The tropical trees on planet Earth have seen better days. Today, the world's second largest tropical rainforest is on death row. Is there a way to save this jeweled segment of this ecosystem? If this tropical tree dies off, a unique ecosystem will vanish, a place where trees have learned to pattern their reproduction techniques. Tropical trees in Indonesia pattern reproduction by coinciding with the recurring arrival of El Nino.



There are global implications likely to occur that go along with this horrendous event about to transpire. So, just how do tropical trees reproduce? More importantly, can they survive?

Tropical trees vary in terms of the timing, extend, and intensity of flowering and fruiting. Most tropical trees do not produce reliable fruit crops. The majority of trees rely on animals to help pollinate the flowers and spread out the seeds released to the forest floor. It is more likely than not that seeds will come into animal contact prior to germination. This unfortunately is a fatal meeting for the seed.

Mother Nature, specifically El Nino is another player in the reproductive cycle of tropical trees. Speaking of El Nino's relationship with tropical tree reproduction, there are climate conditions of the El Nino that activate immediate fruiting. This fruiting is essential for seed reproduction to continue in all varieties of tropical trees.

According to Lisa M. Curran, tropical ecologist at the University of Michigan, masting, the ability for trees to provide abundant seeds on the forest floor to feed animals in the ecosystem, offers canopy trees a key strength. In a normal six-week masting period, a tropical canopy tree can release over 180 pounds of seed. Due to the fact that an abundant amount of seed is produced simultaneously, there is enough to germinate and foster new growth on the forest floor.

Yet, there are other adverse human conditions reeking havoc on this tropical tree's ability to reproduce: Logging, for one. In 1998, despite a major fruiting event that transpired during the 1998 El Nino year, no new seedlings were found. Even though a park under study is off-limits to logging'at least it's supposed to be off limits?the forest continued to lose the ability to regenerate itself.

Seed predators, for example, are unable to find food beyond the perimeter of the park. So, they venture inside and eat up the tropical seeds awaiting germination. This is but one issue surrounding the near extinction of various tropical rainforest.

Steps must be taken to aid in the reproduction patterns of tropical trees. For one, government action must take place. Since deforestation through logging has been a key element in the lack of tropical reproduction, it's up to us to find government subsidies or financial incentives to help in promoting progressive harvesting of tropical trees. Secondly, although it sounds obvious, we must prevent clear-cutting and burning of trees for industrial plantations. Without human intervention, many tropical ecosystems will die off.