Ecosystems
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In 1967, Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve was declared a protected marine life conservation area and underwater park. Formed within a volcanic cone, today Hanauma Bay offers a pristine marine ecosystem after the City and County of Honolulu laid out a plan in 1990 to restore the bay, after years of use from the millions of visitors who visit and love to snorkel Hanauma Bay. Voted Best Beach in the United States in 2016, volunteers have a booth located on the beach level to help visitors learn about conservation of the reef and the types of fish that live there.
In 2002 a marine education center was opened for visitors and part of the conservation plan requires first-time visitors to watch a 9 minute video before entering the park so they can learn about the marine life, preservation and safety rules for the park.
New Caledonia is surrounded by a coral reef with a length of about 1.600km. Therefore New Caledonia's lagoon is known as the biggest lagoon in the world. Because of its' exceptional reef diversity and ecosystem it is listed on UNESCO's World Heritage List.
The lionfish, a longstanding showstopper in home aquariums, is a flourishing invasive species in U.S. Southeast and Caribbean coastal waters. This invasive species has the potential to harm reef ecosystems because it is a top predator that competes for food and space with overfished native stocks such as snapper and grouper. Scientists fear that lionfish will also kill off helpful species such as algae-eating parrotfish, allowing seaweed to overtake the reefs. In the U.S., the lionfish population is continuing to grow and increase its range. This is largely because lionfish have no known predators and reproduce all year long; a mature female releases roughly two million eggs a year.
The spines of this species deliver a venomous sting that can last for days and cause extreme pain, sweating, respiratory distress, and even paralysis to predators, or in some cases, an unsuspecting human.
Music:
"Repeat" by CHRIS COMBETTE, in 'Les Enfants de Gorée' (2010)
open.spotify.com/track/5ErThqPZNKTeyITR3fYNL9?si=hRygwwzP...
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.
Black Tailed Prairie Dog
Keystone species are those whose presence and role in an ecosystem is paramount to the point that they have a disproportionate effect on other organisms within the system. Ironically, though they have a lasting effect on the ecosystem, they are the least in count.
Who knew...they all matter!
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He's even cuter in Large!
Numbers 26:65 “For the LORD had said of them, They shall surely die in the wilderness. And there was not left a man of them, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.”
Tara Salt Flat is located at an altitude of 4 300 m within Los Flamencos National Reserve, near the border point where Chile, Bolivia, and Argentina meet. Tara is set on the crater of Vilama Volcano and it has a rich ecosystem that houses several flora and fauna species.
Les insectes du monde entier sont en voie d'extinction , Plus de 40 % des espèces d'insectes sont en déclin et un tiers sont menacées, selon les chercheurs. Leur taux de mortalité est huit fois plus rapide que celui des mammifères, oiseaux et reptiles. Au cours des trente dernières années, la masse totale des insectes existant dans le monde a diminué de 2,5 % chaque année. A ce rythme, s'inquiètent les scientifiques, ils pourraient disparaître d'ici à un siècle. « C'est très rapide. Dans dix ans, il y aura un quart d'insectes de moins, dans cinquante ans, plus que la moitié, et dans cent ans, il n'y en aura plus » Les insectes sont « essentiels » au bon fonctionnement de tous les écosystèmes, expliquent les chercheurs. Ils pollinisent les plantes, recyclent les nutriments et servent de nourriture de base aux autres animaux. Leur disparition « aura des conséquences catastrophiques à la fois pour les écosystèmes de la planète et pour la survie de l'humanité » L'un des impacts majeurs concerne les nombreux oiseaux, reptiles, amphibiens et poissons qui se nourrissent d'insectes. « Si cette source de nourriture leur est enlevée, tous ces animaux mourront de faim » , « Si nous ne changeons pas nos méthodes de production alimentaire, les insectes dans leur ensemble s'engageront sur la voie de l'extinction dans quelques décennies », écrivent les chercheurs, pour lesquels l'agriculture intensive est la cause principale du déclin des populations d'insectes, en particulier la forte utilisation des pesticides. L'urbanisation et le changement climatique sont également des facteurs importants.
Image prise dans un milieu naturel .
adult bird found in Enonkishu Conservancy in the Greater Masai Mara ecosystem, Kenya
a migratory bee-eater that breeds in semi-arid areas in the southern Sahara and that from October to March can be found in Uganda and parts of Kenya, where it can be seen foraging in woodland, open forest and along the edges of riparian or gallery forest.
