Unraveling the Secrets of the Amazon Rainforest: A Study of Biodiversity
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Chapter 1: The Enigmatic Amazon
My professional life revolves around scientific exploration, and during my work on a 2014 Nautilus article discussing Thomas Struth’s images of the Amazonian forests (“Six Pictures of Paradise”), my colleagues and I were also focused on a technical study regarding Amazonian trees. Although these two projects differ significantly in style and content, they surprisingly share some underlying themes.
Our research aimed to determine the number of tree species in the Amazon, estimated at around 16,000, along with their respective population sizes, which vary from just a few to billions of individual trees. Our findings were credible enough to be published in Science, yet one of the major revelations now seems quite astonishing. According to our models, many tree species in the Amazon are so scarce that they may never be discovered by scientists.
The calculations are simple. If you belong to a species estimated to have fewer than 1,000 individual trees in the Amazon, your chances of being spotted among the 390 billion trees in the region are so minuscule that it’s almost pointless to consider. For instance, during a recent two-week period in a remote part of Peru, I surveyed roughly 2,000 trees. Based on our research, the likelihood of encountering one of the rarest species was approximately one in 200,000.
A colleague refers to this as our “dark biodiversity” dilemma. Just as astrophysicists acknowledge that a significant portion of the universe's matter remains unseen, our findings suggest that many aspects of Amazonian biodiversity are similarly elusive to science—existing at densities too low for us to detect. The statistics are harsh. Had I spent 20 years in Peru—without breaks—I would have increased my odds to about one in 4,000.
Where does this leave us? It appears we find ourselves in a perplexing situation.
Ars may indeed be longa, but artists often have a tangible goal on the horizon, unlike scientists who face endless pursuits. Each day, we gaze at horizons that seem perpetually out of reach, with countless more beyond them. Even species hidden from view possess genomes, pollinators, and extinction risks. As Chekhov astutely noted: “Science has a beginning but not an end, like a recurring decimal.”
This leads us back to Thomas Struth. In his paradise series, Struth appears to be capturing forest scenes that defy our comprehension—a recurring decimal that invites contemplation but remains ultimately inscrutable. In my Nautilus essay, I attempted to counter this sense of futility by recounting human narratives unfolding within those forests, away from the focus of his photographs. Yet, ironically, my own data reinforced Struth’s perspective, indicating that the forest remains fundamentally unknowable.
Where does this leave us? Back in a perplexing place, it seems. The trees that Struth immortalized continue to stand; the gold miners and researchers are still present. Currently, it's the rainy season, and as storms sweep in from the east, the trees in those images come alive, shaking their canopies in the downpour and scattering fruits and flowers onto the forest floor. By the time dawn breaks the next day, the forest appears so enchanting, so rejuvenated and vibrant, that anyone looking out their window is unlikely to ponder the existence of those hidden trees.
Nigel Pitman is a tropical botanist affiliated with the Field Museum. His research on South American flora has been published in Science, Ecology, and Conservation Biology, while his non-academic writing has appeared in Orion, DoubleTake, and Sage.
Originally published in Nautilus on January 1, 2015.
Section 1.1: The Complexity of Amazonian Biodiversity
The Amazon is a complex ecosystem, home to an astonishing variety of flora and fauna. Understanding its biodiversity is a monumental task.
Subsection 1.1.1: The Invisible Species Dilemma
Section 1.2: Bridging Art and Science
Art and science may appear to be worlds apart, yet both seek to uncover truths about our environment, albeit through different lenses.
Chapter 2: The Unseen Wonders of the Amazon
The first video titled "How Scientists Help Art 'Live' Longer" explores the relationship between science and art, emphasizing how scientific insights can enhance our understanding of artistic representations.
The second video, "Why Your Art is NOT Improving (the Science)," delves into the scientific principles behind artistic growth, shedding light on common misconceptions and practical advice for aspiring artists.