Communicate Co.

Biodiversity Biodiversity is at its greatest in the Tropics. One hectare of jungle may harbor 50-100 species of tree, whereas in temperate woodlands, the biodiversity is much lower, at 3-6 species of tree per hectare. If we stop to think about the numbers of lesser plants and animals found in the jungle, they are far greater than in a temperate or cold climate. Animals, vegetation y ecosystems There is more vegetation (between 80 and 99%) than animals (between 1 and 20%) in the jungle in terms of total weight. Ants and termites account for forty per cent of the total weight of animals. They eat certain species of plant that have a bitter taste, are prickly, or cause burns, but are able to neutralise their harmful effects with several different mechanisms. An example of this is species of ants that feed on mushrooms, which they themselves cultivate on leaves. There are more animals in the cooler areas than in the jungles. Jungle animals tend to be nocturnal and avoid the heat of the day. If they do appear during the day, they try to pass by unnoticed. Animals that do not hide such as the rattlesnake and coral snake have deadly defense mechanisms. The mangrove is the richest ecosystem in the Maya Zone (it is characterized by trees which can survive in intense humidity). The production of food is high here and the mangroves are a feeding ground for creatures from the marshes, the jungle and the sea. Many of the marine animals come to feed in the mangroves through long tunnels leading in from the sea. Clear, warm, less polluted and shallow seawater is one of the factors accounting for the abundance of coral in the marine ecosystem. The second largest barrier reef in the world is located in the Caribbean, and runs parallel to the eastern coast of the Maya World