Ecosystems
View allAll Photos Tagged ECOSYSTEMS
The Yellowstone River curls around Bumpus Butte and Calcite Springs on it's way north into Montana.
For me it is typical of the beautiful landscapes one finds in the wonderfully varied ecosystem that is Yellowstone.
Enjoy your Sunday!
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.
female of this beautiful and peculiar eagle species in Mara North Conservancy, Kenya
IUCN Red List Status: Endangered
The Bateleur is a mid-sized African eagle with long wings and a very short tail. It lives in partially open savanna country and woodland within Sub-Saharan Africa. The adults have spectacular colors but the juveniles have a quite uniform brown colors. It may take up to 8 years before the birds have the full adult plumage.
Bateleur is the French word for "tightrope-walker", this aptly describes its distinctive, erratic and unstable manner of flying; the rocking flight motion very much mimics the side-to-side movement of a tight rope walker maintaining his balance. The species also demonstrates some spectacular aerial displays, particularly during courtship.
They prey on mammals (often rodents), birds and reptiles. While looking for food they stay up in the air for up to 8 hours and cover huge distances. Carrion is also a part of their diet, especially for juvenile and immature birds. Many carcasses are often first detected by a Bateleur ( or a Tawny Eagle ) well before the vultures arrive
Terathopius ecaudatus
bateleur
Bateleur des savanes
Gaukler
Águila Volatinera
Falco giocoliere
águia-bailarina
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
a pair found in Enonkishu Conservancy in the Greater Masai Mara ecosystem, Kenya
IUCN Red List Status: ENDANGERED with population trend
updated in 2024 as Decreasing
also Grey Crowned-Crane
Balearica regulorum
Grijze kroonkraanvogel
Grue royale
Grauhals-Kronenkranich
Grulla Coronada Cuelligrís
Gru coronata grigia
grou-coroado-cinzento
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
a subspecies of the Common Buzzard.
In winter the Steppe Buzzard migrates from Central and Northern Asia to the south. Most birds spend the winter in Eastern and Southern Africa but a part of the migrating birds move to the the indian subcontinent or Arabia or the far south of Europe.
It prefers somewhat more open areas than the Common Buzzard.
Seen in Enonkishu Conservancy in the Greater Masai Mara ecosystem, Kenya
Steppe Buzzard
Buteo buteo vulpinus
steppe buizerd
Falkenbussard
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.
……… No problem - good to see some trees being left for nature to ‘tidy up’ as part of the ecosystem allowing the myriad fauna & flora to thrive - well done N/T. Taken at Attingham Park (N/Trust) a few days ago. Alan:-)…….
For the interested I’m growing my Shutterstock catalogue regularly here, now sold 96 images :- www.shutterstock.com/g/Alan+Foster?rid=223484589&utm_...
©Alan Foster.
©Alan Foster. All rights reserved. Do not use without permission.……
Dragonflies are important in wetland ecosystems, vulnerable to wetland drainage, excess nutrients, pesticides and shoreline "cleaning." They eat a broad range of insects from mosquitoes to beetles to other dragonflies. Over 60 dragonflies are found in Central Florida. Some species do not venture far from the water where they breed, while others, such as the Wandering Glider, migrate long distances.
The four-spotted pennant dragonfly is found throughout the southern tier of the United States as far west as Arizona. It's also been spotted in New Jersey. In Florida, its found in most peninsular counties, including all of South Florida, and in a few panhandle counties as far west as Leon and Wakulla. Like other dragonflies, it likes to be around lakes and ponds, since that's where it spends the first part of its life, and that's where it reproduces. The scientific name of the four-spotted pennant is brachymesia gravida. Mature individuals have a dark, slender body, a large black spot between the nodus and stigma of each wing and white stigmas (the only dragonfly with white stigmas). Juveniles are mostly orange-brown with white spots on the side of the face.
This Four-spotted Pennant is from my archives! (Hope I am right about the ID Mary)
Artist: www.lulagoce.com
Lula Goce is a prominent Spanish Contemporary urban artist bringing powerfully evocative photorealistic scenes. She merges people with nature adding a fresh inspiration to her creations.
She is very much connected to her environment: “Feelings, sensations, people, the surroundings, a ray of sun or some morning mist, laughter and tears. Love”.
