photo M. Noonan

There is something wonderful about how interdependent and interconnected all the various types of rainforest plants and animals are with each other.

For example, deep in the rainforest, the calls of Howler monkeys echo throughout, an animal that feeds on the leaves in the canopy of the trees. These trees rely on the fungi that penetrate their roots in order to help the trees extract minerals from the soil for growth and survival. In turn, these fungi depend on beetles that decompose decaying litter on the forest floor, such as the excretory waste of the Howler monkey.

This intricate circle of life depicts how truly special, complex and wonderful rainforests are. Threats to any one of these life forms through hunting or human encroachment can severely upset this perfect natural balance.