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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