Everything Gets a Second Chance... Including the Rainforest
The title of this page, "Everything Gets a Second Chance... Including the Rainforest" is referring to succession. Succession is an ecological process that may or may not be gradual. There is primary and secondary succession. Primary succession begins in a completely lifeless and soilless area. This is the first step to eventually start forming life. The organisms that were located in the area before are most likely not the same organisms that form when primary succession occurs. There is also secondary succession. Primary succession did not have to occur for secondary succession to occur. Secondary succession is when there was a massive destruction to the area, but the soil is still good. New organisms fill in the niche, but there are typically no tertiary consumers until later on in the development and reforming. Now, let's see how primary and secondary succession applies to Madagascar.
Primary Succession: The ultimate example of primary succession is the creation of the world. When the tropical rainforests were formed, they came from bare rock. Soil came to be, then plants that work with the warm climate form, which are the primary producers. The more primary producers that are there, the more primary consumers. Little by little Madagascar was formed and the Zahamena National Park on the coast began to fill with palms and ferns, then lemurs and birds. Typically the smaller animals came before the bigger ones.
Secondary Succession: An example of secondary succession in Madagascar is the deforestation of the tropical rainforests. Locals are cutting down trees and burning the land to spread out or to use the natural resources. When the cutting down of trees and plants occurs, it causes the animals such as lemurs, sloths, and birds to lose their habitat resulting in the dying off of the species. The reason deforestation is secondary succession instead primary is because the soil is still good. Primary succession did not have to occur for this example of secondary succession to occur. Slowly, it can be seen that some plants are beginning to reform. Not necessarily the same plants that were in the ecosystem before. Since the plants are beginning to make a come back in some areas of the forest, some of the animals are coming back, also. Bamboo being one of the main natural resources that was cut down is now being preserved by the Zahamena National Park. Because of this, over the last few years the endangered large lemurs are making a come back (refer to endangered species page). Open niches are being filled, and parts of the environment of Madagascar are beginning to come back but in a new form. This is happening faster than it would have if this were primary succession, because the soil is still good in secondary succession. (20)
Human Impact
Humans have had a great impact on Madagascar's environment. Locals hunt animals for food because of the lack of resources. They also cut down the trees and destroy the forests not thinking about what it is actually doing to the ecosystem. This can be seen in Secondary Succession (look above). Because of this, animals are greatly suffering in Madagascar because of the lack of food for them to eat and their habitats are constantly being destroyed. This is why so many of the animals found in the ZNP are endangered and going extinct. That is an example of BAD human impact; however, there is GOOD human impact occurring. There are organizations specific to certain species of animals, such as lemurs, that help to protect these animals. Ever since some organizations have been put together, there has been an increase in the endangered species. Organizations have made it a point to go out and inform the natives of Madagascar about what is going on in their home, and how their actions are greatly harming the environment. One of the biogeochemical pathways that humans are affecting in Madagascar is the carbon pathway in relation to soil and plants. It is noticed that in Madagascar there is less carbon in the environment compared to other tropical rainforests in the world. Soil has a great amount of CO2 which is used by the plants during the Calvin Cycle of photosynthesis. Humans have reduced the amount of carbon by burning the forests, because it does degrade the soil to an extent. If the soil is degraded, then there is not as much carbon available for photosynthesis, therefore resulting in the plants not being able to produce sugar (food) and it dies. (21 and 22)
Predictions for the Future
In the future, as more organizations are put together to protect the environment, there will be an increase in the amount of animals in the ecosystem and not as many will be endangered. The giant lemurs will have a comeback (assumption based off of current numbers rising) and so will many other species of lemurs. Deforestation will still be an issue, but in years to come there will not be as much deforestation occurring because of specific laws and organizations that will be put together. The island will be rebuilt, and it may even take complete destruction for the rebuilding to occur and for people to realize what their true effect on the environment is.
Click here to read more about human impact on Madagascar