Ecosystems
View allAll Photos Tagged ECOSYSTEM
A rainforest is an area of tall, mostly evergreen trees and a high amount of rainfall. Rainforests are Earth’s oldest living ecosystems, with some surviving in their present form for at least 70 million years. They are incredibly diverse and complex, home to more than half of the world’s plant and animal species—even though they cover just 6% of Earth’s surface. This makes rainforests astoundingly dense with flora and fauna. Rainforests’ rich biodiversity is incredibly important to our well-being and the well-being of our planet.
Music:
"Repeat" by CHRIS COMBETTE, in 'Les Enfants de Gorée' (2010)
open.spotify.com/track/5ErThqPZNKTeyITR3fYNL9?si=hRygwwzP...
Elephants are among the most intelligent of the creatures with whom we share the planet, with complex consciousnesses that are capable of strong emotions. Across Africa they have inspired respect from the people that share the landscape with them, giving them a strong cultural significance. As icons of the continent elephants are tourism magnets, attracting funding that helps protect wilderness areas. They are also keystone species, playing an important role in maintaining the biodiversity of the ecosystems in which they live.
During the dry season, elephants use their tusks to dig for water. This not only allows the elephants to survive in dry environments and when droughts strike, but also provides water for other animals that share harsh habitats.
When forest elephants eat, they create gaps in the vegetation. These gaps allow new plants to grow and create pathways for other smaller animals to use. They are also one of the major ways in which trees disperse their seeds; some species rely entirely upon elephants for seed dispersal.
On the savannahs, elephants feeding on tree sprouts and shrubs help to keep the plains open and able to support the plains game that inhabit these ecosystems.
Wherever they live, elephants leave dung that is full of seeds from the many plants they eat. When this dung is deposited the seeds are sown and grow into new grasses, bushes and trees, boosting the health of the savannah ecosystem.
Sidenote: (This kind of digital art is certainly not one of my strengths, I don't use photoshop so cutting out the model to place into a background wasn't as easy as I thought. I still have much to learn with this but felt proud enough with what I had achieved to publish this with regards to the subject. Elephants face so many more threats than loss of habitat, as do many more wild life species.)
Thankyou in advance for your support, faves, comments and awards!
I do appreciate you all ❤️
A rainforest is an area of tall, mostly evergreen trees and a high amount of rainfall. Rainforests are Earth’s oldest living ecosystems, with some surviving in their present form for at least 70 million years. They are incredibly diverse and complex, home to more than half of the world’s plant and animal species—even though they cover just 6% of Earth’s surface. This makes rainforests astoundingly dense with flora and fauna. Rainforests’ rich biodiversity is incredibly important to our well-being and the well-being of our planet.
male bird found in Enonkishu Conservancy in the Greater Masai Mara ecosystem, Kenya
Hedydipna collaris
halsbandhoningzuiger
Souimanga à collier
Halsband-Nektarvogel
Suimanga Acollarado
Nettarinia dal collare
Beija-flor-de-colar
Many thanks for your views, favorites and supportive comments.
All rights reserved. Fons Buts©2024
My photos may not be used on websites, blogs or in any other media without my written and explicit permission
Bees vital to stable, healthy food supplies and key to the varied, colourful and nutritious diets we need - essential to feed the world. Save bees, save the ecosystem and save the earth, because we have #OnlyOneEarth.
Lalmatia, Dhaka
Picturesque framing of a mangrove forest, one of the most productive ecosystems on earth.
The coastline of Nabq National Park is fringed by 4.8 km of mangrove forest, the most northerly and the largest in the Red Sea.
A mangrove ecosystem is characterized by salt-tolerant trees and shrubs
adapted to thrive in salty, intertidal environments.
Mangroves have developed impressive adaptations to survive in challenging conditions, including filtration systems to manage salt intake and complex root systems that anchor them in shifting sediments.
Some of the mangroves here have completely become terrestrial and don't grow aerial roots anymore. The grey mangroves of Nabq normally build aerial roots all around them, that are able to desalinate the seawater and to absorb oxygen. They also serve as a stabilization on the muddy and soft substrate. The leafs excrete salt through special pores and keep the degree of salinity within the plant at a low level.
They play a vital role in coastal ecology by stabilizing shorelines, reducing erosion from storms and tides, and providing critical habitat and nursery grounds for a wide variety of marine organisms.
Marine life lives and breeds among the mangrove root systems, while the crowns of the mangrove form a nesting and feeding habitat for shore birds.
For those who follow me you know I love the purity and colors of glacial waters. Most rivers are brown, gray or blue. But rivers fed by glaciers are a wonderful mix of blue and green. They really stand out. And where they flow the ecosystems are spectacular and dynamic, from peaks to rivers/lakes and waterfalls. And wildlife seem to like it there as well.
So hard to pick a favorite place for these special waters, what with Banff's Lake Moraine and Louise, Yoho's Emerald Lake, Jasper's Maligne Lake and other's nearby standing out. Those are my top-spots as you've probably noticed.
