We all know that deforestation is horrible. One of its consequences is Global Warming, something that affects the world as a whole. Not only is one of the problems of deforestation global warming, but it is killing numerous plants and animals as well. Apparently, in the Amazon this isn’t all that’s getting destroyed. There are many unknown species of bacteria lurking within the Amazon, say Eric Triplett and James Borneman from the Agronomy Department of the University of Wisconsin, Madison. They took soil samples from a full-grown rainforest and compared it to a pastureland created by deforestation that was right next to the rainforest. Once the soils were sampled, they took out the bacterial DNA. Comparing the two soils and the DNA in it, they recognized 100 diverse DNA sequences, none of them being duplicates. There were 18% of the sequences that could not be categorized into any known bacterial kingdom. Dr. Triplett said, "The microbial diversity found in the mature forest and pasture soils from eastern Amazonia is immense." There is a phenomenal difference between the two soil samples. He also enforces the fact that even with all the work that is being done to save the Amazon, there needs to be more. Basically, there really shouldn’t be such a huge difference in the soils of neighboring lands. One underwent deforestation while other did not. There have been endless studies of the fresh water, animal species, and plants living in the Amazon. But very few studies have been done on the soil and the microbial populations living within it. Triplett also talks about why he and Borneman did the research in the first place. He says, "It's such a rich biological resource that we decided to go and study it. In the discovery of new organisms we can find previously unknown enzymes that can help further the progress of biotechnology. In addition, there are bacteria out there producing antibiotics that we have yet to discover.” What he is trying to say is that the reason scientists and researchers should examine and compare soils, and identify the micro-populations within the soils is to help the process of sciences. To contact Dr. Triplett for more questions click here.
Personally, I agree with Dr. Triplett. Seeing what he has accomplished, and what he found, scientists and researchers should study this topic more in depth. They should take into consideration the information and realize that a rainforest is more than just animals and plants. They are about discovery and facing the unknown. Dr. Triplett is trying to tell the world that if you study this topic, small things can be discovered like locating a new bacteria, as well as big things like creating a new antibiotic, something that can treat and maybe cure diseases and infections. Deforestation is taking that away. In an indirect way he is telling us to “Go Green” and protects the earth and the nutrients it provides us with.
Personally, I agree with Dr. Triplett. Seeing what he has accomplished, and what he found, scientists and researchers should study this topic more in depth. They should take into consideration the information and realize that a rainforest is more than just animals and plants. They are about discovery and facing the unknown. Dr. Triplett is trying to tell the world that if you study this topic, small things can be discovered like locating a new bacteria, as well as big things like creating a new antibiotic, something that can treat and maybe cure diseases and infections. Deforestation is taking that away. In an indirect way he is telling us to “Go Green” and protects the earth and the nutrients it provides us with.
I got my information from:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1997/06/970629230930.htm
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1997/06/970629230930.htm
I got the picture from:
