Summer 1

Fernando Alonso
9 InSoc
05/07 September, 2021 (9A)

How did humans affect tropical rainforests?

In this case study, we will look at tropical rainforests and address what we know about
them, how we damage them, and what we need to know to be able to help them become a
better place for humans to live. It will be a full description of tropical forest facts. Tropical
forests are situated near the equator and are among the most productive locations on the
planet. The climate is exceedingly humid, making it ideal for plants, animals, and other
biomes to thrive.

Location

Singapore's capital is Singapore, which is located in the Central Singapore region.

Singapore is a city-state on the Malay Peninsula's southern tip, roughly 85 miles (137
kilometers) north of the Equator. It is made up of the diamond-shaped Singapore Island and
around 60 minor islands; the main island takes up all but roughly 18 square miles of the total
area.

Fig. 1 A Map showing Singapore (Google Map) Fig. 2 A Map showing Singapore (Google Earth)

Climate
Singapore has a tropical rainforest climate (Köppen climatic classification Af), with
no distinct seasons. Its climate is characterized by constant temperature and pressure, high
humidity, and plentiful rainfall due to its geographical location and sea exposure. Singapore
is located in Southeast Asia's tropical monsoon zone, and its climate is characterized by
uniformly high temperatures and practically steady precipitation throughout the year.
Singapore does not have distinct seasons in the sense that tourists from temperate places do.
The nominal dry season lasts from March to August (with temperatures peaking in April),
while the rainy season lasts from September to February (with temperatures falling to an
all-year-low in January). The lowest temperature ever recorded in Singapore was 19.4
degrees Celsius; the daily temperature ranges between the mid-20s to the low-30s. According
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to climatic statistics reported on Wikipedia, typical daily highs range from 30.0 to 31.7
degrees Fahrenheit - a 2 degree variance throughout the year.

Fig.3 Climate graph (Climate-Data.ORG)

Importance & Characteristics of the Biome

The tropical rainforest biome is distinguished by four characteristics: very high yearly
rainfall, high average temperatures, nutrient-depleted soil, and high levels of biodiversity
(species richness).

Rainfall: The term "rainforest" indicates that they are among the wettest habitats on the
planet. Rainforests normally receive a lot of rain each year; however, the quantity varies
depending on the year and the rainforest. In a typical year, South America's tropical
rainforests get between 200 and 300 centimeters (80 and 120 inches, or 6.5 to 10 feet!) of
rain. Despite generally steady rains in these environments, some rainforests have distinct dry
seasons. The timing, duration, and intensity of tropical rainforest wet and dry seasons vary
throughout the world. Tropical rainforests are also humid, roughly 88% during the wet season
and approximately 77% during the dry season.

Fig. 4 tropical rainforest in rain ( unsplash)

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Temperature: Tropical rainforests are situated near the equator, between the Tropics of
Cancer (23°27'N) and Capricorn (23°27'S). Direct sunlight falls on the equator. This constant
influx of radiation results in persistently high temperatures all year. A normal daytime
temperature in tropical rainforests at any time of year is 29°C (85°F); however, temperatures
may be much higher. The majority of tropical rainforests have barely a 5°C (9°F) temperature
fluctuation between seasons.

Soil Composition: Because tropical rainforests have an abundance and diversity of

vegetation, you may conclude that rainforest soils are nutrient-rich. In reality, rainforest soils
are nutrient-deficient because minerals are not kept in them for lengthy periods of time.
Rainfall in rainforests is heavy, and it washes organic material from the soil. Although
decomposition proceeds quickly in hot, damp circumstances, many dead, fallen leaves and
other organic waste are washed away before all of their nutrients are released. Furthermore,
precipitation penetrates into the earth and leaches nutrients away. Nonetheless, the large
diversity of decomposers, such as bacteria and fungus, speeds up the decomposition process
enough that the nutrients released by decomposition are swiftly absorbed by plants rather
than being stored. Nonetheless, the large diversity of decomposers, such as bacteria and
fungus, speeds the decomposition process to the point that the nutrients produced by
decomposition are swiftly absorbed by plants rather than being held in the soil.

Fig. 5 Layer of tropical rainforest soil

(https://rainforestyhart.weebly.com)
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Biodiversity: When compared to other ecosystems, tropical rainforests have unusually high
biodiversity. Scientists have identified over 15,000 plant species in Borneo's tropical
rainforests, including 2,500 orchid species! Tropical rainforests are thought to house over
50% of the world's terrestrial plant and animal species, but cover just about 6% of the world's
land area. Ferns, lichens, mosses, and orchids are examples of flora and fauna. Not only that,
but we may view several familiar animals in tropical rainforests, such as monkeys, Blue
Morpho Butterfly, Okapi, and Three-Toed Sloth.

