Forests: Our Lifeline

The wide variety of animals helps the forest to regenerate and grow. In forest, plants produce food. All animals, whether herbivores or carnivores, depend ultimately on plants for food. Organisms which feed on plants often get eaten by other organisms, and so on. For example, grass is eaten by insects, which in turn, is taken by the frog. The frog is consumed by snakes.
This is said to form a food chain:
Grass→ insects→ frog→ snake→ eagle.
Decomposers play an important role in the forest. They feed upon the dead plant and animal tissues and convert them into a dark coloured substance called humus. For exampleFungi grow on decaying fruits and vegetables and convert them into humus. By harbouring greater variety of plants, the forest provides good opportunities for food and habitat for the herbivores. Larger number of herbivores means increased availability of food for a variety of carnivores, the wide variety of animals helps the forest to regenerate and grow. Thus forest is the dynamic living entity that is the full of life and vitality.