Summary
Deforestation in the Amazon leads to loss in microbial biodiversity. This could eventually reduce the ecological resilience of affected areas of rainforest land in the Amazon for agriculture results in a loss of biodiversity in plants and animals. We have also come to learn that microbial communities which are so important to the ecosystem also suffer significant losses. The combination of decreasing forest species and the homogenization of pasture communities together show that this ecosystem is now less capable to deal with stress.
Reaction
This article shows that humans can completely wipe out an entire ecosystem. I think that humans should think twice before they make a decision, they could think about the pros and cons of what they are doing. For example, if they decide to deforest in order to turn it into agricultural land, first they should think of the effects it might have on an environment. Doing this, people will be less likely to destroy things. Not only trees are lost, but also so much more, including microbial communities and environments.
Summary
This article talks about how chemical change is essential in keeping the amount of elements on the earth perfectly and constantly balanced. It discusses the Oxygen cycle, Carbon cycle and nitrogen cycle and how they are all balanced together perfectly. The amount of oxygen in and on the earth does not change and works with the carbon process to support life. It also discusses how the nitrogen process is essential for human growth and development and how all three cycles work independently of each other but together make a perfect balance.
Reaction
I thought this was interesting because even though amounts of carbon dioxide can harm us, we need it to survive. Without one of these cycles, humans would not be alive today. I think that all of these things work together to create life on earth. Also, I want to know what other cycles there are, if any.