Ecosystems
View allAll Photos Tagged ECOSYSTEMS
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.
Tessin
My best photos are here: www.lacerta-bilineata.com/ticino-best-photos-of-southern-...
Whole PHOTO SERIES about my garden on my blog: www.lacerta-bilineata.com/post/western-green-lizard-lacer...
My latest ANIMAL VIDEO (warning, it's a bit shocking): www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T2-Xszz7FI
AUDIO (if you want to hear the sounds of my garden in the early morning): www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfoCTqdAVCE
ABOUT THIS PHOTO:
Partly out of fear to bore the Flickr community with too many lizard photos, I thought it would make for a nice change - yet in keeping with the main theme of my gallery - to give interested nature and reptile fans the opportunity to get a sense of the lacerta bilineata habitat where I photographed all the animals on this page.
So this is the second of a (as yet planned) series of pictures (if people like them there will be more) that will show you where all the reptile "action" took place: my garden in the beautiful community of Monteggio in the Malcantone region of the Ticino, Switzerland.
The pictures were taken over a period of over a decade, so there were obviously some changes in the garden during that time, but If you focus on the palm tree - which has grown considerably over the years but is visible in all the photos I plan to upload - you get a sense of the geography of the place.
In summer, which is when this photo was taken, the micro-climate in this particular area of the Ticino can be almost tropical in the sense that it's hot and very humid with frequent thunderstorms and heavy rain, and I often refer to my garden (half-)jokingly as my "little Swiss rainforest". I guess you can see how animals - particularly lacerta bilineata and other lizards - would feel at home in this "tropical paradise" of mine :-)
Apparently - as I learned in the comments here on Flickr - the occurrence of this particular lizard species is a very good indicator that an ecosystem is intact, and my family and I always took great care not to interfere too much in our garden and let nature roam as free as possible.
In return, over the years we were rewarded for this "calculated inaction" with a wide variety of species of plants, insects, lizards and snakes visiting - or by now residing permanently in - our little nature refuge, some of which I managed to capture on camera.
As mentioned before, if people like these photos or are interested in other flora and fauna from my private jungle, I'll upload one every once in a while between lizards, so let me know in the comments if you're interested in seeing more of these or if I should stick to just reptiles ;-)
As always, thank you so much for your interest and feedback, stay safe - and have a great week everyone!
Lacerta
Music:
"Repeat" by CHRIS COMBETTE, in 'Les Enfants de Gorée' (2010)
open.spotify.com/track/5ErThqPZNKTeyITR3fYNL9?si=hRygwwzP...
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
Mara North Conservancy, Kenya
also called Silver-backed Jackal
Lupulella mesomelas
zadeljakhals
Chacal à chabraque
Schabrackenschakal
chacal de lomo negro
sciacallo dalla gualdrappa o sciacallo dal dorso argentato
chacal-de-dorso-negro
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.
Enonkishu Conservancy in the Greater Masai Mara ecosystem, Kenya
Merops bullockoides
Witkapbijeneter
Guêpier à front blanc
Weißstirnspint
Abejaruco Frentiblanco
Gruccione frontebianca
abelharuco-de-testa-branca
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.
this male Lion had been in a fight with another male earlier that day. This huge male won and was seen with a female for a number of days ( see posted image in first comment box ).
The male that lost the fight over the mating rights was seen following the couple at a distance all the time. I have also posted an image of that one.
On my last day also the third male of the coalition was trailing the mating couple. On the image I have posted of that third lion a fresh injury is visible so more fighting had taken place.
Lemek Conservancy in the Greater Masai Mara ecosystem , Kenya
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
Bicentennial Park is a 40-hectare of parkland located 16 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of City of Parramatta. Bicentennial Park is situated on the shores Homebush Bay and is a part of the Sydney Olympic Park in New South Wales, Australia. The Park is a natural heritage site featuring an important wetland ecosystem and parklands. It offers visitors recreation, nature-based tours, environmental education and outdoor event experiences. The park has picnic areas, playgrounds, pathways and cycle ways, access to the wetlands, salt marsh and bird hides. It also features Lake Belvedere, Peace Monument, Treillage Tower, Sundial, 'Cyrus the Great' statue, the Silent Hearts Memorial Garden and water features. Powells Creek runs through the eastern side of the park. The Homebush Bay wetland is occupied by animals that thrive in the salt water wetlands. Bicentennial Park was created by the state and federal governments during the 1980s, to celebrate Australia's Bicentenary in 1988. The project involved recycling 47.4 hectares of former rubbish dump into a regional recreation area and the conservation of 53 hectares of a wetland ecosystem on the Parramatta River. The park was officially opened on 1 January 1988. 52556
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!
Took this shot Keranigonj, near Dhaka, Bangladesh. The monsoon sky was beautiful and the clouds spreading over sky made the landscape amazing!
Amid the misty embrace of Cameron Highlands, this striking bird perches on a moss-laden branch, a silent sentinel of its pristine montane forest habitat. The rich biodiversity of this region provides a sanctuary for countless species, showcasing the delicate balance of nature in this cool highland ecosystem. A true gem of Malaysia's natural heritage.
L’ART POUR SE RECONNECTER À LA NATURE
Dans cette exposition proposée au cœur du 9e arrondissement de Paris, les sculptures
monumentales d’ours et de gorilles de Michel Bassompierre se font les représentants
emblématiques des espèces en danger de disparition. Les nombreuses menaces qui pèsent sur ces espèces révèlent leur extrême fragilité. Leurs habitats, forêts et banquise, sont mis à mal par la pression du changement climatique et celle des humains. Lorsque les populations de ces « animaux totémiques » déclinent, c'est que
déjà la survie des milliers d'espèces végétales et animales qui composent leurs écosystèmes est compromise
.
