Jungle Atop A Desert

Not every part of the rainforest is filled with towering canopies! We discovered an area with trees only twice my height, and it took a couple of geologists to help us figure out why.
Learn more about Robert Stallard and his amazing geologic knowledge: bit.ly/1wIATpb
This is a segment in a series about The Field Museum's Rapid Inventory No. 27, a journey through the forests between the rivers Tapiche and Blanco in Peru. Every year, the Museum's conservation group [the Action Center!] gathers together leading scientific experts across a number of disciplines (botany, zoology, geology, and anthropology) in order to gain an understanding of little-known areas of the rainforest. They work with local communities and their governments to help inform decisions made for conserving these unique, precious, and threatened parts of the world.
To learn more about the Rapid Inventory program, check out the other Amazon Adventures!
• Amazon Adventures
Read more about The Field Museum's Rapid Inventory programs: www.fieldmuseum...
This expedition would not have been possible without the generosity and help of Corine Vriesendorp, Nigel Pitman, Alvaro del Campo, Tyana Wachter, Ernesto Ruelas, and the rest of the Rapid Inventory team. Thank you for allowing us to join you on this journey, and for giving us the trip of a lifetime.
Special thanks to Bob Stallard and Trey Crouch for teaching us the joys and wonders of ROOT MAT!
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Subreddit: / thebrainscoop
Facebook: / thebrainscoop
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Producer, Writer, Creator, Host:
Emily Graslie
Producer, Writer, Editor, Camera:
Tom McNamara
Theme music:
Michael Aranda
Created By:
Hank Green
Production Assistant:
Katie Kirby
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Supported by:
The Field Museum in Chicago, IL
(www.fieldmuseum...)
Filmed on location between the rivers Tapiche and Blanco in Peru.
Thanks to our team of transcribers and translators, like Kevin O'Donovan, Caitrin McCullough, and Evan Liao for keeping us -deeply rooted-.

[@thebrainscoop]

FIRST

[@ryPish]

That's not fair D:

[@jaedeg1230]

That's not fair! Dangit Emily!

[@ValiantShimmer]

Thank you for doing that. Because the "FIRST" comments are just noise over the signal. Excellent episode, by the way.

[@Waffles-oz4vl]

the look at 1:39 made this video worth it. haha. Love you Emily!!

[@justaguy864]

Last

[@jennystratton1448]

I love the 'jungle atop a desert' idea. It's kind of poetic, the way it conveys the reality of that area's nutrient-poor soils by comparing it to a sandy waste - the last thing I would have thought of myself, given all that vegetation! Imagine what a real desert would look like if it got that much rain - or what that rainforest would look like if it became arid. Thank you, Brain Scoop, for helping me understand ecology better, one jungle expedition at a time :)

[@mabr20]

This guy prolly has the best fatherly jokes.

[@Crystalvampire66]

He was so casual when he said the thing about termites

[@davidshi451]

I like this video--good use of music, not too much or too little, and appropriate typography/intertitles. Definitely see Tom's hard at work here!

[@TotalVikingPower]

More with that guy ! Robert Stallard. So calm, humorous and " down to earth".

[@JakeyMeisty]

Buh dum tish

[@Tomozaurus]

"Sorry about having termites tumbling out all over you. They are angry..." Well yeah, you just poked a hole in their nest lol

[@TheLoreSeeker]

I love how far the Brain Scoop has come. From a small stuffy lab to Amazonian Expeditions.

[@MartKencuda]

I love it too! Though I would still like to see another animal autopsy like the wolf. That was what got me here in the first place.

[@censusgary]

That's the first piano-playing caterpillar I've seen.

[@mrboredj]

These episodes need more science and less artsy editing. I want to know about the toad and the lizard, I want to be educated more. I do appreciate learning that tropical rain forests can appear to live on top of deserts, but I guess I want moar.

[@Naiadryade]

Clearly this area is *exceptionally* poor of nutrients, but my understanding is that most tropical rainforest has relatively nutrient-poor soil. All that rain leaches nutrients away quickly. Instead of in the soil, most nutrients in the rainforest are either locked up in plants and animals, or stored in epiphyte mats up in the canopy. And the nutrients in quickly-decomposing dead organisms are recycled quickly back into living things, rather than being allowed to accumulate in the soil only to be leached away.

[@phaze2010]

Ya I was wonder that too, in that does the root mat cause the poor soil below it or does it allow growth in an area that would normally just be a desert?

[@HarlequinHare]

Which goes a long way to explaining why the soil in areas that have been cleared of rainforest for farming are very poor lands to actually farm. Pasture and crops fail to grow well, as the nutrients were removed with the plants and animals. It also creates a vicious cycle of more land being cleared to make up for the poor production

[@thebrainscoop]

HarlequinHare You got it, perfectly.

[@AnnekeOosterink]

***** I was told that the thin layer of nutrients that was held down by the trees washes away quickly once those trees are gone hence the poor farming soil? Is that part of the process, or is it region specific (the stuff I was taught was about Indonesia specifically)?

