Journal Entry Nine(Chapter 9)-Ziomara Aguilar

In Brazil, near Venezuela, there is an area known as Reserve 1202. It consists of 25 acres of untouched rainforests. This space, along with others, are controlled by the Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragment Projects(or the BDFFP). The BDFFP is an organization founded in the 1970s by Tom Lovejoy. Lovejoy wanted to protect certain areas in the rainforest from being cut down. He presented his plan to the Brazillian Government, and since then, he has been given grants to study the rainforest preserves. His research involved making comparisons between the small reserves and the main rainforest.
Kolbert visits Reserve 1202 with Mario Cohn-Haft, who is an ornithologist. They listen to bird calls and he tells her that he has noticed that during his time at the reserve, there has been a gradual decline in the diversity of bird species. In general, islands have fewer species because there is less space for them to thrive. Over time, islands experience a phase known as "relaxation" which is a gradual decline in biodiversity. This is due to the limited amount of space and the limited amount of species. Islands are a good example of the relationship between land and biodiversity, the less amount of land the less biodiversity there is.
While they are in the rainforest conducting tests, Cohn-Haft talks about the army ants. He explains that they are very aggressive and are constantly traveling. Later that night, Kolbert hears bird cries, the birds are waiting for the army ants to arrive but they never do. This shows that many species depend on the army ants in one way or another. Scientists agree that there is a lot of biodiversity in the rainforest but, due to human deforestation, approximately five thousand rainforest species go extinct every year. This shows that humans alter natural systems because all organisms in the rainforest are connected and they depend on each other for many things. But because humans destroy habitats and kill multiple species, the balance in the system is thrown off.