Part One:
Island Biogeography deals a lot with size and shape. “One of the reasons islands are important in the more general structure of ecology, biogeography, and conservation biology is that islands, as at least relatively isolated areas, are excellent natural laboratories to study the relationship between area and species diversity. When we fully understand the relationship, it will be applicable to fragments of habitat that human activities protect. We all know those sanctuaries are important, but we need to know what and how much we can protect in them” (Island Biogeography). The term may not mean an actual island but it could also be an ecosystem. In this ecosystem, the larger area will have a greater number of species, the smaller
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For example, it can help predict things, different changes in habitats, applied to many problems, and help understand the different effects on a habitat. However, there are some limitations when dealing with IBT. For example, habitat fragmentation. When it comes to habitat fragmentation, there are somethings that cannot be controlled and having something that separates two habitats, like an ocean or body of water can really limit activity of the different species, and limit how they interact with their habitats. Other limitations would be improperly managed habitats, harsh conditions, or human interactions. All of these things could harm the species or their …show more content…
Other places such as Pinckney Island and the Savanah Wildlife Refuge also showed a lot of plant and animal diversity. Many of the other places showed either or a lot more of one than the other. Beside the plant and animal aspect, we payed close attention to the management of the area. We were looking to see how well taken care of the area may have been, if it was cleaned, if it was left in its more natural state, and if what they were doing to the area was helping to preserve and conserve the area. Congaree Park, had a boardwalk, and some areas to sit but as far as the management, there was little to none. They allowed fallen trees to remain, they were not removed only cut if they blocked any walking paths. They also let walking trails in their natural states they were not cleared or
When reviewing figure 3 it has been noted that most of the species are more abundant further in the woods and the most significant change is in the moss and the amount of coverage which was substantially different depending upon the distance from the dune to the woods. The numbers fluctuated - dropping slightly at 60 m and rising to its highest point at 75 meters. Trees also had a very noticeable change in their percent coverage starting below 10% and rising close to 5 percent every 15 meters. The other plants did not show any specific trend of growing more the further way from the dune but this could be due to where the quadrants were placed as each team placed their quadrat down every 15 meters which resulted in a lot of ground left uncalculated. This could be the reason for lack of trends with other plants.
Roosevelt did not agree with Muir that all of the land should be closed off for wildlife because of the resources. Eighty million acres of that land was planned to be used for resources, and the rest is national forest. Most of the resources being preserved were trees, and trees are mainly used to build homes. Some forests were preserved while others were harvested of trees. Then, when the forest would have low amounts of trees, the preserved forest and the harvested forest will switch roles.
The forested areas of the park were made up of mostly White Oaks. There was a vast difference is the age and size of the trees as there were few mature trees, but a large number of younger 3”-6” in diameter oaks, ash, and other trees. Though it was fall, “die back” could be seen on many of the trees with areas of peeling bark, large sections of dead limbs, and sections of the trunk experiencing rot. The bushes and woody vines that were protected from the canopy of the larger trees still held onto green
This one explanation full illustrates the importance of a balanced ecosystem and how the introduction of a predator can make sweeping changes in the
They saved thousands of acres of land from erosion. They kept farmland from ruining and land from fires and diseases. They decreased soil erosion by laying some topsoil to prevent landslides and mudslides. Another way to decrease soil erosion
The Shawnee National Forest impacted Illinois economically, socially, and with job opportunities. Franklin Roosevelt established the Shawnee Forest as a national forest in August of 1933. The forest was named after the Shawnee Native Americans who had onced lived, hunted, and farmed in the forest. Southern Illinois is where The Shawnee National Forest is located and it is over 280,000 acres that is managed by the government. The Shawnee National Forest hosts hundreds of different types of trees and plants and over 500 different species of wildlife.
A subtropical wilderness with grass marshes, forests thick with trees hundreds of years old and hardwood hammocks (trees that only grow a few inches tall but packed very close together but can take up acres). Seems like a place to protect. Ever since the 1900 draining of the everglades, the ecosystem has shrunk by 50%. People did not see how important the Florida everglades where. The effect of the polluted water in the everglades is causing problems for both people and the inhabitants of the everglades.
This refuge is one of the oldest in the country and includes saltwater marshes, islands, tidal creeks, and estuaries. It houses several species of plant and animal life. Although it is worth it to stop at the headquarters, if you want the best opportunity to observe wildlife, you will want to head over to the lighthouse. There will be lots of wildlife for you to see as you travel there. Also, there are plenty of hiking trails along the levee system that are worth traversing.
The environment though as already been affected. For example, the wood-rat, which
The park looks like a long forgotten town in the middle of a busy neighborhood. Trash lines the chain link fencing that surrounds the area. The empty swings sway in the breeze and stagnant tennis balls line the tennis courts. She opens her car door and exits her government issued vehicle. It is hard to believe that just a few days ago they had received the call that little Candra Wade had been abducted at this very park.
The nature has reclaimed the trail for its own trees and roots sprout out from the trial there are low overhanging limbs that makes it harder to walk without ducking and dodging. The blue hydrangeas that used to bloom here now bloom black and nameless. I would usually recognize the shrubs that used to bloom here ,but know one has taken a hand to them in years . Now those are just parasites The gnarled roots that grow out from the sidewalk look like skeletons claws. Shadows seemed to be following my every move as i walked down.
ENP provides plants and animals with the resources that they need. The park provides many habitats where flora and fauna thrive, such as sawgrass prairies, freshwater sloughs, pine rocklands, estuaries, and hardwood hammocks. These habitats have been altered by many factors including human impacts, hurricanes, non-native species, water quality issues, water quantity issues, wildland fires, etc. (“Environmental Factors”). These factors are the main culprits that are causing the degradation of the park.
Other problems arise like snake infestations. When any animal becomes overpopulated in any one area the whole food chain becomes unbalanced in that area. And when animals like snakes become overpopulated the animals they prey on start to die out. Causing any other predators that may prey on the same animal to eventually die out also. As the text suggests in the passage “Are the Everglades Forever?”.
The Texas Park and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is a state agency based in Texas that oversees and protects wildlife and their habitats. Mainly, the department’s responsibilities include a range of activities. State law permits TPWD to plan, obtain, improve, operate and maintain a system of public lands, including historical and cultural areas. Notably, these resources encompass approximately 1.4 million acres of parks, wildlife management areas, recreational areas, historical or cultural sites, and natural areas. Additionally, the department serves as the state agency with prime responsibility for conserving, protecting and enhancing the state’s fish and wildlife resources whereby, it monitors and assesses habitats, surveys fish, and game populations,
Biotic components of ecosystems include plants, animals, and fungi living in that ecosystem that interact with the environment and other abiotic and biotic components. 8. Create a chart of the major characteristics of and differences between the following terrestrial biomes: Tundra, taiga, grasslands, temperate deciduous forest, desert, monsoon rainforest, tropical rainforest. 9. Create a chart of the major characteristics of and differences between the following aquatic biomes: freshwater ecosystems such as lakes, wetlands, and streams, marine biomes such as estuaries, intertidal zone, neritic zone, open sea zone, and deep sea zone.