Fig. 6 Three- Toed Sloth

Photo by Bennet Robin Fabian on Unsplash

While tropical rainforests worldwide have many commonalities in terms of temperature and
soil composition, each regional rainforest is distinct. There aren't exactly the same species in
all of the world's tropical rainforests. For example, the species found in African tropical
rainforests are not the same as those found in Central American tropical rainforests. However,
the various species serve comparable functions within their own regional rainforests.

Pollination is required for flowering plants to reproduce. Pollen is transmitted from the male
reproductive organs to the female reproductive organs of the flower during pollination to
generate seeds. Many tropical rainforest plants rely on animals as pollinators and entice them
with a dazzling array of colors, enticing smells, and nutritional pollen rewards. Plants rely on
animals or the wind to disseminate their seeds to other locations as well. This dispersion
broadens the population spread. Many plants encase their seeds in delicious fruits. The seeds
may be carried by the dispersers on their fur or feathers, they may take the fruit away and
drop the seeds while eating the fruit, or the seeds may pass through the disperser's digestive
tract after it consumes the fruit. In diverse tropical rainforests, different species play these
critical ecological functions.

Human Impacts and Effects


Here you will give detailed examples of the different impacts humans have on this
biome, and the effects of each impact. You may wish to use a table to help communicate your
ideas clearly. Be sure to refer to your table directly in your text by using table 1.
Human Impact
Overexploitation: Human activity and
development in the tropical rainforest have
resulted in the conversion of vast quantities
of forest land to various human uses such as
mining or agriculture. (negative)
Fig. 7 Overexploitation
(https://www.aiche.org/chenected/2016/10/sustainability-c
hallenges-paper-industry)
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Effects
Tropical rainforests represent a huge portion
of the world's tree surface, with over 90,000
square miles cut for human use each year.
Environmentalists are concerned about this
deforestation because of the carbon
emissions from machinery and plants.
Deforestation is thought to hasten the
impacts of global warming and alter the
rainforest environment. Tropical rainforests
are home to 50% of the world's biodiversity;
extensive deforestation has reduced the
overall land mass from 15 million km2 to
roughly 8 million km2, or about half; it is
estimated that nearly 2% of the rainforest is
lost each year. Furthermore, around 137
species per day are lost in this biome,
including plant, animal, and insect species.
Overexploitation of the rain forests' natural
resources is a highly damaging impact that
humans have on the rainforest; massive
amounts of trees are cut down in the
rainforest for the timber industry, causing a
massive drop in the habitat of the forest's
organisms, and the machinery used to
complete this process is a massive source of
pollution and habitat destruction. Trees and
plants provide around 80% of the nutrients
in the jungle. That leaves 20% of the soil's
nutrients. When trees are overworked, the
environment changes quickly, causing the
soil to dry out and produce erosion.
Poaching and hunting are serious issues in
the tropical rainforest; exotic wildlife are
being over hunted, leading their populations
to decline and become endangered.
Furthermore, the rainforest is being depleted
at an alarming rate for mining purposes:
vast amounts of oil, gold, and iron ore are
being extracted.
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Human Involvement in the Rainforest Human Involvement in the Rainforest The

Biome (positive) discovery and implementation of many
different medicines has been enabled by the
biome; nearly 120 prescription medications
are now derived from plants in the tropical
rainforest, and nearly 23 of these drugs are
known to have cancer-fighting properties.
Not only are the drugs used to combat
cancer, but they are also important in the
fight against malaria, heart disease,
hypertension, bronchitis, diabetes, arthritis,
and other medications. Human investigation
of the rainforest has resulted in significant
Fig. 8 explore tropical rainforest medicinal advances for humanity. The
(https://www.rainforestcruises.com/guides/amazon-rainfore
st-activities) tropical rainforest's diversified environment
has allowed for an enormously diverse
ecology, and this diversity has earned it the
moniker "Nature's medicine cabinet."
Because of the powerful natural treatments
that the rainforest has to cure many human
ailments and disorders, human discovery of
the rainforest has opened up a highly
valuable supply of medicine.

According to research, exploiting the

renewable and sustainable resources already
available in rainforests is more valuable
than the businesses that are now destroying
rainforest habitat. The owner earns an
estimated $60 per acre by replacing
rainforest flora with livestock activities.
Harvesting habitat for the timber business
will yield about $400 per acre. Using the
natural nuts, fruits, seeds, and edible plants
already present in the rainforest, it has been
discovered that tropical rainforests in their
original state are worth more than the
businesses that are replacing them. This
study demonstrates that naturally occurring
rainforests can provide many of the world's
needs as they now exist.

Table 1 showing the different human impacts and the corresponding effects on the _____ biome.

