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.