“Disturbed Preserve” fig.2 fig.3 The “disturbed preserves” are areas in which there has been human alteration of the landscape, whether it be infrastructural installations or beaten trails, that has then been left alone. These areas are recovering forests that normally transition from primary growth to secondary, but are made vulnerable through these artificial developments that alter the dynamics of the landscape in which the native species would emerge. Consequently, these sites, which are protected via the Lullwater Management Plan regardless, have grown into monoculture communities that consist usually of only one or two invasive species. The most aggressive invasive within Lullwater is Ligustrum sinense (Chinese Privet), which is a semi-evergreen shrub of great phenotypic plasticity, allowing it to invade and thrive in a wide range of habitats. Figure 2 is a dam and culvert constructed in 2003, which …show more content…
required razing the native habitat for construction vehicles and materials to be transported to the site. Figure 3 is the same installation one decade later. The habitat suffers from a severe Ligustrum sinense infestation with visibility less than two feet on either side of the dam. Vitis muscadine, an aggressive native vine, encloses most of the canopy, sealing this site away from sunlight and rainfall, prohibiting native species from growing. The soundscape of these disturbed landscapes is very quiet, with very few birds and ground-dwelling wildlife. There is not as much food variety to support the wildlife found in the more open, undisturbed coves. The aggressive invasive plants produce robust foliage that chokes the canopy and grows in such thickness that the wind does not carry through the layers of the forest. It is a hushed, enclosed space, broken in sound only by the running footsteps of the more athletic visitors of the preserve who tread and maintain the beaten trails carved through the invasive plant communities. “Manicured Park” fig.4 fig.5 The “manicured park” is the area of Lullwater that is the most accessible and historically altered landscape within the preserve. This landscape contains a well-paved pedestrian road that connects the lawn, meadow, and lake, which are all located on a topographically-leveled plane for ease of walking. Ecologically, this landscape is artificially supplemented and designed. There is a great richness in biodiversity, but it is specifically cultivated to feel safe and refreshing. The figure on the right depicts a large, non-native Albizia julibrissin (mimosa) which was planted for aesthetic reasons. Some non-native plantings, particularly if they have been purposefully included within the planting design, can naturalize without becoming invasive. Native wildlife, like the great blue heron, then make new habitats via these specimens. The figure to the left shows the entrance to the preserve, which is 500ft of mown lawn. This clean, short grass highlights the large specimen trees of Diospyros virginiana (Persimmon), Liriodendron tulipifera (tulip poplar), and Quercus species (oaks). These visually stunning canopy trees coupled with the fading noise of the traffic on Clifton Road creates an inviting threshold that encourages visitors to relax and begin receiving more information from the soundscape. This soundscape is the most populated and dramatic, varying throughout the day according to the rigors of the city and the demands it places on the preserve’s visitors. The morning and afternoon rush hours bring nurses, students, and business workers through the forest. High noon beckons young mothers with their children to feed the invasive Canadian geese population at the lake. Dusk invites runners with their dogs for exercise after work. It is important to note that there is still exists the distinct separation from the general clamor of vehicular traffic, sirens, and bustling crowds, but this “natural” soundscape is still a dynamic entity driven by pedestrian traffic. Analysis: The irony of these “natural” soundscapes is that the most popular sonic environment derives itself from the most artificial, deliberately cultivated landscape.
