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    ecology 9 (1) (2)

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    pywanciow

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    ecology 9 (1) (2)

    Uploaded by

    pywanciow
    3 views3 pages

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    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
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    Download as pdf or txt
    3 views3 pages

    ecology 9 (1) (2)

    Uploaded by

    pywanciow

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    1.

    Slash-and-burn agriculture has been practiced for millennia in tropical countries


    throughout the world. In this form of agriculture, some timber may be harvested from
    tropical forests prior to their conversion to agricultural use, but most of the
    aboveground biomass is cut and burned on site. Agricultural crops are planted
    immediately following burning. Recently, there has been increased pressure to harvest
    all timber (for transport off site) from tropical forests prior to their conversion to
    agriculture.

    What are the implications of such a complete harvest for the success of
    subsequent agricultural activities on oligotrophic soils in the tropics?

    A complete timber harvest in oligotrophic tropical environments removes


    essential nutrients from the soil, which are not naturally abundant. Without burning to
    return nutrients, soils remain deficient, leading to poor regeneration, low crop yields, and
    long-term degradation. This process disrupts root networks and mycorrhizal fungi,
    critical for nutrient recycling and plant growth, further reducing the viability of
    agriculture. Additionally, deforestation causes cascading ecological effects, including soil
    erosion, habitat fragmentation, and the loss of native species, pollinators, and ecosystem
    stability. Crops planted in cleared areas often face challenges, such as poor adaptation to
    the region and competition from invasive species, further destabilizing the ecosystem.

    2.

    Even without prior harvest of aboveground vegetation, slash-and-burn agriculture


    on oligotrophic tropical soils is only sustainable for short periods, typically 2–3 years.
    However, mature forests on the same soils maintain continuously high
    productivity. How can this be?

    Even without harvesting aboveground vegetation, slash-and-burn agriculture


    provides only a brief nutrient boost to oligotrophic tropical soils, while disrupting
    essential root networks and mycorrhizal fungi that supply nutrients over the long term.
    Mature forests maintain high productivity through efficient nutrient recycling across
    multiple layers of the ecosystem, supported by fungal networks and trophic interactions.
    These layers, formed through ecological succession, create a self-sustaining system that
    balances nutrient cycling and biodiversity. Instead, practices like agroforestry, which
    integrate trees with crops, and sustainable foraging, which uses the forest's natural
    resources responsibly, offer productive alternatives that preserve biodiversity and
    maintain ecological stability, while offering more productivity than normal agriculture

    3. Ecosystem 1

    Turnover times, table, and graph below.

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