Environmental Science IP 1 - Essay Example

Tropical Rainforest Tropical Rainforest It is a type of ecosystem that occurs with 28 degrees north or south within the equatorial region. Mostly characterized by high temperatures and a substantial amount of rainfall. It is a well-distributed ecosystem across all continents. More specifically, these areas are described as hot and wet with mean monthly temperatures of about 18 degrees across all months in a year. Also, rainfalls experienced across the financial period varies, but approximately around 1800 milliliters.

It has an extensive range of biodiversity and around 60% of nearly all biotic forms are indigenous (Lewis, 2009). One of the classical examples of this type of the ecosystem is the Amazon basin of South America. It has four distinctive layers; firstly it has forest floor. This is the bottom strata or layer that is highly obscured from receiving sunlight. Only plants that are adapted to low temperatures can survive here. Besides the layer of plants, it has a decaying plant and animal matter. Notably, the rate of decaying is high because of the humid and warm conditions.

The second layer is made up of understory layer; this is found between the forest floor and canopy layers. Small animals and birds find suitable habitat within it because it consists of shade-tolerant shrubs, large woody vines, and herbs. Up to 5% of the sunlight reaches this zone (Lewis, 2009). Canopy layer makes the primary area of this ecosystem. It has largest trees of 35-45 meters high which are broad-leafed and dominant. It has the highly dense flora including the epiphytes, bromeliads, mosses and lichen.

Most of these epiphytic plants are attached to the branches and trunks of trees.it has diverse fauna, then the emergent layer. Besides the majority of avian species including the spider monkey, hornbill, African parrot among others are found within this layer. Lastly, the emergent layer forms the last part of this ecosystem. Unlike the canopy, this region is made up of a small number of huge trees that reaches above 45-55 meters. Hence, this part rise just above the canopy layer. Tropical rainforest is often dynamic, their structure keeping changing.

Like other ecosystems, both biotic and abiotic factors affects its existence. Biotic factors include organism that ensures decomposition of the animal and plants. These fungi, bacteria, and other microscopic organisms help to provide balanced carbon cycle. Also, autotrophs and consumers such as heterotrophs such as antelope and gazelles feed on plants and herbs and thus their lives are dependent on producers. Abiotic factors include moisture, temperature, and sunlight, an essential recipe for photosynthesis, a process through which plants make food.

Carbon cycle. A biogeochemical cycle is a cycle pathway where chemical substances move through biotic and abiotic compartments of the earth. The carbon cycle is an example, and it involves the movement of carbon from the biosphere, water bodies, and soils to the atmosphere and back through plants during photosynthesis. In essence, it is a continuous process where excess carbon from land and oceans is exchanged through the intricate balance of incomes and losses to ensure ecosystem balance.

However, the industrial process and deforestation activities of a man during the industrial revolution has created an imbalance. This is because deforestation reduces the release of carbon while some industrial process releases excess carbon to the atmosphere, thus creating carbon imbalance. With increased industrialization, scientists have argued that the globe is getting warm, and this is continuously causing carbon cycle imbalance (Lewis, 2009). One of the resources from the tropical rainforest is timber.

For a continuous production of wood, there should be a planned harvesting of trees. Today, deforestation has led to carbon cycle imbalanced and fear of future sustainability of timber supply especially in Canada where it is one of the countrys exports. Human beings can be excellent stewards through conserving these rain forests by planting more trees and preserving existing forests.ReferenceLewis, O. T. (2009). Biodiversity change and ecosystem function in tropical forests. Basic and Applied Ecology, 10(2), 97–102.

http://doi.org/10.1016/j.baae.2008.08.010