Another top favorite tho is Glacier's McDonald Creek, shown here. This shallow pool caught my eye. Shot taken in the fall when flow was low, not cluttered with spring's runoff. I use a polarizer to cut the glare but other than that this is pretty true to what you'll see.
Glacier Park is also amazing for the impressive varied colors of it's rocks, of many hues and tones.
Isn't nature grand?!
Enjoy a wonderful weekend!
Brazil
Cuiaba River
The Pantanal
South America
Happy Caturday!!
The jaguar (Panthera onca) is a large felid species and the only extant member of the genus Panthera native to the Americas. The jaguar's present range extends from Southwestern United States and Mexico in North America, across much of Central America, and south to Paraguay and northern Argentina in South America. It is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List; and its numbers are declining. Threats include loss and fragmentation of habitat.
Overall, the jaguar is the largest native cat species of the New World and the third largest in the world. This spotted cat closely resembles the leopard, but is usually larger and sturdier. It ranges across a variety of forested and open terrains, but its preferred habitat is tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forest, swamps and wooded regions.
The jaguar enjoys swimming and is largely a solitary, opportunistic, stalk-and-ambush predator at the top of the food chain. As a keystone species it plays an important role in stabilizing ecosystems and regulating prey populations. – Wikipedia
The silence is so beautiful and profound, you can hear the leaves gently touching the ground. After a spring and summer of providing the woods with what it needs to survive as an ecosystem, from the silent fungi to the nesting of the songbirds on their branches, trees are one of the most precious resources. Their work is done for the season now and a long winter's rest is ahead, before the cycle starts again with springs warm greeting.
Sawyer County, WI.
October 11, 2016
Kompong Chhnang (Cambodge) - Dès que l’on s’écarte des terrain balisé des zones touristiques, pour s’enfoncer dans le quotidien des Cambodgiens, l’image exotique du pays commence à se ternir.
Le Cambodge est pollué. Une pollution bien visible, comme sur cette photo, où les berges des fleuves ressemblent à des décharges à ciel ouvert. Et puis il y a une pollution plus insidieuse qui tue tous les écosystèmes des fleuves. Il y a de moins en moins de poissons. Et celui qui est pêché est nocif pour la santé de ceux qui les consomment. Cette pollution est liée aux plastiques et aux rejets sans le moindre contrôle des industries. Quant à la construction de nombreux barrages sur tout le cours du Mékong, au nom du développement économique, compromet l’avenir de pêcheurs et la vie traditionnelle le long des rives.
Depuis plus de 15 ans déjà les ONG environnementales, travaux d’experts à l’appui, tirent la sonnette d’alarme. L’Asie reste cependant sourde au désastre environnementale qui est déjà là.
Life is no longer a long, quiet river
Kompong Chhnang (Cambodia) - As soon as you move away from the land marked out in the tourist areas, to plunge into the daily life of Cambodians, the exotic image of the country begins to tarnish.
Cambodia is polluted. Clearly visible pollution, as in this photo, where the banks of the rivers look like open dumps. And then there is a more insidious pollution that kills all the ecosystems of the rivers. There are fewer and fewer fish. And the one that is fished is harmful to the health of those who eat them. This pollution is linked to plastics and discharges without any control from industries. As for the construction of numerous dams on the entire course of the Mekong, in the name of economic development, compromises the future of fishermen and traditional life along the banks.
For more than 15 years now, environmental NGOs, supported by the work of experts, have been sounding the alarm. Asia, however, remains deaf to the environmental disaster that is already there.
A bridge, and many species of birds, trees, grasses and aquatic plants in, around, and over Creekfield Lake in Brazos Bend State Park, Needville, TX.
For the Remote theme of Flickr Friday.
“Urban Ecosystem Restoration” mural painted by Millo for Street Art For Mankind
From the Street Art For Mankind instagram post:
It features the artist’s signature clumsy character in a surreal setting, attempting to reclaim his space in an urban jungle that has forgotten our primary needs. It poetically and powerfully underscores the importance of green spaces in urban environments. The character demonstrates the strength of these spaces, their transformative impact on our reality, and how they enhance our well-being. It’s a clear invitation to reconnect with nature in our cities.
Next up in my mountain ecosystem set is this Rocky Mountain Goat posing among the boulders during a windy morning on Mt. Blue Sky, Colorado.
Picturesque framing of great egrets hunting in a rich intertidal ecosystem, algae-covered rocks and tide pools.
These birds are characterized by their entirely white plumage, long legs, long necks, and pointed beaks
They are typically found in shallow waters, including coastlines, marshes, and lagoons, where they wade to hunt for fish and other small aquatic animals.
Great egrets are known for their elegant and graceful landings, often described as smooth and deliberate, with their long legs and wings outstretched as they approach their landing spot
The calm, clear water of the sea stretches out to a distant horizon under a partly cloudy sky. Shot from Nabq National Park during low tide.