Le Poursuivi
Passé Maître dans l’Art de représenter les animaux, Michel Bassompierre est le plus
talentueux sculpteur animalier contemporain. L’artiste transcende le bronze et le marbre pour créer ses ours et ses gorilles tout en courbes et en rondeurs.
Si ses œuvres sont le plus souvent réalisées en bronze ou en marbre de Carrare, certaines de ses pièces monumentales peuvent être en résine.
Michel BASSOMPIERRE est l’un des artistes les plus importants dans le champ de la sculpture animalière contemporaine.
Ses ours, chevaux, éléphants et autres gorilles peuplent son atelier, les galeries et les collections du monde entier.
Séduisante et attachante, son œuvre a parcouru le monde, laissant échapper son bestiaire de marbre et de bronze aux quatre coins du globe.
Michel BASSOMPIERRE a su générer une œuvre puissante témoignant d’une maitrise exceptionnelle du dessin, d’une compréhension parfaite des volumes, d’une approche de la lumière où jamais la lumière ne vient heurter l'ombre.
Michel BASSOMPIERRE se débarrasse de l’anecdote pour aller à l’essentiel : une forme pure, des courbes délicates, une lumière enveloppante qui souligne la rondeur des masses dont émanent tendresse et poésie.
The Eastern Gray Squirrel is native to the eastern and midwestern United States, and to the southerly portions of the central provinces of Canada. It is found from New Brunswick, through southwestern Quebec and throughout southern Ontario plus in southern Manitoba, south to East Texas and Florida. Breeding eastern gray squirrels are found in Nova Scotia, but whether this population was introduced or came from natural range expansion is not known.
A prolific and adaptable species, the eastern gray squirrel has also been introduced to, and thrives in, several regions of the western United States and in 1966, this squirrel was introduced into Vancouver Island in Western Canada in the area of Metchosin, and has spread widely from there. They are considered highly invasive and a threat to both the local ecosystem and the native squirrel, the American red squirrel.
Overseas, Eastern gray squirrels in Europe are a concern because they have displaced some of the native squirrels there. They have been introduced into Ireland, Britain, Italy, South Africa, and Australia (where it was extirpated by 1973)
Britannia Conservation Area, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. October 2009.
[Exposition “ON AIR” Palais de Tokyo, Paris.]
Tomás Saraceno’s exhibition ON AIR is an ecosystem in becoming, hosting emergent choreographies and polyphonies across human and non-human universes, among which spiders’ webs. The artworks reveal the common, fragile and ephemeral rhythms and trajectories between these worlds.
//Tomás Saraceno, entouré d’une équipe d’araignées, d’architectes, d’astrophysiciens et de chercheurs, invite à repenser poétiquement notre manière d’être au monde. ON AIR se présente comme un écosystème en mouvement, accueillant une chorégraphie à plusieurs voix entre humains et non-humains, où les œuvres révèlent les rythmes et trajectoires communs, fragiles, et éphémères qui unissent ces mondes.
The southern Oregon coast.
I used a 6 stop graduated neutral density filter to cut down on the light in the sky, then took a longer exposure for the 2nd shot, stacked both shots and masked the sky out on the 2nd frame in the layers pallet, flattened the image and then adjusted the color corrections and that is it, not a lot of work, but the sun did clip out so not much can do about that.
A micro-ecosystem of mushrooms and lichens nestled in the bark of a red maple tree in Eagle River, Vilas County, northern Wisconsin
SE203576m
All photos copyright 2015-2025 by Gerd Michael Kozik No further use of my photos in any form such as websites, print, commercial or private use. Do not use my photos without my permission !
Maya Bay liegt auf der Insel Phi Phi Ley und ist weltberühmt für ihren halbkreisförmigen Strand, der von bis zu 100 Meter hohen Kalksteinfelsen umgeben ist. Der Ort wurde durch den Film The Beach mit Leonardo DiCaprio weltbekannt und zieht seither Besucher aus aller Welt an. Nach einer mehrjährigen Schließung zum Schutz der Natur ist der Zugang mittlerweile streng reguliert, um das empfindliche Ökosystem zu bewahren.
Maya Bay is located on the island of Phi Phi Ley and is world-famous for its crescent-shaped beach surrounded by towering limestone cliffs up to 100 meters high. The bay gained global recognition as the filming location of The Beach starring Leonardo DiCaprio. After being closed for several years to protect its fragile ecosystem, access is now strictly regulated to ensure sustainable tourism.
Thank you for your visit!
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.
A lone egret stands in shallow water, staring out like it’s contemplating every questionable life choice that led it here. Maybe it’s judging the fish. Maybe it’s judging us. Maybe it’s just waiting for someone, anyone, to bring it a coffee.
Its posture says “I’m majestic,” but its expression says “I’m two minutes away from quitting this entire ecosystem.” The wind ruffles its feathers in that dramatic, over-the-top way that only nature’s most theatrical birds can pull off.
There’s no danger here, no lurking horror just a bird who looks like it’s silently narrating a documentary about how tired it is of everyone else’s chaos. And honestly? Mood.
My latest photography is now available for purchase at crsimages.pixels.com/, featuring prints, framed art, and more from my curated collections.
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.
This photo was taken at the wildfire ruins near Medicine Lake, Jasper National Park. A lighting strike started the fire July 2015. The fire burned over 10 days and nearly 1,000 hectares of land. Although fire was a regular part of the ecosystem, it could take years to bring colours back to a stark landscape of blackened trees and charred earth.
Happy Halloween!
♥ Thank you very much for your visits, faves, and kind comments ♥