Kolbert is at Reserve 1202 which is known as an island in the center of the Amazon rainforest. Around this area, there are several other reserves with similar numerical names that are being studied by scientists. They are all part of the Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project. Tom Lovejoy established an alliance with cattlemen around the area in order to prevent some trees from being cut down due to subsidized deforestation. Mario Cohn Haft and Kolbert went listening to bird calls and he discussed that when he started to work at the reserve, his job was to capture birds, band them and release them. After conducting a census before fragmentation, he noticed that there was a significant decline in the amount of bird species. The book states, “What happened when you cut down the surrounding forest is that the capture rate-- just the number of birds you captured and the number of species sometimes, too-- went up for about the first year. Apparently, birds from the deforested areas were seeking shelter in the fragments.” (179) This connects to the previous chapter because it shows how when the habitats of certain species are compromised it leads to a decrease in the population. This chapter connects to the theme, the earth itself is one interconnected system. Fragmentation portrays how the species-area relationship works. The amount of birds in fragments increased but overtime, this lack of a stable habitat created a decline in biodiversity.
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