LIFE BELOW WATER : Tropical ecosystems heavily rely on aquatic insects that emerge from water, making them potentially more vulnerable to threats.
Alizah Sameer Hameed
The impact of water-based insects on tropical forests:
Scientists from universities in the UK and Brazil did a study
comparing how land and water are connected in tropical and
temperate areas. They found that tropical forests are more
vulnerable to disruptions in these connections, and they published their results in the journal Ecology Letters.
Highlighting differences between tropical and temperate environments:
The researchers used a scientific technique to follow the movement
of water insects in forests in the UK and Brazil. They learned that
spiders in the Brazilian rainforest rely more on these water insects
for food compared to spiders in the UK. This leads to a wider variety
of food sources in the tropical forest. The study shows that animals
in tropical areas depend more on water insects, making them more
sensitive to any disturbances in the relationship between land and water.
The high risk of tropical ecosystems being adversely affected:
Dr. Pavel Kratina, the main researcher, highlights the need to
understand the unique vulnerabilities of tropical ecosystems. He
points out that applying knowledge from temperate regions won't
fully protect tropical ecosystems. This is concerning because when
the connections between land and water are disrupted, tropical
ecosystems are at higher risk. These ecosystems are already threatened by human activities.
The widespread impacts or far-reaching consequences:
The research reveals that human-caused problems can move from
one place to another through water insects. For instance, if a stream
becomes polluted and insects decrease, it can result in less food for
land-based animals that eat them. Since tropical water insects are
already under pressure due to human activities and climate changes,
this study suggests that such declines could have a domino effect on tropical ecosystems.
The significance of protective zones along rivers and streams:
The researchers say it's crucial to do a better job of safeguarding
riparian buffers, which are areas of land near water that help
connect land and water. They believe the current buffer sizes (5 to
100 meters) are too small to protect the diversity of life near water.
In Brazil, rules about these buffers have been relaxed recently. The
study emphasizes the need to think about how different ecosystems
are connected, especially in tropical areas, rather than treating them separately.
A Challenging Journey:
Dr. Liam Nash, the lead author, completed his PhD at Queen Mary
University. During their research, the team faced challenges in
remote locations like the Amazon jungle and Snowdonia National
Park. They had to deal with ticks, wasps, midges, and snakes. The
COVID-19 pandemic also created problems, forcing Dr. Nash to leave
Brazil due to travel restrictions. The study succeeded thanks to local
guides and collaborations with Brazilian scientists and students.
An article created by Alizah Hameed, A student of grade 4, A student of SSIS