-Through the table, we can see that humans have been destroying the environment by
hunting, overexploitation, deforestation, and polluting the environment. Because of the large
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amount of population living in the rainforest, we have thrown out billions of tons of waste
into the environment, causing many species to die and cutting down trees from the forest in
order to build houses, buildings, and make paper, as well as making space for landfills.

-They clean the surrounding area to make way for farming and cattle. Meanwhile, forest
resources, whether oil, lumber, or minerals, are swiftly exhausted, with little regard for
long-term implications. When a resource is depleted, developers move on to new locations,
leaving behind a deteriorated ecosystem and limited livelihood alternatives for settlers.
Wherever there is still forest, it may be cleared for subsistence cultivation. Most extractive
techniques in the rainforest are not sustainable in their current form.

-Humans lose potential medications that might help treat ailments by killing the plants of the
region. Knowledge about medicinal plants is also lost. The indigenous people know the
tropical rainforest completely and out, but as they age, they will lose the capacity to pass on
their knowledge to the next generation.

-Before humans began destroying them, rainforests covered 15% of the Earth's land area;
today, they cover less than 3%. Only 2.4 million square miles (6 million square km) of the
planet's one vast tropical-forest remain, which covers 6 million square km. One-third of
tropical rainforests have been destroyed in the last 50 years alone, and each year, 46-58
thousand square km of forest are lost.

Sustainable Management
There are numerous methods to help our environment, and one of the most effective is
to take modest actions in our everyday lives. Small actions may ultimately have a great
influence and difference, and if everyone took the time to care, we may be able to rescue our
planet.

It is critical to recycle, minimize, and reuse clothing and plastics because there are numerous
fast fashion businesses such as Zara, Mango, and H&M. Every month, chemicals used to
create garments are released into the environment. We must be conscious of the brands we
choose, just as we must be cautious of plastics. Donating clothes to recycling organizations or
individuals in need is another method to decrease waste.

Another method to assist the environment is to preserve power by turning off lights, TVs, and
electrical equipment when not in use.

- Going to the grocery store in a fabric-like material reduces plastic waste in the ocean and
environment.For example, there have been many organizations recording videos of them
helping turtles and fish that are being choked by plastic around their neck and accidentally
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swallowing it. It has also been reported that humans' waste has reached the deepest part of the
ocean that we know.

Selecting items that are sustainably sourced or created from recycled materials will help to
reduce tropical deforestation. For example, if you are looking for eco-friendly jewelry
manufacturers,

The more people who are aware of what is happening to rainforests and the indigenous
groups that defend and rely on them, the more likely it is that they will support the cause.

Action at all levels of society is required to cut carbon emissions and promote low-carbon
development in order to avert the climate calamity. While the effort may appear onerous,
there are numerous things you can do as an individual to lessen your carbon footprint: drive
less, use public transit, and avoid needless air travel.

Conclusion

-In conclusion, unless severe measures are done, the world's last surviving
rainforests will be depleted in less than 40 years. There are many different sorts of species
in a tropical rainforest that contribute energy to the environment. Energy is essential for the
survival of the biosphere. Producers obtain energy by producing their own food, whereas
consumers obtain energy by eating other species. The creatures will perish if there is no flow
of energy. Because of this reliance on other creatures for sustenance, feeding linkages form,
which connect all living entities in an ecosystem. Rainforests are the biggest biome on the
planet.

Works Cited

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helpthetropicalrainforests.weebly.com/flora-and-fauna.html. Accessed 3 Oct. 2022.

https://www.facebook.com/tripsavvytips. “What’s the Weather like in Singapore (and Is Haze

Still a Thing?).” TripSavvy, 2019,

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www.tripsavvy.com/weather-and-climate-in-singapore-4769717. Accessed 3 Oct.

2022.

“Human Impacts.” Tropical Rainforest Biome, 2022,

tropicalrainforestscience10.weebly.com/human-impacts.html. Accessed 3 Oct. 2022.

“Khan Academy.” Khanacademy.org, 2022,

www.khanacademy.org/science/biology/ecology/biogeography/a/tropical-rainforest-bi

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27s%20wettest%20ecosystems. Accessed 3 Oct. 2022.

Morris, Rebecca J. “Anthropogenic Impacts on Tropical Forest Biodiversity: A Network

Structure and Ecosystem Functioning Perspective.” Philosophical Transactions of the

Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, vol. 365, no. 1558, 27 Nov. 2010, pp.

3709–3718,

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%20diversity, 10.1098/rstb.2010.0273. Accessed 3 Oct. 2022.

“Plants and Animals.” Tropical Rainforest, 2022,

rainforestyhart.weebly.com/plants-and-animals.html. Accessed 3 Oct. 2022.

“Singapore | Facts, Geography, History, & Points of Interest | Britannica.” Encyclopædia

Britannica, 2022, www.britannica.com/place/Singapore. Accessed 3 Oct. 2022.

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