Threats to Biodiversity in Tropical Rainforests

From the breathtaking vistas of the South American Amazon to the primordial jungles of the African Congo, tropical rainforests are some of the most biologically diverse ecosystems on Earth. These dense forests are filled to the brim with countless species of plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms; many of which we don’t even know about! Spanning the equatorial regions of South America, Africa, Southeast Asia, and other parts of the world, these primeval places play a critical role in regulating a number of necessary natural processes.

The continued existence and proliferation of rainforests have a profound effect on Earth’s climate, but these places are also a necessary part of cycling nutrients and supporting the livelihoods of millions of people. Despite their importance, however, tropical rainforests are slowly and surely facing extinction. The wanton destruction of places like the Amazon is causing a catastrophic loss of biodiversity on this planet, and it’s happening at an alarming rate.

In this article, we will explore how some major ecological threats are affecting the biodiversity in tropical rainforests. We will discuss deforestation, habitat destruction, climate change, and the illegal wildlife trade; all of which are having profound effects on the health of our world. Only by understanding these threats can humanity work together to develop effective strategies to conserve these precious ecosystems, therby saving the multitude of species that rely on them for survival; ourselves included.

Deforestation and Habitat Loss

One of the most immediate and pressing threats to biodiversity in tropical rainforests is heedless deforestation. Every year, without fail, huge areas of rainforest are cleared for agriculture, logging, mining, and the development of infrastructure. As necessary as much of this might seem for the ever-growing human population, the reality is that this destruction has a devastating impact on the plants and animals that call the rainforest home. It also has a very real impact on the future health and survival of OUR species as well.

Agricultural Expansion

Agriculture is a necessary evil and it’s one that has become more necessary with each passing year. Sure, there has been a little bit of a decline since the 1960s, but that’s all relative. The point is, people need to eat and farms are needed to grow the food. This, agriculture winds up being one of the primary drivers of deforestation in tropical rainforests.

In many parts of the world, these amazing places are regularly cleared to make way for large-scale plantations. These plantations grow everything from coffee, to palm oil, to soybeans. At the same time, huge swaths of felled rainforest are being repurposed as grazing land for cattle ranching. In the Amazon rainforest, cattle ranching is responsible for around 80% of deforestation.

This agricultural expansion leads to a direct loss of habitat for billions of organisms and it fragments the remaining forest, which is another problem entirely. Fragmentation isolates populations of animals and plants, making it difficult for them to reproduce, disperse seeds, find food, and avoid predators. Over time, this can lead to a decline in genetic biodiversity within the region, and could be the cause of extinction for many species.

Logging

Timber from tropical rainforests is highly valuable. It is used for construction, furniture, and paper products. This isn’t news, exactly. Human beings have been using wood for construction, combustion, and paper products since time immemorial, but never at the rates which we have seen in the modern age. The population boon and rise of human industrialization has made it so that logging is a wholly destructive enterprise. The trees simply can’t grown back faster than we can fell them.

It seems pretty obvious then that logging, both legal and illegal, is another major cause of deforestation our world’s primordial forests. Unfortunately, without meaning to, logging operations often remove key tree species from within a forest ecosystem, disrupting the structure of the while forest. This process is called Selective logging and it leads to a loss of habitat for many animals, particularly those that rely on the forest canopy.

Selective logging can also have a similar cascading effect on the ecosystem as a whole. For example, the removal of large fruit-bearing trees can reduce food availability for animals, whereas the destruction of old-growth trees can deprive certain species of shelter or nesting sites.

Infrastructure Development

The human population is growing each year and the economics of that growth are big business. This growth necessitates a need for new infrastructure, such as roads, dams, and living spaces. In recent years, this growth has made it’s way into tropical rainforest regions, and the rainforests are suffering because of it. Roads are a particular problem, because they open up previously inaccessible areas of forest to logging, mining, and agricultural activities.

Roads also increase fragmentation within ecosystems by creating new barriers for wildlife. This makes it even more difficult for animals to migrate, find mates, or access food sources. Dam construction disrupts river ecosystems and those that rely on the river for freshwater. When dams break or loosen, the flooding can submerge or subsume entire areas of forest, displacing wildlife and destroying important breeding or feeding grounds.

Climate Change

Climate change is a threat to every single life on this planet, but it poses a significant threat to tropical rainforests. As global temperatures rise and weather patterns become more unpredictable, tropical ecosystems get thrown into disarray. These rich ecosystems survive on a delicate balance of plants, animals, water, temperature, and a thousand other factors; and every single one of them can be disrupted by climate change. Such disruptions could even cause long-term consequences for the survival and biodiversity of countless species.

Rising Temperatures

We can all guess how hot and muggy a rainforest must feel, being located on the equator as they are, but that warmth represents stability for countless living things. Even a minor increases in temperature or rainfall can have a profound effect on the species that call the rainforest home.

Indeed, many plants and animals that dwell in tropical rainforests have adapted to live within the narrow temperature ranges that usually affect the region. Thus, these creatures may struggle mightily to survive in hotter conditions. Amphibians are a prime example of this, because they are particularly sensitive to shifts in temperature.

