Featured: The Living Planet - Jungle

2 ratings
From: ThePresident
Broadcast 16 February 1984, this episode is devoted to the jungles of the tropics. Attenborough ascends a kapok in the South American tropical rainforest to observe "the greatest proliferation of life that you can find anywhere on Earth." There are two main causes for this: warmth and wetness. As this climate is constant, there are no seasons, so trees vary greatly in their flowering cycles. However, each species does so at the same time and, because of the lack of wind, relies on birds and insects for pollination. Bromeliads have their own population of visitors, largely due to their chalice-like rosettes of leaves that hold water. This is used by some for drinking, or, as in the case of the poison dart frog, for depositing tadpoles. Attenborough also highlights those species that have perfected the art of camouflage, including phasmids. The most densely populated part of the jungle is in its uppermost reaches. Around half-way down, there is little life, apart from those that inhabit nest holes, such as macaws, or use the trunks and lianas to aid movement. The jungle floor is not very fertile as the rain washes away any nutriment from the soil. Tree roots therefore rely on a kind of compost formed from decaying leaves — a process that is greatly accelerated in the natural humidity. After a tropical storm, an aged kapok comes crashing to the ground, leaving a gap in the canopy above. The process of renewal then begins as saplings race to fill the space created
comments:0
5095 views
4444 days ago

Promotion:

Desert of Skeletons. Full Documentary _

Desert of Skeletons. Full Documentary _

Huge deserted beaches surrounded by dunes, where boats masks have forgotten the company...

More...






Popular Tags

Film Entertainment General Nelson Mandela Social Education Heritage South Africa Obama Documentary Arts Movies Music Animation The World Short Bob Marley Black Top Community Comedy Pranks 10 Spirit Sport Football History Boxing Muhammad Ali Cup 2014 Maya Angelou Creative Politics Sports Skills Horror Reggae Films Rap 2015 Slave Hip Hop