Another coastal ecosystem resident is this Black Oystercatcher.
From the Cornell Lab:
"Among the mussel- and barnacle-covered rocks of the Pacific Coast lives this stout shorebird with a gleaming reddish bill, yellow eyes, and pink legs. Black Oystercatchers spend their entire lives in view of the Pacific Ocean or adjacent bays, in rocky marine habitats that provide both nesting and foraging areas."
This one was foraging on the jetty in Crescent City, California.
This male Harlequin Duck hauled out temporarily on a rock in the creek below Cameron Falls in Waterton Lakes National Park in southwestern Alberta. That protected area in the Canadian Rockies lies within the Crown of the Continent Ecosystem, and is also part of the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park and World Heritage Site (along with Glacier National Park in Montana, USA).
Brittle stars, an alternate common name is the 'serpent stars', are a species-rich class of echinoderms with outstanding regenerative abilities. Living under rocks or in crevices with only the tips of the arms exposed, they are known to be seafloor ecosystem engineers. They reshape the seafloor sediment surface and influence the distribution of other seafloor species. They also provide nutrition to fish, sea stars and crab predators.
Their presence in a sediment sample is one indicator of a healthy benthic community. They embody nature's fragility and resilience.
Shot from the Three Pools shoreline during low tide.
Another denizen of coastal ecosystems, a Northern Sea Otter found in the harbor of Homer, Alaska. This one is part of the southcentral (Alaska) population of sea otters, which occupies the coastal waters from west of Glacier Bay to the eastern edge of Cook Inlet.
Northern sea otters are generally larger than their Southern Sea Otter cousins, with males reaching up to 100 pounds, while females are up to 70 pounds. Southern sea otters, also known as California sea otters, are smaller, with males reaching up to 90 pounds and females weighing 35 to 60 pounds.
The Pine Rocklands of the Florida Keys is an unusual ecosystem, with a rock layer not far beneath the surface. In the United States, the last 2% of the original forest is found only in the National Key Deer Refuge, primarily on Big Pine Key. They are also found on some isolated locations in the Caribbean.
Slash Pine trees (Pinus ellottii), with sturdy taproots, can remain standing long after the death of a tree. So there is an eerie mix of live and dead trees in the pine rocklands. When they finally fall, decomposition is rapid, with little soil buildup. There are "holes" with ponds of fresh water that support a variety of plants and small animals. In the picture, Saw Palmetto is the primary plant in the understory, but about 250 species of plants are found in the Pine Rocklands.
Acts 24:22 “But Felix, having a more accurate knowledge of this way, put them off, and said: When Lysias the officer comes down, I will inquire fully into your matters.”
“A federal judge has ordered the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to further regulate fluoride in drinking water because high levels could pose a risk to the intellectual development of children.”
apnews.com/article/fluoride-ruling-drinking-water-ccdfa11...
That’s odd, the tinfoil hat conspiracy theorists have been warning about this stuff for years. Maybe, just maybe, they are actually right.
This male Long-tailed Sylph (Aglaiocercus kingii) was photographed at La Minga Ecolodge, located in the Río Bitaco Forest Reserve, Valle del Cauca, Colombia. Known for its iridescent green plumage and extraordinarily long tail feathers, the Sylph is a highlight of this cloud forest ecosystem. Perched momentarily on a delicate branch, the bird’s vibrant colors contrasted beautifully with the lush greens of its surroundings. The tranquility of the setting added depth and texture to the composition, creating an image that feels both vibrant and serene.
To capture this moment, I set my shutter speed to 1/4000 sec, aperture at f/6.7, and ISO at 3200—settings initially prepared to freeze the rapid movements of hummingbirds in flight. The natural light filtering through the forest canopy added a soft, diffused glow to the image, while the high shutter speed ensured sharpness during this fleeting opportunity. Moments like these, where preparation meets serendipity, are a reminder of why I’m passionate about wildlife photography.
©2021 Adam Rainoff Photographer
The organisms in the riparian zone respond to changes in river channel location and patterns of flow. The ecosystem of rivers is generally described by the river continuum concept, which has some additions and refinements to allow for dams and waterfalls and temporary extensive flooding. The concept describes the river as a system in which the physical parameters, the availability of food particles and the composition of the ecosystem are continuously changing along its length. The food (energy) that remains from the upstream part is used downstream.
The general pattern is that the first order streams contain particulate matter (decaying leaves from the surrounding forests) which is processed there by shredders like Plecoptera larvae. The products of these shredders are used by collectors, such as Hydropsychidae, and further downstream algae that create the primary production become the main food source of the organisms. All changes are gradual and the distribution of each species can be described as a normal curve, with the highest density where the conditions are optimal. In rivers succession is virtually absent and the composition of the ecosystem stays fixed in time.
TMI: your ART & NATURE
October Contest - Fresh Water Wonder
www.flickr.com/groups/impressionists/
~ai/pixlr