Within the Amazon rainforest lays one of the world’s longest rivers. The Amazon River measures nearly 4,000 miles long, and has the largest drainage basin in the world at 2.7 million square miles [1]. Numerous amounts of plants and animals are dependent on the water that is contained in this river.
The most prominent ecosystem feature found within the Amazon River basin is the tropical rainforest [1]. There are certain types of rainforests engulfed in the nutrient rich floodplains of the Amazon River which are dependent on its’ silty water for survival [1]. There are numerous amounts of animal species dependent on this abundant water source as well. Mammal, insect, and reptile species all use the water from the river, as well as the habitats around it, for survival. As more damage is inflicted upon the Amazon River, the more these plant and animal communities are altered and damaged. |
The Amazon River is home to more than 3,000 species of fish, as well as numerous amounts of mammals, amphibians, and reptiles [2]. Threats to water quality of the river mean that these species are in danger. For around six to seven months a year, the river will rise and flood surrounding areas with around 10 meters of water [3]. This results in an immense amount of contact with water for the species living here. With highly variable flood levels, the species living within the river must be adapted for extreme amounts of water. These species have adapted to evolve to healthy water conditions, in order to survive in the long run. With water pollution becoming an increasing threat, even specially adapted species will be in danger. Water and soil chemistry have been linked to river type [3]. Higher amounts of nutrients in the water will result in healthier plants and animals, whereas more polluted waters will hinder growth and development.
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The land surrounding the Amazon River is in high demand for the human population. More roads are being built, and infrastructure is expanding [2]. As well as this, agriculture is a huge part of the local economy. With populations increasing, there is a higher demand for food. With this, more action is being taken to expand ranching and agriculture. The Amazon River and forest both suffer damages from agricultural expansion. Trees are being cut down to make room for farming, and runoff from the pesticide use of these farms makes it into the water and contaminates it [2].
In the Amazon River, the wolf fish, Hoplias malabaricus, is an indicator species of fish. These fish are predatory and non-migratory, proving to be a good candidate to show any damages resulting from river contamination. Researchers have used this fish to test for mercury levels in the Amazon River resulting from anthropogenic resources. This includes human impacts such as gold mining, hydroelectric dam reservoirs, and deforestation [4]. Researchers have found that there is a direct correlation between mercury levels in water and fish size. As fish weight increases, so do levels of mercury. Fish which are located near petroleum refineries in the Amazon River were shown to have greater mercury content than fish in protected areas. In order to prevent higher mercury accumulations, there needs to be local monitoring of the mercury content in local fish species [4].
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Another problem present in the Amazon River is carbon levels. In nature, there are two main carbon forms: organic, such as from trees, and inorganic, such as carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere [5]. Both forms are interconnected through photosynthesis, which in turn usually balance our organic and inorganic carbon levels. Much of the source of the carbon in rivers comes from rainfall hitting the surface of the earth, and then washing the carbon particulates into the water. A good portion of the river carbon results from atmospheric CO2 [5], which means that high levels of greenhouse gasses can greatly increase and impact the carbon levels of the river. Having the largest drainage basin, the Amazon River acts as a major player in global carbon balance [5]. As more anthropogenic damages are occurring in the Amazon, more greenhouses gasses are affecting the area. The carbon dioxide created and returning causes an influx of inorganic carbon in the water which will have harmful consequences. As carbon levels rise, water acidity also increases [6]. Increasing acidity of the habitat for fish, as well as a life source of other animals and plants will have harmful, even deadly effects.
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In order to protect the Amazon River, there are easy steps that can be done. The World Wildlife Fund works within the Amazon to help create and manage protected forest areas. As more forests are protected, fewer trees can be cut down which would lead to a decrease of deforestation as well as runoff from future agricultural expansions. The WWF is also making strides to work with farmers in order to make their farming and agricultural techniques more sustainable. More precautions are being implemented in order to minimize the impact on the Amazon and the wildlife that comes with it. Ranches have new procedures that will increase productivity without needing to have any land expansion, meaning less deforestation will need to happen. Environmental damages to any ecosystem will have an effect on each other, and the same works with conservation and protection. If we protect our forests from being cut down, we will have less contaminated runoff flowing into the Amazon River. More sustainable practices in industry will decrease our greenhouse gas emissions, which will in turn keep excess carbon out of the water. Having a clean river means a more healthy life for the plants and animals that thrive within it.
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To read other conservation studies click below:
Sources:
[1] Amazon River (n. d.). In Encyclopedia Britannica online. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/place/Amazon-River.
