With the increasing dangers of human activity on wildlife and nature around the world, the issues of ecological and ecosystem longevity and sustainability have become of significant importance. Understanding the particularities of distinctive biomes and ecosystems allows for identifying their strengths and weaknesses, informing research-based and policy-making decisions. In particular, this paper covers the tropical rainforest biome and Amazon Rainforest as an ecosystem to identify its keystone species, endangered species, and invasive species and their impact. The tropical rainforest biome includes areas with dense vegetation, continuous rains, and a hot climate. Amazon Rainforest is a large tropical rainforest area in South America, “hosting a high diversity of plants, animals, and microorganisms” (Pedrinho et al., 2019, p. 1). Overall, it is claimed that knowledge about the particularities of these species in the Amazon Rainforest ecosystem might be helpful in mitigating destructive processes and maintaining the sustainable functioning of the ecosystem.
The interaction between the biological components of biomes and ecosystems is essential since it predetermines species’ longevity and provides favorable conditions for their compatible existence. Amazon Rainforest is an ecosystem that is characterized by a great variety of species. An example of a keystone species, or one which plays a pivotal role in the functioning of this ecosystem, is Aechmea Distichantha. It is a tank bromeliad that dominates the areas of the Amazon Rainforest and successfully coexists with other species (Freire et al., 2021). The reason why this species is important to the Amazon Rainforest ecosystem is that it interacts with numerous plant and animal species, “including trophic and non-trophic interactions” (Freire et al., 2021, p. 286). Since it provides food and protection to other species in the ecosystem, this characteristic defines it as a keystone species.
One example of invasive species in the Amazon Rainforest Ecosystem is Vismia guianensis. This species is a rough perennial plant highly competitive and strong in its habitat (da Costa et al., 2019). According to da Costa et al. (2019), Vismia guianensis has invaded Amazon Rainforests due to the deforestation of this ecosystem for agricultural purposes. With its development, this species has become competitive with cultures and wild plants, thus obtaining a privilege in light, water, and nutrition perception, endangering the natural species. To eliminate the negative impact of this invasive species, public awareness and research have been initiated to find future solutions for protecting native species.
Deforestation and the involvement of humans in the ecosystem of the Amazon Rainforest endanger some species by forcing their probable extinction. One of the examples of endangered species of the analyzed ecosystem is Lontra longicaudis. According to Rheingantz et al. (2021), this is a Neotropical Otter species found predominantly in the habitats of South America. The species is endangered by the ecological problems of deforestation, pollution, and natural resource extraction. Research efforts have been applied to identify the causes of endangerment and possible solutions.
In conclusion, the tropical forest biome and the Amazon Rainforest ecosystem are large areas of the planet that have their particular species that coexist and enable the ecosystem’s functioning. It has been identified that one of the keystone species of the Amazon Rainforest is Aechmea distichantha, the invasive species is Vismia guianensis, and the endangered species is Lontra longicaudis. This evidence suggests prioritizing measures for protecting the endangered and keystone species to mitigate negative impacts and ensure sustainable development of the ecosystem.
References
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