[@davidwestrup669]

Maze The root mat is a living mulch, constantly growing and dying, so constantly consuming and recycling. As he mentions in the video, roots do go through the sandy soil below scavenging what is available which is there because of the root mat. Mulch, living and otherwise is good for water retention therefore holding onto nutrients as best the plant kingdom does. I fucking love plants. I think this is my favourite brainscoop so far. But that is a difficult question to answer.

[@meclucas]

I'm learning so much from this series, which is kind of a sad thing... Because I live in Brazil, and have been living here since I was born...

[@galvezneild]

Ohh termites ! *poke They're angry.

[@jameslee1145]

I remember a study came our around two years ago that stated that the nutrient poor soil of the Amazon was derived from the extinctions of many species of megafauna around 11,000 BC, which slowed nutrient cycling. As to what caused these extinctions is debated (I'm pretty confident in the Pleistocene overkill hypothesis, but that's me).

[@TetraLoach]

When I first found this channel I decided to start at the start and watched your first videos back in Montana, and have watched almost of all of them in the months since then. Every now then an episode like this comes along where I can't help but feel amazed at how this woman who was just volunteering at a local college to take part in what was essentially a hobby has now gotten to the point that she works at a renowned museum and gets paid to not only do what she loves, but to travel the world doing it. It's amazing how far you've come Emily and though I've never met you I can honestly say that I am proud of you. You are an inspiration. Thank you for making this show for us, and congratulations on the incredible places your efforts have taken you.

[@BlackBobby69]

4:26 Man, ocelots are beautiful creatures. Say, Anna wouldn't by chance have any ocelots in her freezer, would she? - Excuse my not at all subtle request to post more dissection content, but it's been almost a year :-(

[@Nic33rd]

It's amazing how far the Brain Scoop has come since it started!

[@thecassman]

I read the title as "Jungle atop a DesSert".... It changes the potential video content massively!!

[@RiverbendBicycles]

I'm sure it's been said before, but I love the Wes Anderson vibe the videos have had this past year. Very enjoyable.

[@thedoortonowhere]

Your music is messing with my Gilbert and Sullivan senses.

[@Flirri]

Horizontal tree = world's largest vine. :P

[@Tracy_AC]

Trees do good work. I like 'em.

[@karleybioanthro]

Love The Brain Scoop!

[@thebusinessgoat]

I'm subscribed but for some reason brainscoop videos don't show up in my subscription feed.

[@thebrainscoop]

That's dumb. I'm sorry. Check back every other Wednesday!

[@sudont]

I've often heard that Amazonian jungle soil is nutrient poor. What I don't understand is, why? After all, there's tons of organic matter dropping onto the ground, and presumably has been for thousands of years. You'd think the soil would be quite rich. What happens? Does it all get immediately sucked back up?

[@smartereveryday]

Wow... This is a fantastic episode. I just found it.

[@OnlySunlightShinning]

Wow! This was super interesting, I did not know anything about this before. Though the jungle still seems terrifying omg, termites and roots growing into your but :/

[@inksplatter1]

As someone who has a bizarrely maternal feeling towards trees, I appreciate that you told those trees they were doing a good job! Also, great videos! I'm really enjoying this Amazon series.

[@wutzibu]

I first heard of that when i was 8 years old or so back the i wondered: "why dont we putt all the Cow and human poo to the rrainforest?" No im of course a little bit smarter but the question still remains. Couldnt we use excess Manure to fertilize rainforest?

[@censusgary]

A desert is a dry place, not necessarily a sandy place. So it's more like a jungle atop some dunes. Good episode, though.

[@zenzylok]

Lovely observing such a complex ecosystem.

[@AbnormalWrench]

MOAR

[@spenx09]

This is wonderful Emily, thank you for sharing!

[@FloridatedH2O]

As always a great video. Apparently the video was released 2 min ago.

[@hannahmedina6527]

your videos are amazing

[@ElSuegroyElYerno]

Hope I can get to meet you guys when im in chicago next month! Ill be stopping by the museum!

[@mikkj1]

Life...finds a way. :)

[@Zolbat]

What would happen if you left a bit of nutrients in that very nutrient poor area. Say you take a dump there. Would it have an effect? What about 10 dumps?

[@thebrainscoop]

Remember Nigel, the botanist from "Investigating the trees of Amazonia"? Pretty sure he wrote a paper on this very thing. Your feces become a feast in this jungle.

[@stormelemental13]

***** Link to paper?

[@thebrainscoop]

***** Awww yeah. there you go.

[@FinestSeven]

+Zolbat And after thousands of dumps and some Inca magic, terra preta happens.

[@AwesomesMan]

Neat

[@Zaldermenia]

These Peru videos are beautifully filmed and edited--The color, the composition; just fantastic! I feel like I'm watching one of David Attemborough's nature shows. Thanks for sharing! :D

[@lukagumberidze8083]

the girl is very cute and the geologist besides being expertly knowledgable, seems very humorous. LOVE IT

[@hausofjulian]

Been binging on the every episode playlist but "An Electric Eel" and "How to Cut a Trail in Amazonia" is blocked in the Philippines :( Where can I watch it?