The “manicured park” soundscape hovers within the boundaries of quiet “nature,” but still maintains a lively amount of noise derived from the city in the form of other visitors following the schedule of their daily routine. This analysis reveals the need for Atlanta-residents to feel the satisfaction of retreating to nature without it becoming too wild or intimidating. Lullwater is an inviting green space within the metropolitan area that diminishes the amount of noise pollution the visitor experiences on a daily basis, but with the promise that there is no unexpected danger and that the city will reappear on the other side of the preserve. Thus, it is a temporary, therapeutic space that fits well into the schedule of a busy city-dweller. It is this nuance within the natural soundscape that the Lullwater Management Plan must take into consideration when outlining the maintenance of the
landscape. All three sub-soundscapes culminate into what is perceived as the natural, quiet soundscape characteristic of an urban refuge within the Piedmont region. However, each is equally telling of the historical events that have transpired within the landscape and require different management techniques in order to better suit the needs of the community and visitors. While quite artificial, the “manicured park” aspect of the soundscape subtly and irresistibly encourages visitors to enjoy the change in environment. The entrance and boundary of the preserve must be purposefully designed to invite visitors and encourage native plantings to grow neatly, while being kept free of invasive species. This care should then be extended to the disturbed landscapes located further within the preserve that have endured artificial alterations in the past, because it is in these locations that the invasive species find their foothold and begin to smother their surroundings. Furthermore, the old, undisturbed coves should be placed on monthly surveys by the landscape grounds team because they contain the truest reflection of the native landscape and soundscape that continues to disappear within Atlanta as urbanization increases. These fragile ecosystems are invaluable to the identity of Northern Georgia and the soundscapes within them should remain privy to the few individuals who seek them out, but must be clearly documented and protected within the preserve. Conclusion: Natural soundscapes are retreats for city dwellers, whether they are consciously sought out or passively experienced. Visitors continually note that Lullwater not only provides a space of clean air, but also natural, contemplative quiet. This immersive experience is an escape from the rigors of city congestion and promotes active lifestyles while releasing stress. The deeper the visitor moves towards the center of the preserve, the further away he or she travels from noise pollution. No other area in Atlanta has the capacity to positively assuage so many people from the noise characteristic to the urban metropolis. The Lullwater Management Plan is the only document circulating within Emory University that has the capacity to delineate the significance and subsequent maintenance of the soundscape as a resource and cultural commodity. It is the responsibility of Emory University to acknowledge the history of the landscape within Lullwater Preserve and its present sub-soundscapes, micro-habitats, and visitor perceptions of this urban refuge.
The whole island is in the shape of a giant square with white sandy beaches full of people sunbathing, swimming and fishing right on the shoreline. From the end of the hot pavement parking lot to shore of the beach is an ocean of soft white sand. The pearlescent white sand seems to know how to invade every nook and cranny almost as if it enjoys it. Walking around the beach on the fluffy whiteness surrounding the parking lot, the seagulls are fighting over scraps of food on the ground. “Sandy beach ecosystems provide invaluable services to humankind. Their functions have been exploited through history, with significant anthropogenic effects (Lucrezi, 2015)”. This white sandy beach is a beautiful refuge from the mundane grind of everyday life. The smell of the misty ocean air mixed with the sound of seagulls hovering above and kids playing is a tonic for the mind. The feel of the sand between their toes and the waves crashing over them as people swim in the water, or the jerk of a fishing pole when someone is catching a fish makes Fred Howard Park one of the best places to relax. Standing on the beach looking out on the water, people are kayaking and windsurfing. The lifeguards watching vigilantly in their bright red shirt and shorts, blowing their whistles when they see someone being unsafe. After a long day of swimming and laying around visitors head back over the soft white sand to the showers, in order to rinse off the menacing sand that clings to everything like a bad habit. Everyone rushes over the hot pavement burning their feet to reach their cars so they can put away their beach paraphernalia which is still covered in the white sand, nearly impossible to completely leave behind, so when they get home it serves as a reminder of where they were that
Perhaps the most devastating disregard of the Fraser Valley’s biodiversity was the draining of Sumas Lake to create farmland, resulting in the loss of habitat and the extirpation of endemic species. As it was originally intended to be, the Fraser Valley was a “perhaps unparalleled ecosystem” (Rosenau, p. 55), with bountiful wetlands and remarkable biodiversity. The European settlers 150 years ago considered it to be “wasteland” (Thom, p. 172), certainly uninhabitable and a breeding ground for mosquitoes, so the most logical thing to do would be to drain the body of water once known as Sumas Lake...
There is no better feeling in this world than to be outdoors with nature, especially when there are numerous activities to dabble in. Often times people take for granted the sentimental value that they can experience by simply walking through a park. God created the Earth to be beautiful and peaceful, and people need to keep it that way. I have always shared a love of the outdoors with my dad and my brother. We have gone on numerous camping, hiking, fishing, and star-gazing trips ever since I can remember. It was no surprise to me when my dad decided to buy a lake house on Hyco Lake, right outside of Roxboro. We got a really good deal on the house, so my dad decided that Hyco Lake was the perfect spot.
An Environmental History of Long Island Sound. " Journal of the American Planning Association 69 (2003): 321. BigChalk. 9 Nov. 2005. The Sound Book. 8 Nov. 2005 .
By carelessly shifting around organisms, with their awesome genetic potential, we have caused major ecological disasters. Gone is the most important tree in the Northeast, the American Chestnut, our premier landscaping tree, the American Elm, and gone are huge tracts of productive fresh water marsh. Now these marshes contain only monocultures (only one species present) of purple loosestrife.
