Why tropics

Why is everyone worried about the tropics

Species that live in the tropics are as a general rule very specialize in the life-history traits. This seems to be the result of many locally endimic flora and fauna developing in isolated areas where populations of the same species have been separated and over time evolve in different species. These small populations are particulary vunerable to predators, competitors, disease and unfavorable weather because they simply do not have the numbers to bounce back after a large portion of their population is wiped out.

Another important consequences of having highly specialized population is that many species are interdependent on one another for survival and reproduction. This means that if one species is removed from the area one or more other species will be impacted by its loss. An example of this is the now extinct Dodo.

Miller and Tangley 1-25; Sutlive 315-325

And link(s) to homepage, effects of deforestation.

Stephanie Heller
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