A micro-ecosystem of mushrooms and lichens nestled in the bark of a red maple tree in Eagle River, Vilas County, northern Wisconsin
SE203576m
The Mighty Pico Paraná
I'm from São Paulo, in southeastern Brazil. Pico Paraná, Brazil's 41st tallest mountain, is a 6-hour and 41-minute drive or about 471 kilometers south of where I live.
Having scaled the 3rd to 7th highest mountains in Brazil, I can say that Pico Paraná, the 41st tallest, was by far the most challenging climb I've done so far.
I've scaled numerous mountains, from the snow-capped peaks of Africa to the technical climbs of the Andes, but nothing could have prepared me for the raw, primal challenge of Pico Paraná. Standing at a towering 1,877 meters (6,158 feet), it's the highest point in southern Brazil.
A Night to Remember I began my ascent at 11 PM on a Saturday night, aiming to catch the sunrise at 6:34 AM. Armed with nothing but determination and a headlamp, I plunged into the dense, primordial forest. The initial three hours were a relentless battle against the unforgiving terrain, as I leaped over massive, exposed tree roots and slogged through muddy trails.
A Vertical Dance As I gained altitude, the challenge intensified. The trail transformed into a series of vertical dance floors, where I navigated sheer rock faces using metal rungs and ropes. I climbed one peak after another, each offering breathtaking panoramas but demanding every ounce of my strength.
The Final Push The final ascent was the most grueling. Without a natural water source, I carried a heavy pack, and the lack of sleep was starting to take its toll. Yet, the allure of witnessing the sunrise from the summit kept me going.
Image: A close-up of the climber's hands gripping a rock face, with a backdrop of lush vegetation.
A Celestial Reward Finally, I reached the summit just in time to witness the sunrise. As the first rays of dawn painted the sky in hues of pink and orange, I stood on top of the world, overwhelmed by a sense of accomplishment. The panoramic view was nothing short of spectacular, stretching as far as the eye could see.
The descent was equally demanding, but the euphoria of reaching the summit carried me through. After 18 grueling hours, I finally made it back to the trailhead. Exhausted but elated, I knew I had conquered one of the most challenging climbs of my life.
Key Points About Pico Paraná:
*Highest point in southern Brazil: 1,877 meters (6,158 feet)
*Part of the Ibitiraquire mountain range: Known for its rugged beauty
*Demanding climb: Requires a high level of physical fitness and technical climbing skills
*Multiple summits: Including Pico Paraná, União, and Ibitirati
*Unique ecosystem: Home to a diverse range of flora and fauna
If you're seeking a truly unforgettable adventure, I highly recommend tackling Pico Paraná. Just be prepared for a challenging and rewarding experience.
PS. The photo I shared captures the moment of descending or returning from the peak, bathed in the warm glow of daylight. In contrast, the ascent of Pico Paraná was an adventure undertaken in complete darkness, guided only by the beams of our headlamps. I'll be sharing breathtaking sunrise photos from the summit very soon.
Another photo of a white fawn lily photo I stumbled upon from last year’s photo archive...I noticed many of these sprouting up in the backyard meadow recently, some already with buds on them, can’t wait to capture more pics of these white beauties in the coming weeks.
The White fawn lily (Erythronium oregonum) is a captivating Pacific Northwest native with nodding, lily-like white flowers on slender stems with a light overlay of green and burgundy on the outer petals, especially at the base along with brilliant orange-yellow stamens. The green foliage is heavily dappled with a dark eggplant hue...the mottling is reminiscent of a fawn's coloring or that of a trout.
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.
Backyard blooms in May...Camas backlit by the setting sun.
Common Camas (Camassia quamash), is native to western North America in British Columbia, California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. The deep blue-violet flowers form along a 24-48 inch flower stalk and are native to the Pacific Northwest, often found in meadows within the Garry oak ecosystem.
It is exceptionally beautiful and a highly sought-after bulb in the ornamental flower industry... it has been propagated and sold to flower enthusiasts around the world.
The camas roots are edible sweet bulbs and considered to be an invaluable native food source for the traditional cultures of the Pacific Northwest. Its taste is often compared to a baked pear, fig, or sweet potato, and was also used to sweeten other foods.
The Camas flower serves double duty...not only exceptionally beautiful but also an exotic food.
