The Amazon Rainforest is a breathtaking expanse. From above, a lush carpet filled with every possible shade of green and a complicated circulatory system of rivers large and small. But look even closer and you realize that every inch of space is filled with a variety of stunning life forms. From trees and animals with recognizable names like “mahogany” and “jaguar” to insects with forms and colors that make even the best science fiction creatures seem utterly unimaginative. And not one of these life forms lives in isolation. The Amazon Rainforest is an unfathomably complex network of interactions, all delicately performed by billions of creatures to ensure that the ecosystem remains in a sustainable balance.
Consider the process driven by the actions of the humble leaf cutter ant. Each day these ants cut pieces of leaves from trees to feed to an underground network of fungi that are in turn used to feed the larvae of the ants. At first glance it seems there are only three species involved in this process, but that would be too simple.
The ants also use special bacteria to treat the fungi, keeping it free from other pathogens. Furthermore, the ants can collect leaves from several different species of trees. Some trees can become so weakened by this process that they die or become infected by pathogens. Dead trees then become habitats for decomposers like fungi and other species that make homes into tree cavities like certain birds and mammals. When the tree eventually falls, a gap opens in which new trees will grow, each tree of course having its own set of unique interactions with different species of vines, epiphytic plants, pollinators, seed dispersers and creating unique microenvironments which affect the outcomes of competition between countless other species of plants, fungi, microorganisms and so on. Then, considering that there are over 40 species of leaf cutter ants, each interacting with unique species of trees and fungi, it all becomes astonishingly complicated to understand. In total, there are an estimated 3 million species of life forms in the Amazon, and they are all connected by these complex processes.
While all Amazonian species have a role to play in these complex interactions, some are particularly important for maintaining a sustainable balance in the ecosystem. The white-bellied spider monkey is a great example of one of these so-called “keystone” species.
Large-bodied primates like the white-bellied spider monkey are often known as the gardeners of the forest for their ability to disperse and fertilize seeds of important tree species. In fact, studies conducted in the Ecuadorian Amazon confirm that white-bellied spider monkeys are responsible for dispersing seeds of over 150 species of plants!
But why is this dispersal so important? Again, we need to consider the interactions that occur between different species and individuals. Consider a tree that drops all its seeds directly to the ground below. The seeds may find some nice soil to germinate, but as they climb in search of light they are not alone. They may be completely shaded out by the parent tree reducing the possibility of survival. Also consider the dynamics of infectious disease that may spread through a tightly compact community. The covid-19 pandemic has taught us all the importance of social distancing to prevent the spread of infectious disease, but this is something that many Amazonian tree species, with the assistance of their seed dispersers, have been practicing for eons. If a parent tree drops all its seeds just to the ground below, this creates a population of seedlings in close proximity, all susceptible to the same infectious diseases caused by the spread of microorganisms such as fungi. When seedlings and trees of the same species are well-dispersed throughout the forest, disease transmission between individuals is much lower, and more individuals survive. In short, more seed dispersal means more plant survival.
Now consider what happens when spider monkeys are eliminated from the ecosystem, a situation that is all too common in the Amazon as this endangered species is hunted and its habitats are increasingly fragmented by human activities. As seed dispersal rates for particular tree species fall, these species are no longer able to regenerate, and they become absent from the ecosystem. As all of these trees, and their fruits, are important food species for spider monkeys, that means the monkeys are no longer able to thrive in the ecosystem, thus furthering the cycle of forest degradation. No monkeys mean no food, no food means no monkeys. And as we’ve seen, ecosystems are a complex set of endless interactions, every species that is lost from an ecosystem will trigger more dynamics that can topple the historic balance of the Amazon.
This is why amaZOOnico’s efforts to reintroduce white-bellied spider monkeys into a forest where they were previously abundant is so vital. Not only does our spider monkey release program promise the ethical benefit of granting freedom to spider monkeys that were unjustly removed from the forest, it also promises to restore and maintain the ecological balance necessary to ensure a thriving forest for centuries to come.
Selva Viva Protected Forest, the location of “Makisapa Rewilding” is a paradise for spider monkeys. Despite their number reductions in the ecosystem, many of their favorite fruit trees such uvilla, guaba, and ungurahua can still be found. However, without other viable seed dispersers for these species, the forest is on a path to degradation if spider monkeys do not return soon and provide their gardening services to regenerate a new healthy crop of fruit trees. With your assistance we can protect not only the spider monkeys, but the entire forest and its billions of busy inhabitants that are interacting with each other every day to maintain a healthy ecosystem for everyone.