[2] Amazon (n. d.). Retrieved from http://www.worldwildlife.org/places/amazon.
[3] Goulding, M. (1993, March). Flooded Forests of the Amazon. Scientific American, 266(3), 114-120. doi:10.1038/scientificamerican0393-114
[4] Webb, J., Coomes, O., Mainville, N., & Mergler, D. (2015). Mercury Contamination in an Indicator Fish Species from Andean Amazonian Rivers Affected by Petroleum Extraction. Bulletin Of Environmental Contamination & Toxicology, 95(3), 279-285. doi:10.1007/s00128-015-1588-3
[5] Raymond, P. A. (2005). The age of the Amazon’s breath. Nature, 436, 469-470.
[6] "Effects of Changing the Carbon Cycle." NASA. NASA, n.d. Retrieved from http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/CarbonCycle/page5.php. 20 Nov. 2016.
Picture Credits:
[1] Wikipedia https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Arapaima_close-up.jpg
[2] Wikipedia https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Texaco_in_Ecuador.jpg
[3] Wikipedia https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The-carbon-cycle_biosphere.png
[4] Wikipedia https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hoplias_malabaricus2.jpg
[5] Wikipedia https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rain_Forest_Daintree_Australia.jpg
[6] Global Water Forum https://www.flickr.com/photos/globalwaterforum/7746270058/in/photolist-cNvEdj-nkxXsN-nBKHEF-nDPMJK-M1ud-eFufGL-begHgK-6V8Fus-az3D6W-dywiFP-G4uMAw-dkZHv7-6YGph-ocYNWK-84yrQR-7KpuUg-6YT7xc-qGNui4-6YTewV-4EeFig-6rjE6T-pM4WRV-6YXxzA-7s64UM-5pEwCt-86Y7Ch-7kHkFG-nRE8c9-f9WrBf-7VU65n-6aYbPe-6g4iYb-aqEVsc-Diqddf-4qWgNB-6dd89j-5pJReG-4oj75n-dKufpy-4oob2q-fCL9Eh-dBnKyX-4RxxgX-puU2mS-fCL9hA-2L91Mo-dBtdB9-74pcjz-cVxhqN-uNMSMr
[1] Amazon River (n. d.). In Encyclopedia Britannica online. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/place/Amazon-River.
[2] Amazon (n. d.). Retrieved from http://www.worldwildlife.org/places/amazon.
[3] Goulding, M. (1993, March). Flooded Forests of the Amazon. Scientific American, 266(3), 114-120. doi:10.1038/scientificamerican0393-114
[4] Webb, J., Coomes, O., Mainville, N., & Mergler, D. (2015). Mercury Contamination in an Indicator Fish Species from Andean Amazonian Rivers Affected by Petroleum Extraction. Bulletin Of Environmental Contamination & Toxicology, 95(3), 279-285. doi:10.1007/s00128-015-1588-3
[5] Raymond, P. A. (2005). The age of the Amazon’s breath. Nature, 436, 469-470.
[6] "Effects of Changing the Carbon Cycle." NASA. NASA, n.d. Retrieved from http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/CarbonCycle/page5.php. 20 Nov. 2016.
Picture Credits:
[1] Wikipedia https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Arapaima_close-up.jpg
[2] Wikipedia https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Texaco_in_Ecuador.jpg
[3] Wikipedia https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The-carbon-cycle_biosphere.png
[4] Wikipedia https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hoplias_malabaricus2.jpg
[5] Wikipedia https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rain_Forest_Daintree_Australia.jpg
[6] Global Water Forum https://www.flickr.com/photos/globalwaterforum/7746270058/in/photolist-cNvEdj-nkxXsN-nBKHEF-nDPMJK-M1ud-eFufGL-begHgK-6V8Fus-az3D6W-dywiFP-G4uMAw-dkZHv7-6YGph-ocYNWK-84yrQR-7KpuUg-6YT7xc-qGNui4-6YTewV-4EeFig-6rjE6T-pM4WRV-6YXxzA-7s64UM-5pEwCt-86Y7Ch-7kHkFG-nRE8c9-f9WrBf-7VU65n-6aYbPe-6g4iYb-aqEVsc-Diqddf-4qWgNB-6dd89j-5pJReG-4oj75n-dKufpy-4oob2q-fCL9Eh-dBnKyX-4RxxgX-puU2mS-fCL9hA-2L91Mo-dBtdB9-74pcjz-cVxhqN-uNMSMr