Wilderness is a highly idealized concept in today’s society – we simply put it on a pedestal and choose to admire it as we see fit. Nature and wilderness are considered distant and remote concepts, separate from our everyday, civilized lives. By approaching the natural realm in this sense, we simply detach ourselves from our origin, which leaves us to fantasize about the great outdoors as an escape from the artificial creations of our everyday life. This desire to escape our artificial lives has lead to the construction of locations such as national parks, which merely appear to be the natural world, yet in reality they are simply just facets of the modernized world we have created.
Did you know that you happen to be surrounded by invasive species? These species are animals that come into areas they do not belong in. The articles, “Invaders among Us,” and “Invader Alert,” show this. They harm the environment, cost tons of money in damage and extermination, and they have to be prevented.
The more than four hundred locations that are currently recognized as national parks have been set aside because they are considered special places of beauty, character, or uniqueness. Whether visitors come from the natural state or the concrete jungle, the magnificent aesthetics of these sites can cause anyone to be astonished. As they ponder on the wonderful landscapes and the closeness to the wilderness, their souls are nourished. Some people acknowledge the planet or the creator, but all appreciate the splendor of biodiversity and gain a new understanding of it. According to Frye and Nuest, “watching other species and interacting with them helps [people] better understand and appreciate [their] place among them and [their] obligations to other living creatures and the same planetary environment that sustain both [their and the lives of other species]” (54). Furthermore, since these sites have been carefully preserved, they have undergone very little physical or geological change in centuries. The NPS claimed through its website that “by preserving biodiversity, [they] also ensure that future citizens, artists, and explorers of science experience [America’s] lands as the founders of the parks did long ago.” National parks allow visitors to relive scenes from the past and appreciate the nation’s history as expressed in these iconic sites. However,
Landscape fragmentation can be characterized as a break up of a continuous landscape into more smaller, less-connected patches by roads, clearing for agriculture, commercial and residential development, and timber harvesting. Clear-cutting can break up mature, contiguous forest until the clear-cut area has regenerated to a point that it does not act as an ecological barrier to interior species or species that rely on continuous, mature forests. Much of the work that has sought to measure landscape pattern and habitat fragmentation comes out of the disciplines of conservation biology and landscape ecology (Theobald 1998). These disciplines are founded on the premise that landscape patterns strongly influence and are influenced by ecological processes (Forman and Godron 1986).
This pristine environment also provided habitat for great diversity of plants and wildlife. Hundreds of species of native plants thrived in forest, marsh, and meadow. But now, in scarcely a century, an equilibrium that endured for thousands of years is rapidly being lost due to environmental degredation and resource values are steadily deteriorating because of human activities. While there is an appearent lose of wildlife and environment that exists in The Lake Tahoe Basin, there is also an insurgance of environmental conservation that has become increasingly powerful in the attempt at stopping these adverse affects on the environment from happening in the hope that the beauty of Lake Tahoe will continue to exist for generations and generations more.
Zipkin, Elise F., Kraft, Clifford E., Cooch, Evan G., and Sullivan, Patrick J., “When Can Efforts to Control Nuisance and Invasive Species Backfire?,” Ecological Applications, Vol. 19, No. 6 (2009): 1585-1595, accessed October 11, 2013. http://www.jstor.org/stable/40346271.
I am surrounded by the splendor of the nature. On a moderately sunny morning, birds are peeping while sitting on the gigantic mature tree in the park. The stream of water rising from the fountain is crafting a magical melody. The mesmerizing winds have imprisoned everyone’s attention. The bright colorful flowers are depicting the charms of their juvenile. Different pleasant sounds in the environment are contributing to the concerto of nature. Leaves rustling in the cool breeze are an amazing part of the environment. A young couple sitting on the bench beside the fountain is relishing the pleasant sight.
On the first level, when foreign, but previously non-invasive species is first introduced to a new area, the new species may play a role in a community that was previously unfulfilled; it may fill a vacant niche in the ecosystem. Originally this new species may be seen as a useful contributor to its new surroundings because it has only (temporarily) increased biodiversity in the area (Meinesz, 2003).
* Daily, Gretchen C., ed. Nature’s Services: Societal Dependence on Natural Ecosystems. Washington, D.C.: Island Press, 1997.
Outdoor recreation is something that everyone needs. Finding that place within yourself that allows you to forget about everything. Whether that be playing with your kids in the nearby park, fishing with your grandfather, hiking with someone or just by yourself you learn something new about yourself. Some people use recreation to forget about something and they use being outside as a calming effect. Williams and Stewart (1998) believe that nature, as a place, creates an emotion bond, has a complex meaning to the person, and that people have this draw back to the place. To get the same feeling that someone would get while doing an activity in nature to simulate Williams and Stewart’s (1998) belief, I recently participated in an