Global climate change and intensifying temperatures over the past several decades have resulted in shifts in vegetation distribution. With increasing temperature and water deficits, this brings along with it, tree mortality. Tree mortality and environmental changes is the perfect recipe for a change in forest and woodland composition. Bottomland trees such as some oaks and the Magnoliaceae family can’t live in these changing areas anymore and die out. They are found more often by streams or some form of water, where these plants can stay hydrated most the year. The species that regenerate from the light gaps left behind after the dieback are more hardy trees that can handle more dry and hot temperature for longer periods of time.
Poulson, T. L., & Platt, W. J. (1996). Replacement patterns of beech and sugar maple in Warren Woods, Michigan. Ecology, 1234-1253.
These are very difficult questions for me personally to answer because I live in the Pacific Northwest, and I have seen the beauty of the old growth forests first-hand.
Scott Joplin, also known as The King of ragtime, was an African music composer and pianist of the twentieth century. He focused a lot on the perfection of ragtime. Although he was successful, he did struggle during his career because of the time period in which he lived in. Joplin composes many ragtime music, but what is more unique is his opera that he composed, Treemonisha in 1911. Treemonisha was the only opera in existence about the Reconstruction Era of the African-American experience which was written by a black man who experienced it himself.
Everson, Julie, and Elinor Petersen. "Blue Springs Cemetery Tree Recovery Project. "Letter to Grant Foundation.Summer 1997. MS. Blue Springs, Nebraska.
Many old-growth forests across the landscape of northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan contain a mixture of tree species rather than a monoculture. Many researchers have put forward ideas to explain the competition and co-existence of tree species in such communities. A theory explaining competition and co-existence between two species is gap regeneration. Gap regeneration is when a gap is created upon death of a plant individual and a new individual, sometimes of the same species as died and sometimes not dependent on environmental heterogeneity, takes its place (Kenneth Lertzman). Canopy gaps during gap regeneration can be explained by either reciprocal replacement or habitat preference . In a reciprocal replacement, seedlings of one species would be found predominately under large trees ...
Hawaii is such a diverse and unique area that it is said to be a biologist’s paradise. Biologists travel here to study the wide variety of species and one such species is Aleurites moluccana or the kukui tree. The kukui tree is originally from Southeast Asia, particularly the Indo-Malaysia region, and has moved its way into the Pacific. It was first introduced to the Hawaiian islands when the Polynesians navigated their way here hundreds of years ago (Elevitch, C. R., & Manner, H. I., 2006). Since then, the kukui tree’s physical adaptations have helped it to thrive in Hawaii and native Hawaiians were able to utilize this plant in a number of ways.
2008). In this experiment, two deciduous tree species, speckled alder (Alnus incana ssp. rugosa) and white birch (Betula papyrifera), dominant in the lowland and highland ecosystems respectively, will be compared and contrasted in terms of their decomposition rate, leaf senescence, leaf herbivory, arthropod presence, soil characteristics, and microclimate. In other words, how do the abiotic and biotic interactions of an ecosystem influence the decomposition rate of leaf litter in said ecosystem, and how does it compare to another, different ecosystem over the course of early to later fall? This question is of importance as it has ramifications for the functioning and interconnectedness of ecosystems around the world (Smith and Smith 2015). To investigate this phenomenon in action, the leaves from both tree species will be will be placed in their native habitat ecosystems as well as in the respective other to determine their decomposition rate and the degree to which the surrounding environment influences said decomposition. The highland ecosystem is noticeably more dry and rocky, with lower plant density and uneven topography than the lowland site – which is considerably more moist, muddy (i.e. wetland) and has a greater plant density than the highland. In leaf herbivory, the leaf damage caused by insect guilds is investigated to observe differences and changes between the two tree species over a period of time. Leaf senescence, the purposeful re-allocation of foliage nutrients to the plant body in preparation for winter, is studied in respect to the changing in the colour and appearance of leaves over the course of the experiment (Smith and Smith 2015). In addition, arthropod pitfall traps are used to characterize and compare the different species of arthropods and other organisms present within each
The heavy rains (150 inches a year) are famous in the Pacific Northwest and have created a lush, mossy and primeval-looking forest of enormous trees. Generally on the western side of the park, there are several ways to ...
Franklin, J. F., et al. (1981). In Ecological Characteristics of Old-Grow Douglas Fir Forest, (GTR PNW-118). Retrieved July 9, 2005, from USDA Forest Service Web Site: http://
Restate thesis: In reality forests are better left alone, forests provide the earth with a regulated climate, strong biodiversity, and good nutrient rich soil for plants to strive on.
Paul Celan composed his feelings for his mother regarding both her life and her passing in his poem “Aspen Tree.” The entire work is a vessel for his emotions toward her early departure and comparisons of the life she lived with various objects in nature. However, one emblem in particular perfectly represents Celan’s idealization of his mother. It can be argued that Celan uses the dandelion to epitomize his mother’s life because it highlights his themes of transiency, the light of life within darkness, and the cheating nature of death. Comparison between the dandelion, other wonders in nature, and his mother’s life support this claim as well as contextual hints from the piece itself.
Trees are terrific. They cover the world and provide air and beauty for all to enjoy. Yes indeed trees are terrific. There are many uses for trees and their byproducts. Everywhere we look there are trees or some kind of shrub that always give us something to look at.
According to National Geographic 2014, Deforestation is clearing Earth's forests on a massive scale, often resulting in damage to the quality of the land. Deforestation occurs all around the world and tropical rainforests are primarily targeted. Our world’s rain forests could completely vanish in a hundred years at the current rate of deforestation. Currently or in the recent past countries with significant deforestation include Brazil, Indonesia, Thailand, parts of Africa and Eastern Europe. Deforestation affects our planet and everyone in many ways. According to LiveScience 2013, seventy percent of the world’s plants and animals live in forests and are losing their habitats to deforestation. Loss of habitat can lead to species extinction. Our world has lost so many species of plants and animals in last couple of decades. This has negative consequences for medicinal research and local populations who rely on the animals and plants in the forests for hunting and medicine. In some regions of the world deforestation can cause floods, when it rains trees absorb and store large amount of water with the help of its roots. But when they are cut down the flow of water is disrupted w...
Trees are usually considered as bland, unusual objects that are usually taken for granted; however, I believe there is more to a tree that meets the eye. They supply oxygen and shade. During the holidays, trees are able to spread holiday cheer by wearing holiday decorations. Through providing, they are always beneficial to the needs of others. Rather than having striking beauty like a flower, trees have are grounded and possess a gentle beauty; they are adapted wildflowers to their environment. In fact, if I had to compare myself to an inanimate object, I would choose a tree. A tree has many characteristics in common with me. Characteristics like relying on our roots, strength and observation, and helping others and leaving behind a powerful legacy are a few of the traits we share. All of which I believe are admirable qualities to possess.
Trees are one of the most important parts of the biosphere. They provide oxygen, which is one of the largest producers of life. Humans live and strive off of oxygen every second of their lives. Not just humans need oxygen to survive and thrive on Earth, but animals, and other creatures on the planet do as well. Trees are a huge part of all life and if they were gone, there would consequently be no form of life. Not only do trees create all forms of life, but they create beautiful surroundings for an area and create a comfortable and shady environment for all surrounding life. Even though trees seem to be everywhere you look, the planet is losing billions upon billions of them a year. Anywhere from three billion to six billion trees are lost every year, ("How Many Trees Are Cut Down Every Year? Rainforest Action Network Blog. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2014”). With this fact in thought, it shows that planting one tree can create a bigger difference than you realize.