What Are the Effects of Pollution on Living Organisms in the Forest?

Pollution is a very serious threat to forest life. Whether it is acid rain or the indirect impact of global warming, many plant and animal species are being killed or forced to adapt rapidly. As a result, the forest ecosystem can be thrown out of balance and eventually destroyed. Understanding the impact of forest pollution is the first step in stopping it.

Deforestation

• Although trees and plants are not sentient, they are still living organisms. More importantly, they are the backbone of the forest ecosystem, since a forest cannot exist without vegetation. The biggest threat to these organisms is acid rain, which contains chemicals such as sulfuric and nitric acid. Acid rain affects trees by destroying the wax on the leaves, leaving them more vulnerable to insects. Nutrients are also lost, which ultimately kills the tree. Additionally, acid rain reaches the tree's roots, poisoning them and stunting the organism's growth.

Death of Small Organisms

• Although they often go unnoticed, small organisms in the forest are just as important for maintaining the ecosystem. When these small creatures in the soil are exposed to acid rain, breathing becomes more difficult. As a result, they are less efficient at consuming and breaking down leaves and other biological materials. In turn, these materials do not decompose as quickly. The end result is that nutrients normally released from this decomposition are not distributed into the soil to feed the trees.

Ecosystem Imbalance

• Another effect of forest pollution is the imbalance caused by the deaths of predatory creatures. For example, when insect predators are killed, it allows their prey to propagate in larger numbers. Insects that otherwise occupied a certain niche in this ecosystem begin to increase in number, turning them into pests. Ironically, it is pesticides that create this situation by killing the predators and creating new pests.

Biodiversity Impact

• Acid rain is not the only pollution affecting forest ecosystems. Global warming has also created problems. Biodiversity --- the variety of plant and animal life --- can be impacted as well. According to the First National Assessment of the Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change, areas including the Appalacians and Great Lakes region could end up losing a variety of tree species. Increased global temperatures could also force animals out of their habitats or replace those animals with species that can survive in warmer weather.