Web of Life
Professor: Are we ready to begin? OK. . . Today, I’ll continue on the topic of the web of
life and discuss what happens when a part of the web is in danger. In particular, I’ll
discuss the ecosystem of the Amazon rain forest, and the effect of its destruction on life
across the planet.
Like other ecosystems, all parts of the rain forest web of life are connected. Think about
the Brazil nut tree: This tree depends on pollination by small bees and other insects for
life. If this little piece of the tree’s ecosystem was missing, the web would break, and
there would be few Brazil nut trees. Consequently, people in the Amazon would lose an
important food. This would also destroy an international business worth about $50
million a year.
Unfortunately, the web of life of the Amazon is in danger. In fact, 20 percent of the rain
forest has disappeared, due to human actions. Local people and international companies
are burning forests down to use the land for farms and farm animals. In addition, people
around the world use paper and building materials made from millions of rainforest trees.
These actions have serious effects on all living things.
First, because trees are disappearing, many animals are losing their homes and food. A lot
of them die. Since many living things depend on each other, when some die, the whole
web of life is affected.
The destruction of the rain forest also has serious consequences for people around the
world. We use many trees and plants from the Amazon to produce medicines that help
people with serious diseases. In fact, 70 percent of medicines for cancer come from rain
forest plants. Aspirin and many other drugs you probably use come from rain forest
plants, too. But scientists have tested only one percent of rain forest plants. Just one
percent! Many unknown plants have also already disappeared, so scientists won’t be able
to study them and find more new medicines from them. This hurts all of us.
So, as you can see, destroying the rain forest has serious effects on living things across
our planet. OK. . . next week, we’re going to talk more about global warming. . .