[@Roganberg]

Guys, will you please give credit for the Saint-Saens pieces that you use in your videos? Just a brief mention in the video. But it's uncool to use pieces from "The Carnival of Animals" and not give him a shout-out!

[@Ttamlin]

Dearth: A scarcity or lack of something. I wouldn't expect a dearth of life anywhere in the rainforest, even the sandy bits.

[@DudeitsaPony]

I absolutely adore the style all these videos are in. The classical music, "Behold!", and commentary is just so perfect. :)

[@davidshi451]

Trey Crouch seems like a perfect name for a geologist, like Henry Head/Russell Brain as neurologists.

[@normallybaby]

Every one of The Brain Scoop's videos are like a tiny, science-based Wes Anderson movie... and I love it.

[@charliespinoza1966]

I was so distracted by the Hannon piano exercise musics! But I also loved it. Now I have to rewatch the video on mute to pay attention...

[@john091077]

Now I'm going to be wandering around my back yard today saying "Good job, trees.".

[@erictaylor5462]

One thing a tap root can do, even if there is nothing worth reaching down deep for, is an anchor. If that tree had a deep taproot, would it still be standing?

[@TwinkTwinkle]

How fascinating! I still didn't quite grasp how the forest is able to survive a nutrient poor environment, but it really is interesting that it does.

[@alanmctaggart4371]

I must say, the choice of music for all the Amazon videos has been impeccable!

[@DevinSloan]

More brain scoop! I check back everyday hoping for a new episode.

[@Xatavor]

Perhaps the best Amazon video released on the Brain Scoop yet!

[@brothapipp]

thought provoking.

[@Bloodmuffin6]

One of my favorite videos from the Amazon series, great job!

[@gabrielgp000]

its so sad that most of us brasilians dont take the proper pride to own this earth jewel...

[@gabrielleb74]

So in the Amazon you get root butt then the termites come and eat you :(

[@kryler8252]

The real question is what came first, the desert or the jungle?

[@hkwhsu]

Good job Trees!

[@ShaudaySmith]

This root mat reminds me of the Toxic forest in the movie, Nausica.

[@kazoosc]

I just always assumed that if I saw trees they were tapping into dirt

[@brainbites5248]

Recycling way back before it was cool!

[@yurboii8354]

1:44 termites aren't the only thing that will be eating at your rear end

[@piwithatsme]

Isn't a lot of soil in rain forests nutrient deprived?

[@shoemakerleve9]

1nd

[@youshouldnteatsoap]

cane toads are the worst (but this video was fab!)

[@halseylynn5161]

Emily looks so cool and aloof @ 5:19

[@DOSTalks]

I love the channel so much. More people need to know!

[@mybackhurts7020]

Makes sense on why the Sahara became A desert so fast

[@omnithewolf3628]

Poor geologist trying to be funny :p

[@shinjishi]

We need more Brain Scoop. What are you doing Graslie!?!?!?!

[@thebrainscoop]

Planning a major secret project that launches on April 6th.

[@moi5219]

This is my favorite of the Peru videos

[@spike9950]

i love these videos thank you :)

[@michaelpollock1869]

This channel deserves more subs

[@davidramsdell5052]

So umm... when do we get to see brains age??

[@iSniffStuff]

Why would u poke it if u didn't know what it was?!?!?!?!?!

[@learningftw6559]

Science.

[@NezduQ]

Is anyone else unable to see the video on any resolution above 360p? Still, glad to have a new scoop of brain.

[@watchingmisskel4156]

haha it's brand new, the higher quality probably hadn't rendered yet

[@NezduQ]

I should have known, thanks for clarifying!

[@resonantdave]

This video is insanely cool.

[@jeanborrero]

very interesting stuff!

[@qpid8110]

"I wonder what that is? Lets poke it with a stick!" 😆

[@zeddash]

Qupid VOneOhOne "whoops, they're angry now"

[@castrocafe8049]

These are awesome!

[@MissOrcaLover]

💜💜💜💜

[@kappyfulliness]

COOL!

[@TheJaredtheJaredlong]

Anthropologically, those "desert" areas would be ideal for placing a settlement.

[@MrRizeAG]

Only if you're willing to invest many years into horticulture.

[@Nabend1402]

I dunno. You can clearly get a lot of wood there, but really nothing else. No brick, no grain, no sheep, no ore...I would only settle there if I also had a wood harbour, so I could trade 2:1.

[@seigeengine]

Mr. Rize AG In a rainforest, however, a clearer area with smaller growth would make a better place for a settlement

[@kazoosc]

except it is - as they pointed out - very resource poor. you clear trees to build a house and you have nothing left. the next wind would blow away the sand under your feet.

[@TheJaredtheJaredlong]

Oh contrary, that _specific_ area is poor in resources, but that then means that everything _around_ that area _is_ full of resources. Also, since there's so little wildlife in the desert area, it's also a good place for a settlement because that means fewer predators are attracted to that area. I'm not advocating we go out and build settlements there, I'm more curious as to if there's a correlation between these desert areas and the location of Amazonian tribes.

[@booberfragil]

I've been watching The Brain Scoop for over a year now. This channel definitely meets my need to celebrate life. Thank you.