Photography: Nikon Z50, Nikkor 200-500, @f5.6, 500mm.
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.
Gonna start a series from the Oregon coast.
Nothing quite like the sounds of flying birds and surging waves against a rocky shore. This was taken near Depoe Bay.
Mountains and their ecosystems are my primary passion but I've felt the pull of the surf more recently. Years in the Navy provided some great surf time when younger. I enjoyed a trip to the southern Oregon coast last year, which I'll post soon. Here's some from an earlier trip to the central OR coast.
Have a wonderful week!
The Saffron-crowned Tanager (Tangara xanthocephala) is a breathtaking subject, and capturing it at La Minga Ecolodge near Cali, Colombia, was a rewarding challenge. This Andean gem, perched elegantly on a mossy branch, stands out with its vivid saffron-yellow crown and iridescent turquoise plumage. The soft, diffused light filtering through the cloud forest canopy provided an ideal setting to highlight the bird’s intricate feather details and the rich textures of its surroundings. This image represents the delicate balance of nature and the beauty of photographing wildlife in its natural habitat.
For this shot, I used the Canon RF 100-500mm lens at its maximum focal length of 500mm, allowing me to capture the tanager from a respectful distance without disturbing its behavior. A shutter speed of 1/500 sec froze the subtle movements of the bird, while an aperture of f/6.7 ensured a creamy background that isolates the subject beautifully. ISO 800 balanced the low light conditions, retaining vibrant colors and sharp details. These technical choices reflect my approach to bird photography—blending precision and respect for the natural world to create images that tell a story.
©2021 Adam Rainoff Photographer
This was such a long zoom, it would have been nice to be able to come in a little closer to these Eagles.
They were so far off in the distance that with the naked eye, it was hard to say if they were even Bald Headed Eagles or not.
This couple sat face to face, perched in this rural area, on what appeared to be a bird house or possible even a feeder of sorts.
Frozen marsh lake in the foreground. Golden Ears Mountains in the background
Pitt Polder Ecological Reserve was established to preserve a fragment of the rapidly disappearing Fraser Valley boglands.
Ecological reserves protect special natural ecosystems, and support research and education. They are not intended for outdoor recreation. However, this ecological reserve is open to the public for non-destructive activities like hiking, nature observation and photography.
Consumptive activities like hunting, fishing, camping, or foraging are prohibited. Motorized vehicles are not allowed.
Reference: BC PARKS
The Pitt River in British Columbia, Canada is a large tributary of the Fraser River, entering it a few miles upstream from New Westminster and about 25 km ESE of Downtown Vancouver. The river, which begins in the Garibaldi Ranges of the Coast Mountains, is in two sections above and below Pitt Lake and flows on a generally southernly course. Pitt Lake and the lower Pitt River are tidal in nature as the Fraser's mouth is only a few miles downstream from their confluence.
The Pitt River drains into the northern end of Pitt Lake. The western shore of Pitt Lake are protected within Pinecone Burke Provincial Park, while most of the eastern shore are protected within Golden Ears Provincial Park. The southern end of Pitt Lake features an extensive marshland called Pitt Polder. While most of this marshland has since been drained for agricultural use, the northernmost portion is strictly protected in order to provide critical habitat for migratory birds.
Wikipedia
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~Christie
**Best experienced in full screen
The rocky shores of Olympic National Park ,
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The Golden Tanager (Tangara arthus) is a vibrant gem of the Andean cloud forests, and capturing this species at La Minga Ecolodge near Cali, Colombia, was a rewarding experience. The soft morning light filtered through the dense canopy, illuminating the tanager’s striking yellow plumage contrasted by its deep black facial markings. Perched against a natural backdrop of lush green foliage, the bird’s pose reflected both elegance and alertness, creating a visually dynamic scene.
From a technical perspective, I relied on a fast shutter speed of 1/350 sec to freeze the tanager’s subtle movements, while an aperture of f/6.7 provided a shallow depth of field, beautifully separating the subject from its surroundings. An ISO setting of 400 allowed for optimal detail retention without introducing unwanted noise, essential in the low-light forest environment. The interplay of natural light and thoughtful exposure choices helped emphasize the bird’s vivid coloring while preserving the surrounding environment’s atmospheric mood. This photograph reminds me of how patience, preparation, and respect for nature converge in a perfect photographic moment.
