude plains. The southern Andes has a dry Mediterranean like climate, where farmers can grow potatoes easily. The part of the potato we eat are called tubers. These tubers grow underground on their roots. The potato is also called the white potato, to tell it apart from the sweet potato. The wild potato was first cultivated by Indians near Lake Titicaca, who grew the earliest potatoes approximately 8,000 years ago. Wild potato tubers have been found in the mountains and plateaus of Peru where the climate was too cold for wheat or corn. The tubers were easy to store and transport. Frost resistant varieties were developed by the the Mochia, Chimu, and Inca. They even found ways to freeze-dry the potatoes. The potato was worshiped by the Inca people. They prayed to potato gods to ensure the success of their potato crop because it was the only crop they could grow at the high altitude of the Andes. The name potato comes from the Indian name papa. The wild potato plant is a member of the Nightshade family (Solanaceae). Wild and cultivated potatoes have very thin skin. Potatoes can have four different colored skins, reddish-brown, brown, white or pink. Wild and cultivated potatoes have tapering roots that grow year after year. These roots grow from two to eight feet in length. Potatoes can have as few as three tubers and as many as twenty on their roots, it depends on the kind of potato. The weather and soil conditions effect how the plants grow and how many tubers they will have. Potatoes from the Andes are oval shaped, or long and thin, and they can also be round. Potatoes have bell shaped flowers that are white, purple or pink, that grow on vines. The leaves are dark green, heart shaped and coarse with small hairs covering them. The potato plant that grows above ground can grow to four feet tall, with vines that can grow up to fifteen feet. Potato plants have small green tomato like seed balls that hold about three hundred yellowish seeds. The wild potato came to Europe after Pizarro defeated Peru and sent the wild potato culture back to Spain in ships. Ancient Incan farmers grew potatoes at different altitudes. This gave them many varieties that adapted to the high altitudes. The harsh conditions of the alpine biome force the potato plants to grow close to the ground. Short hairs on the leaves collect water from the clouds, which is an important source of water in the arid climate of the Andes. They also insulate the leaves against sudden frosts. The tubers are used to store water, sugars and starches below the frost line. The potato is still grown throughout the world. The wild potato is most useful as breeding stock to help create new disease resistant adaptations. Some of the diseases are bacterial or fungus such as rhizoctonia, late blight, scab, and ring rot. There are also virus conditions such as mosaic, spindle tuber, and leaf roll. The potato is used for food, and is a popular plant because it can be grown in many countries, therefore large populations can depend on it for food. The potato is very healthy because it is high in nutrition, and is made up of mostly water. Starch, protein, vitamins, and minerals make up the rest of the potato. Potatoes are also grown world wide for use in the fast food industry. The wild potato is an endangered species and most species are rare. There are about 93 different species in Peru and 39 in Bolivia. Scientists are trying to register many of the original strain of wild pototoes that remain before they are cross-cultivated with other varieties and disappear. Some things that harm the potato are insect pests, diseases, or late blight. These can be controlled by insecticides or fungicides. by Madeline C. 2002 bibliography: "Potato." The World Book Multimedia Encyclopedia.CD Rom (TM) (C) 2000 World Book "Biomes of the World" http://www.snowcrest.net/geography/slides/biomes/alpine.htm Hijmans,Robert J. Spooner, David M. "Geographic Distribution of Wild Potato Species" http://www.nal.usda.gov/ttic/tektran/data/000011/81/0000118169. html "Poisonous Plants and Animals." "plants", http://library.thinkquest.org/coo7974/1_1pot.htm "Potato: A Fragile Gift from the Andes." http://www.grain.org/publications/set003-en.cfm "Potato Breeding at SCRI." http://www.spud.co.uk/external/Prof/research/scri/AR9436.htm "The Great Southern Range." www.mountains2002.org "The History of the Potato." http://idid.essortment.com/potatohistory_rvap.htm '' Tropical Zonation.", http://www.runet.edu/`~swoodwar/CLASSES/GEOG235/lifezone/troplife. html " The Potato Then and Now; History", http://collections.ic.gc.ca/potato/history/beginnings.asp, (4/28/02). "TVE: Last Plant Standing - Treasure of the Andes". http://www.tve.org/lps/doc.cfm?aid=649, (11/12/05) Image: toluca4.jpg , http://ppathw3.cals.cornell.edu/tilbproject/toluca.htm