Rising temperatures the world over have already led to severe droughts, which have brought about forest fires and other catastrophes. Big, old rainforest trees need water to survive. Without that water and the regular rainfall these plants rely upon, trees can die. Also, it’s important to note that drought-stressed trees are also less able to absorb carbon dioxide, which is needed to slow the rapidly-increasing rate of climate change.

Changes in Rainfall Patterns

In addition to rising temperatures, climate change has similarly caused shifts in rainfall patterns the all over the world. It isn’t just drought, it’s also more intense rain conditions like monsoons. Such changes can disrupt the natural water cycle of tropical rainforests, which are very specific and which many animals have adapted to over millions of years. These sudden, strong rainstorms can also lead to flooding, soil erosion, and changes in plant growth patterns.

Impacts on Species Distribution

As the climate continues to change, many species have been forced to migrate to higher elevations or latitudes in search of more suitable habitats. Those that have been unable to migrate or adapt have already seen a sharp decline in population. Cloud forests in tropical regions are an example of this shift and the rising temperatures have shifted the cloud layer up to higher elevations, where some species cannot go.

Illegal Wildlife Trade and Poaching

Poaching is a big problem in tropical rainforests and the illegal wildlife trade is a major threat to biodiversity of these places. Many species of animals and plants are either hunted or captured for their value on the global market. These animals are made into anything from medicinal ingredients, to luxury handbags, to “cute” exotic pets. It’s an unsustainable, illegal practice, and it has to be stopped.

Poaching for Animal Products

Many iconic species of tropical rainforests all over the world, such as tigers, elephants, and rhinos, are targeted by poachers for their body parts. Tiger pelts are used for decoration, as is elephant ivory, and rhino horns, well, rhino horns are used for medicinal purposes. All of these parts and pieces are highly-prized on the black market, but such rarity only drives up the price, making them more sought-after. Many species are nearing extinction because of thus trade.

Animals for the pet trade face similar issues. Tropical birds, fish, amphibians, reptiles, and small primates are taken from their homes and sold to people in the western world. Some are even hunted for their meat or skins. The removal of these species from the ecosystem inevitably disrupts food chains and lead to a loss of biodiversity.

Invasive Species

Invasive species may not seem like such a big problem in these huge, diverse tropical environments, but they truly are. Non-native species often outcompete or prey upon native species, and they affect the overall biodiversity of a habitat. The disruption caused by these species alters the food chain and forces animals to competing for resources. These new neighbor animals can also cause bring in diseases that negatively affect the native wildlife.

One example of an invasive species in tropical rainforests is the brown tree snake. This animal was accidentally introduced to the island of Guam some time ago and has since decimated populations of native birds, leading to the extinction of several species.

Predation on Native Species

Invasive predators often have a leg-up on native forest-dwellers. Invasive rats and feral cats are highly adept at preying upon birds, their young, and even their eggs. Ground-nesting birds are particularly susceptible in this regard. As for diseases, we all know about how mosquitoes spread disease. These insects have caused the spread of diseases like avian malaria, which has devastated bird populations in some rainforest regions.

Pollution and Environmental Degradation

Despite the catchy tagline, it’s been made abundantly clear that humans don’t give a hoot about polluting. Pollution represents yet another significant threat to tropical rainforests. It can be caused by a number of processes such as industrial activities, agriculture, and human settlements. All of these have been known to introduce pollutants into the environment that then harm plants, animals, and entire ecosystems. Frankly, they aint exactly great for the human residents of these tropical areas either.

Chemical Pollution

Pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers are used constantly in modern agriculture, and the worse of these offenders have been shown to cause a multitude of health problems in the human, insect, and animal population of an area; not to mention the native plants. These chemicals can leach their way into local waterways, contaminating drinking water and harming aquatic species.

Mining and Resource Extraction

Mining activities in and around tropical rainforests often result in widespread degradation and pollution of the local environment. Gold mining can release toxic mercury into nearby rivers, where it accumulates in fish and other aquatic species. In addition, oil extraction can lead to toxic oil spills that contaminate entire patches of ground and water, causing long-term damage to ecosystems.

Air Pollution

Air pollution can also affect tropical rainforest regions. This smog and sulfur usually comes from nearby industrial concerns, but the fallen chemicals invariably find their way into the soil, altering the nutrient balance of the ecosystem and harming sensitive plant and animal species.

True Investigator Says…

It’s sad to say and even sadder to read, but the biodiversity of tropical rainforests is under attack. The concerns of human beings in these regions pose a serious threat to biodiversity. Deforestation, climate change, illegal wildlife trade, invasive species, and pollution are all big problems; and despite the best efforts of some people, they aren’t getting better. The truth is, these threats are all interconnected, and the responsibility for all of them can be laid at our feet.

Conservation efforts are in process and they are critical to protecting tropical rainforests and the species that depend on them. At the same time, they are also critical for our continued survival. Without these places, our world would succumb to climate change way faster. The question is: is our economy, agriculture, consuming nature, and continued expansion worth our own demise?