Tropical Rain forests are one of the highest retainers of biodiversity. Statistically the rain forests only make up seven percent of the planet, but hold fifty percent of all species
on Earth. These dense forests provide an abundance of characteristics to
sustain life. The sunlight and the constant rainfall make tropical rain forests have a very large Net Primary Productivity (NPP). Net Primary Productivity
measures how quickly producers make chemical energy that is stored in their tissues
and that is potentially available to other organisms. This rate is significant
because when such forests are cut down or burned to make room for crops and
cattle, there is a drastic drop in the Net Primary Productivity as well as a
loss in biodiversity.
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| Deforestation of the Amazon rain forest in Quiandeua, Brazil |
Producers are the
source of all the nutrients in an ecosystem that are used by numerous groups
such as decomposers, consumers and even producers themselves. Not only do these
groups use these specific nutrients they require it, specifically consumers.
Thus, the planet Net Primary Productivity ultimately determines the number of
consumers including human that can sustain life on Earth. Tropical
deforestation brings down the Net Primary Productivity rate which will have
long term effect such as bringing down the number of consumers that this planet
can sustain.
This topic directly relates to this course because loss
of biodiversity and sustainability are key concerns in the ecology field. Tropical
deforestation impacts both of these topics immensely. For example, due to some
of the microhabitats located within the rain forests they are only found in small
areas. Their need for specializations makes them vulnerable to extinction. In
the case of an area being totally deforested many different species fall susceptible
of becoming endangered or extinct.
My viewpoint is that although deforestation meets many human
needs it has long term consequences on the environment. The impacts of tropical
deforestation in my opinion outweigh the human wants such as printing the Sunday
newspaper. Many devastating problems such as extinction and endangerment of
species, climate change as well as drops in Net Primary Productivity comes with
tropical deforestation. These consequences have a global scale impact that will
affect each and every species. Thus, I firmly believe to put more advocacy on
this ecology concern so that solutions such as recycling, conserving energy
become habitual in everyday life. Only with this can Earth successfully
conserve biodiversity and the keep high rates of Net Primary Productivity that
is located in the cherished tropical rain forests.
Works Cited
"Deforestation Facts, Deforestation
Information, Effects of Deforestation – National Geographic." National Geographic. 11 Feb.
2015.
Lindsay, Rebecca. Tropical Deforestation : Feature Articles. Earth Observatory. March 30,2007.
Miller, G. Tyler. Essentials of Ecology. South Melbourne, Vic.: Thomson, Brooks/Cole, 2005
Picture Credit: Joey Santore -National Georgraphic
I agree with you and also think that these rainforests should be protected. While we do need many of the raw materials provided by them, there are other ways to produce the materials we need. I think that we should develop these so that we do not need to rely so heavily on rainforest. You made a very good point in why they should be protected when you stated how 50% of the earths species are found in rainforests. Due to this high level of biodiversity and the amount of air exchange that occurs in these forests, it is hard to imagine what our world would be like without them.
ReplyDeleteFor my class presentation I also did tropical rainforest deforestation and I was shocked at truly how important rainforests are to each of us, and how fast they are declining. The impact of the forest fires and the mass deforestation by humans is species to go extinct.It is vital that laws are made to protect these rainforests by either banning the extensive logging occurring or planting another tree for every tree cut.
ReplyDeleteI agree Stephanie that the issue of Tropical deforestation is extremely important. It has major implication for how we will be able to live 25 to 50 years from now. Will we have the amount of producers available to clean our air as well as use them for natural resources? I believe the importance of these producers in understated in many schools these days. We all learn that trees produce the oxygen that we need to survive, however there is still a lack of respect or feeling of responsibility to care for them. I think this is a topic that could be taught at younger ages and should be brought up constantly.
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