Most of the animals and plants in the tropical rainforests are not known by many of the human population, only by the rainforest biologist. There are so many tiny insects and such a variety of plants that for most of the rainforest visitors, it is hard to keep track. Between these living things there is a range of symbiotic relationships. There are mutualism relationships, commensalisms relationships, and parasitism. A mutualism relationship is when both parties are taking advantage of the relationship. A very clear example of this is the relationship between the dodo bird (which is already extinct) and the Calvaria tree which is located in the island of Madagascar. For over 300 years, the trees were unable to reproduce and enlarge their population number, after this mysterious discovery (and much research) the scientist were able to discover that in order for this trees to germinate the seed had to pass through the digestive system of this now extinct dodo bird. In order to save the tree species Turkeys were imported into the island to perform the job of the dodo bird, allowing germination to occur. In a commensalism relationship, only one party benefits, there is not affected at all.

Examples of this are the species that live on the sloth; there are at least nine species of moths, mites and beetles living on the sloth. They eat the algae on the sloth’s fur and the arthropods lay their eggs on the manure of the sloth. This provides food for the larvae. The relationship between the sloth and these species does not benefit nor affect the sloth, it only benefits the species, making this a commensalisms relationship. The last relationship is called a parasitism relationship; here one benefits and the other is affected. The leaf cutter ant parasitic fly lays its eggs only on the backs of leaf-cutter ants. To hatch and feed on it, they settle into a whole made by them on the ant’s back, this kills the leave cutter. Evidently, by killing the sloth, the lives of more than nine species of moths, mites and beetles are being threatened. In the tropical rainforest, and any other biome, as a matter of fact, there are food chains and relationship dependencies. Like in the example of the Calvaria tree, many of the animals and plants depend on each other, by killing one; there is a chain of other animals and plants that are affected too. The rainforest is the home to many of the species in the world; deforestation is taking the home away of many of these animals and plants. Save the rainforest, save lives!

VIDEO - HUMANS AND ANIMALS IN RAINFOREST

RAINFOREST ANIMALS