|
Lost Worlds Life in the Balance
|
| 00:02:09 |
It was once the heart |
| 00:02:12 |
that stretched across |
| 00:02:14 |
a great city |
| 00:02:18 |
Its temples were the tallest |
| 00:02:21 |
monuments to |
| 00:02:27 |
For centuries, |
| 00:02:30 |
its science |
| 00:02:33 |
Then 1,000 years ago, |
| 00:02:37 |
the city was |
| 00:02:43 |
What happened |
| 00:02:52 |
What keeps all cities, |
| 00:02:57 |
then and now? |
| 00:03:35 |
Cities like New York |
| 00:03:36 |
are triumphs |
| 00:03:39 |
They feel as if |
| 00:03:41 |
and they give us the sense |
| 00:03:45 |
from the rest of nature. |
| 00:03:54 |
I n big cities, it's easy to take |
| 00:03:57 |
Food comes from |
| 00:04:00 |
Water comes |
| 00:04:03 |
Or does it? |
| 00:05:03 |
Eight million New Yorkers |
| 00:05:05 |
from the Cats kill Mountains, |
| 00:05:09 |
If New York had to build |
| 00:05:12 |
it will cost billions. |
| 00:05:14 |
Here, nature provides |
| 00:05:37 |
If we could follow the rainfall |
| 00:05:41 |
we'd find that |
| 00:05:44 |
is a world |
| 00:05:47 |
a metropolis much |
| 00:05:50 |
than the city it serves. |
| 00:06:09 |
I n every square inch, |
| 00:06:11 |
billions of microbes |
| 00:06:13 |
go about their business |
| 00:06:16 |
we grow our food in, |
| 00:06:17 |
helping condition |
| 00:06:20 |
and cleaning the rainwater |
| 00:06:22 |
to the reservoirs. |
| 00:06:25 |
It's just one e x ample |
| 00:06:28 |
biological diversity, |
| 00:06:30 |
the variety of interconnecting |
| 00:06:34 |
all over the planet. |
| 00:06:48 |
Everywhere nature |
| 00:06:52 |
each place, |
| 00:06:54 |
shapes its own community |
| 00:07:06 |
I n every ecosystem |
| 00:07:08 |
there is a balance |
| 00:07:10 |
that keeps it working. |
| 00:07:19 |
The giant seaweed called kelp is |
| 00:07:24 |
It's a hiding place. |
| 00:07:34 |
It's a nursery |
| 00:07:41 |
And it's a food supply |
| 00:07:44 |
a spiny creature |
| 00:07:53 |
If there are |
| 00:07:55 |
urchins can virtually clear cut |
| 00:08:03 |
Until the 1970s, |
| 00:08:05 |
this was happening |
| 00:08:08 |
all because an animal |
| 00:08:14 |
An animal that loves to eat |
| 00:08:19 |
It had been hunted |
| 00:08:21 |
for its thick coat of fur. |
| 00:08:26 |
Then, people decided |
| 00:08:28 |
and their numbers grew. |
| 00:08:37 |
The balance of life |
| 00:08:44 |
Now, wherever |
| 00:08:46 |
the kelp forest flourishes |
| 00:09:05 |
I n the tropical forest, |
| 00:09:07 |
biological diversity |
| 00:09:10 |
There are |
| 00:09:12 |
and life seems |
| 00:09:27 |
Like the kelp forest, |
| 00:09:29 |
the health of the rain forest |
| 00:09:31 |
is maintained by |
| 00:09:34 |
as long as the natural balance |
| 00:10:03 |
Animals can't live without |
| 00:10:10 |
Many, like the South |
| 00:10:13 |
are now threatened |
| 00:10:14 |
because they're losing |
| 00:10:18 |
The forests are shrinking. |
| 00:10:27 |
For thousands of years, more |
| 00:10:30 |
was covered with pristine forests, |
| 00:10:38 |
The forests of China and lands |
| 00:10:41 |
were first to be cut |
| 00:10:43 |
as towns became |
| 00:10:48 |
The rate of loss speeded up |
| 00:10:52 |
but in the last 50 years |
| 00:10:54 |
we've cleared more forest than |
| 00:10:58 |
Less than half is left. |
| 00:11:04 |
Scientists estimate that |
| 00:11:08 |
plants, insects |
| 00:11:11 |
are being driven |
| 00:11:14 |
with unknown consequences. |
| 00:11:19 |
We are changing |
| 00:11:21 |
for animals to be able |
| 00:11:31 |
In major institutions |
| 00:11:33 |
scientists are now working |
| 00:11:36 |
and understand all the diversity |
| 00:12:12 |
Nearly two million species |
| 00:12:15 |
have been classified, |
| 00:12:17 |
but there could be ten times |