©2021 Adam Rainoff Photographer
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.
Race Rocks Ecological Reserve is located 17 kilometres southwest of Victoria at the eastern end of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and is the most southerly part of Canada’s Pacific coast. One of its nine islets is the site of Race Rocks Light station, the second oldest lighthouse in Western Canada.
Named for its strong tidal currents and rocky reefs, Race Rocks is a showcase for Pacific marine life, featuring whales, sea lions, seals, birds and a dazzling array of underwater plants and animals. Cold, nutrient-rich waters from the depths of the Pacific Ocean are forced upwards to the surface in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Fast-moving water with eddies and whirlpools at Race Rocks supports an ecosystem very rich in marine mammals, fish, invertebrates and birds.
The little alpine garden in Rogów. It's a popular place in the arboretum :)
The Rogów Arboretum, established in 1925, is the Station of Protection and Shaping of Forest Ecosystems. It covers an area of 54 ha and is of an exceptional character as compared with other centers of the type in Poland or Europe, because it has been built from the very beginning as a research – didactic object and, moreover, it was located in the forest and has been tightly connected with the forest experimental study from the moment of its origin. The Arboretum consists of three basic parts: the dendrological collections (about 22 ha), the forest experimental plots (about 18 ha) and the alpine garden (1.5 ha), which is the most popular for visitors. In addition to the rock garden, which rises 2m above ground level, streams have been created to run through the garden and several smaller ponds have been built, along with a larger one, which contains an island. The alpinarium offers a display of over 400 species and infraspecific taxa of plants, originating from mountainous regions all over the world.
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Ścieżki w alpinarium. Jest to popularne miejsce w rogowskim arboretum :)
Arboretum w Rogowie – należy do grupy najcenniejszych, najbogatszych w gatunki i odmiany drzew i krzewów tego typu ogrodów w Europie. Położony jest w dawnym siedlisku leśnym i ma charakter parku leśnego. Od początku istnienia (1925 r.) podlega pod Wydział Leśny SGGW. Na jego obszarze znajdują się jedne z najbogatszych i najciekawszych kolekcji drzew i krzewów Europy Środkowo-Wschodniej. Najchetniej odwiedzanym miejscem w ogrodzie jest alpinarium. Oprócz wyniesionych na 2 m ponad poziom gruntu skalniaków, założono tu ciąg strumyków, kilka oczek wodnych i 5-arowy staw z wyspą. W rogowskim alpinarium można obejrzeć ponad 400 gatunków i odmian roślin, pochodzących z gór całego świata. W większości są to byliny, ale nie tylko. Rosną tu także krzewy i drzewa terenów górzystych, np. majestatyczne świerki serbskie, kształtne limby czy srebrzyste jodły kalifornijskie.
in Explore 2022-08-16 (#123)
Sally Lightfoot crabs are rumoured to have been named after a Caribbean dancer, due to their agility in jumping from rock to rock, their ability to run in four directions and their capacity to climb up vertical slopes. This extreme agility makes them very difficult to catch.
They are brightly-coloured coastal scavengers, found in the Galapagos Islands and across the western coast of South and Central America. They have an extremely generalist diet, feeding on anything from sea lion placenta to other crabs. This makes them an important part of the ecosystem, as they provide services such as keeping the shore clean of any organic debris and eating ticks off marine iguanas. . Adult crabs show characteristic intense blue and red colouring on their shells, with a white or pale blue underbelly. Younger crabs have darker colouration with red spots, providing a higher degree of camouflage. Every time the crabs moult their shell, the spots become gradually larger, until they obtain the adult colouring.
Female Sally Lightfoot crabs carry their eggs around with them on their stomachs until they hatch into the water. The larvae then swim out to deeper waters, where they consume phytoplankton and undergo a rapid series of moults. Eventually they undergo metamorphosis to become juvenile crabs and swim to shore, where they start to scavenge, becoming bigger and more colourful with each moult. These juveniles tend to travel in large groups until they reach maturity, after which they become largely solitary when not mating. When they are not mating or feeding, the crabs spend their time hiding in cracks in rocks. If they are disturbed, they may spray water or shed one of their legs as a defence mechanism.
Their scientific name is Grapsus grapsus.