![]() Rainforests maintain a delicate ecosystem balance. They are also immense freshwater reservoirs. We obtain many natural resources from the rainforest including fuel and rubber. The rainforest contains over 3.000 varieties of fruit as well as a multitude of spices. The plants solely in the Amazon rainforest produce more than 20 percent of the world's oxygen. One fourth of cancer fighting drugs are made from ingredients found in rainforests around the world. Rainforests are most notable for the hundreds of prescription medications they provide through their rich plant life. The large roots also help to prevent land erosion. The tree species in the taiga remove CO 2 from the atmosphere. Humans benefit from this wildlife as they can harvest its resources. The trees also provide habitat and food for wildlife, gounded in the old-growth trees. The trees of the taiga ecosystems include spruce, pine, cedar, and fir they provide food for other organisms in the ecosystem in addition to protection, shelter, and breeding grounds for bird species. These systems also protect fish populations from predators and human interaction such as fishing. Intricate root systems of march planets create natural water filters, removing pollutants from the water. Ĭoastal marshes exist as storm barriers and prevent erosion from mainland habitats. Mangroves are filled with native trees, grasses, and brackish water filled with nutrients where animals can thrive. Marches and wetlands are places where fish spawn, birds lay eggs, and insect populations thrive. ![]() According to American Forests, “a single tree can absorb 10 pounds of air pollutants a year and produce nearly 260 pounds of oxygen - enough to support two people”(American Forests 2010) Table 1: Outline of the Benefits of Biodiversity per Biome Biome They also reduce airborne particulate matter and their root systems absorb more run-off pollution, providing cleaner water. Unclean air has been shown to lead to increased instances of several diseases, especially asthma (Takizawa, 2011) Forests help to reduce arbon dioxide in the air by sequestering the carbon during photosynthesis. These systems, if left to flourish, prevent flooding and provide humans access to clean water.Īir purification is another process essential to a healthy human civilization. ![]() The plants themselves remove larger contaminants like silt (NRPA, n.d.). As the water passes through the wetland, bacteria in the soil and vegetation eliminate significant quantities of nitrates and other pesticides. “Alluvial valleys,” made over time from deposits of gravel, fine sand, and peat, can then absorb large quantities of water and release them later into rivers. During heavy rainfall, water that flows into wetlands spreads out and naturally loses its velocity, allowing the environment to naturally filter toxins (EPA, 2010). Wetlands depend on the interlocking of all species present to function correctly and play an essential role in regulation of water flow and detoxification. This process cannot simply cease to exist, as “bees are more important than poultry in terms of human nutrition” (Tautz, n.d.). For instance, the pollination performed daily by bees and insects would be impractical for humans to attempt. ![]() It is important to note that the majority of ecological resources that biodiversity provides (see Benefits to Earth) are nearly impossible to replace.
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