| 00:12:38 |
a priority now |
| 00:12:40 |
with the most |
| 00:12:42 |
where the web of life |
| 00:12:46 |
Fabian Michealangali, |
| 00:12:47 |
of the American Museum |
| 00:12:50 |
is going back to |
| 00:12:53 |
to join a rapid assessment team |
| 00:12:56 |
to the fabled Lost World |
| 00:12:59 |
that inspired the novel |
| 00:13:06 |
I don't think we'll find |
| 00:13:09 |
but in all of South America, |
| 00:13:13 |
than the table mountains |
| 00:13:20 |
The expedition |
| 00:13:22 |
in the capital |
| 00:13:46 |
Leader of the rapid |
| 00:13:48 |
is biologist |
| 00:13:50 |
whose specialty |
| 00:13:53 |
I always had |
| 00:13:56 |
ever since I was a kid. |
| 00:13:58 |
I liked the idea |
| 00:14:01 |
was connected |
| 00:14:05 |
For ten years, I've been |
| 00:14:09 |
These creatures can tell us |
| 00:14:11 |
of the places |
| 00:14:16 |
My colleague, Selsi Señares, |
| 00:14:20 |
by evidence that |
| 00:14:22 |
all over the world. |
| 00:14:24 |
Now, we have the chance |
| 00:14:26 |
in a place where few people |
| 00:14:32 |
For the next few weeks |
| 00:14:34 |
we'll be living in very |
| 00:14:57 |
We're heading southeast |
| 00:15:00 |
The plan is to meet |
| 00:15:04 |
go upriver by canoe, |
| 00:15:06 |
and then, hopefully, |
| 00:15:08 |
to the top |
| 00:15:11 |
Beneath us is the vast watershed |
| 00:16:19 |
Tonight we'll stay in |
| 00:16:22 |
where we've hired |
| 00:16:25 |
The table mountains |
| 00:16:28 |
I like the Pemon word |
| 00:16:31 |
but I can see why others have |
| 00:18:39 |
Now, it's too shallow |
| 00:18:43 |
We'll hike from here |
| 00:18:45 |
and explore the rain forest |
| 00:18:50 |
I can't believe the beauty |
| 00:19:00 |
On the riverbank |
| 00:19:04 |
Only hours ago, |
| 00:19:07 |
This tells us that |
| 00:19:09 |
still has a full range |
| 00:19:14 |
Large predators control |
| 00:19:17 |
like the coatimundi, |
| 00:19:19 |
so they don't overgraze |
| 00:19:22 |
or steal too many |
| 00:19:27 |
This balance helps ensure |
| 00:20:35 |
Now, this is it, |
| 00:20:37 |
the moment I've been |
| 00:20:40 |
Our guide, Nadine, |
| 00:20:42 |
know the mountains |
| 00:20:45 |
Next stop, |
| 00:22:45 |
Mount Roraima is a biological |
| 00:22:51 |
eroded by eons |
| 00:23:39 |
The pilots don't want to shut |
| 00:23:44 |
the weather changes |
| 00:23:48 |
they have to get out |
| 00:23:51 |
and one |
| 00:23:56 |
they'll be back with supplies |
| 00:24:00 |
if they can. |
| 00:24:08 |
I had mix ed feelings watching |
| 00:24:12 |
It was like being left alone |
| 00:24:16 |
surrounded by images |
| 00:24:48 |
In these conditions, |
| 00:24:52 |
Science will have to wait. |
| 00:25:23 |
Roraima is |
| 00:25:25 |
for studying the adaptation of |
| 00:25:37 |
Trabian is |
| 00:25:42 |
All over Roraima there are these |
| 00:25:50 |
Most of the summit |
| 00:25:53 |
so the rain |
| 00:25:56 |
Plants only grow |
| 00:25:58 |
where water and soil |
| 00:26:02 |
If we carefully examine |
| 00:26:05 |
we see that they're laying just |
| 00:26:10 |
The soil is mostly sand |
| 00:26:15 |
but it still supports |
| 00:26:18 |
Probably half of it exists |
| 00:26:23 |
and nowhere else. |
| 00:26:35 |
In this nutrient poor |
| 00:26:37 |
plants have evolved different |
| 00:26:44 |
some have |
| 00:26:47 |
trapping and |
| 00:27:23 |
Other carnivorous plants |
| 00:27:26 |
with vivid color |
| 00:27:29 |
and their pitcher shape |
| 00:27:39 |
Thousands of slippery hairs |
| 00:27:47 |
It's only |
| 00:27:49 |
before the victim slips |
| 00:27:52 |
where larva and other organisms |
| 00:27:56 |
The plant absorbs |
| 00:28:03 |
Roraima seems like |
| 00:28:06 |
with ponds and streams |
| 00:28:08 |
but at first |
| 00:28:12 |
And our samples show |
| 00:28:14 |
is as poor a food source |
| 00:28:17 |
Any creatures living here |
| 00:28:26 |
Then we found |
| 00:28:28 |
tadpoles feeding |
| 00:28:33 |
The mother frog apparently |
| 00:28:36 |
so her offspring |
| 00:28:44 |
Nearby, we saw a frog |
| 00:28:48 |
the only carnivorous bromeliad |
| 00:28:53 |
The water below is full |
| 00:28:56 |
Once her eggs hatch, |
| 00:28:58 |
the tadpoles can |
| 00:29:01 |
and maybe the plant |
| 00:29:04 |
like nitrogen |
| 00:29:15 |
At dusk we heard a sound |
| 00:29:20 |
Definitely amphibian, |
| 00:29:27 |
We looked for it |
| 00:29:41 |
In the morning |
| 00:29:46 |
Selsi recorded the sound, |
| 00:29:48 |
but we never saw |
| 00:29:54 |
Later we did come across |
| 00:30:00 |
a tiny black toad |
| 00:30:05 |
It didn't jump. |
| 00:30:07 |
It just walked away |
| 00:30:18 |
When the tarantula moved on, |
| 00:30:24 |
and rolled down again. |
| 00:30:27 |
Now, that |
| 00:30:35 |
Why would nature produce |
| 00:30:39 |
instead of jumping? |
| 00:30:42 |
No doubt, we still |
| 00:30:47 |
People often ask me |
| 00:30:49 |
for creatures like these. |
| 00:30:51 |
Well, it may have |
| 00:30:54 |
like new medicine |
| 00:30:58 |
or maybe because |
| 00:31:00 |
of nature's ability |
| 00:31:04 |
in ways we never |
| 00:31:27 |
It's a long way |
| 00:31:29 |
from the Lost World of Venezuela |
| 00:31:33 |
but the diversity |
| 00:31:34 |
is just as fragile |
| 00:31:48 |
Like the life of remote |
| 00:31:52 |
the creatures |
| 00:31:53 |
all play their part |
| 00:31:56 |
that keeps |
| 00:32:00 |
Insects need flowers. |
| 00:32:02 |
Flowers |
| 00:32:05 |
And we need the food |
| 00:32:12 |
In just one square meter, |
| 00:32:15 |
can find a lot of life. |
| 00:32:17 |
If they look hard enough, |
| 00:32:19 |
they'll find things that even |
| 00:32:26 |
We all need to know |
| 00:32:28 |
what it does, |
| 00:32:30 |
what it means to us. |
| 00:32:37 |
But as we take up more and more |
| 00:32:40 |
we may tip the balance of life |
| 00:32:45 |
It wouldn't be the first time. |
| 00:33:03 |
The lost city of Tikal |
| 00:33:06 |
was discovered |
| 00:33:08 |
buried in the tropical forest |
| 00:33:15 |
Experts still debate |
| 00:33:18 |
of kings and priests, |
| 00:33:22 |
Where the rare black jaguar, |
| 00:33:25 |
can sometimes |
| 00:33:45 |
New studies suggest that |
| 00:33:47 |
if we could imagine |
| 00:33:49 |
we might see that |
| 00:33:52 |
had stripped away the forest |
| 00:33:55 |
exhausted the soil, |
| 00:33:59 |
with famine, warfare |
| 00:34:23 |
Over a thousand years |
| 00:34:26 |
but the high civilization |
| 00:34:34 |
Did the people of Tikal |
| 00:34:39 |
without ever |
| 00:35:05 |
Surrounded by the marvels |
| 00:35:09 |
we believe we are masters |
| 00:35:13 |
But everything |
| 00:35:15 |
everything that keeps us alive, |
| 00:35:25 |
A hundred years ago, |
| 00:35:27 |
had the foresight to preserve |
| 00:35:29 |
of its life support system, |
| 00:35:32 |
the mountain, forest and soil |
| 00:35:43 |
Thirty years ago, |
| 00:35:46 |
off the California coast |
| 00:35:49 |
because we had the wisdom |
| 00:35:57 |
When we protect nature, |
| 00:36:25 |
After a week on Roraima, |
| 00:36:28 |
we flew to another tepuis |
| 00:36:34 |
We'll be on |
| 00:36:37 |
but in a sense, |
| 00:36:43 |
the air is fresh |
| 00:36:48 |
These places give us life |
| 00:36:51 |
and remind us that we are |
| 00:36:59 |
Frogs seem to be |
| 00:37:01 |
for the health |
| 00:37:03 |
If so, things |
| 00:37:09 |
Will it stay this way? |
| 00:37:12 |
I like to think |
| 00:37:13 |
will be here |
| 00:37:18 |
Maybe our work will help us |
| 00:37:22 |
and the world |