Merops albicollis
witkeelbijeneter
Guêpier à gorge blanche
Weißkehlspint
Abejaruco gorjiblanco
Gruccione golabianca
Abelharuco-de-garganta-branca
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Spring of the Pita River.
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In a biogeographic definition, paramo is any intertropical mountain ecosystem, characterized by shrubby vegetation that generally occurs from altitudes of about 3,000 to 4,000 meters or up to 5,000 meters, that is, in regions above the forest line. continuous but still below the permanent snow line. It is found in East Africa, New Guinea, and Central and South America. However, since in each of these regions this ecosystem has a specific name, when discussing Paramos, we refer specifically to Andean Paramos.
In this strict sense of the term, all Paramos are located in the neotropical zone, mainly in northwestern South America, present in Venezuela, Colombia, Peru and Ecuador. The ecosystem occupies over 30,000 km² of South America and represents 7% of Ecuador's territory. In absolute terms, Colombia is home to 50% of the extent of Paramos (in its three branches of the Andes) and the largest Paramo in the world (Sumapaz).
Paramos' climate is characterized by wide daily fluctuations in temperature and humidity. In general, cold and humid, can undergo a sudden and drastic change in which temperatures fluctuate from below freezing to 30 ° C plus in a daily freeze-thaw cycle. High altitude in tropical locations produces a special, cold, low air density atmosphere that allows for greater dispersion of ultraviolet radiation (light and heat). This climate can be summed up in the phrase "winter every night and summer every day."
In Paramo ecosystems, soils are generally recent, of glacial and volcanic origin, and many are still in formation. Its structure is a combination of organic material that decomposes very slowly in cold weather with volcanic ash. They usually have low pH (acidity) because of the abundance of moisture and high content of organic matter. These characteristics contribute to soil water retention, which in turn is the basis of an essential environmental service: the constant storage and distribution of clean water to lower places.
The largest and most known area is the Páramo grass, which covers large areas of the mountain ranges. It extends from approximately 3,500 to 4,100 m in height, and is mainly composed of grasses and small shrubs.
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.
A wetland is a land area that is saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, such that it takes on the characteristics of a distinct ecosystem. The primary factor that distinguishes wetlands from other land forms or water bodies is the characteristic vegetation of aquatic plants, adapted to the unique hydric soil. Wetlands play a number of roles in the environment, principally water purification, flood control, carbon sink and shoreline stability. Wetlands are also considered the most biologically diverse of all ecosystems, serving as home to a wide range of plant and animal life. Source Wikipedia.
Current
May. Rain has been pounding the Adirondacks for several days, and supersaturated the mountains. Seasonal streams have awakened, runoff and percolation feed the flow, all that water finding it’s lowest level and charging the whole Schroon ecosystem. Some miles below the dam at the lake, the river picks up speed on gradients through boulder fields, now inundated and drowned under the flow. They are immovable, their resistance invisible but for the standing waves throughout the volume. A light mist hovers above the raging current. Standing this close, I can feel the vibration of it’s power, urging my blood pressure higher to match the atmosphere I’m in. Here is spring as allegory to life, the relentless wildness of youth, bursting to race ahead towards that age when you don’t. What I wouldn’t give to truly feel that voltage again, and know the trajectory of where I was headed, instead of treading, spent, looking back at where I’ve come. I stay awhile on the edge of the surge, enjoying the power of the season.
These are the Cuchara Mountains, a small isolated range of the Rockies in south central Colorado, very close to the New Mexico border. Winter hangs on for a large part of the year here. This photo taken at almost 10,000 feet elevation shows that it's almost June and none of the aspens in the shot have a single Spring bud on them. There was a cold wind blowing, almost "like off the glacier", it snowed for a short time, mostly uber dry "corn snow", and temperatures dropped well into the 20's that night.
Hard to see, but in the distance is one of the "Spanish Sisters", peeking over the horizon.
Truly one of my favorite alpine ecosystems on the Planet.
When we want to see a Turkey Vulture we usually look skyward where they can be seen soaring in wobbly circles riding the thermal currents with their wings raised in a shallow "V" position searching the ground for dead carcasses.
They have an extremely keen sense of smell necessary to locate carrion since the section of their brain that processes odors is so very large. Because they seem to readily accept humans they are often seen hunting roadsides, landfill sites and farmers fields.
The stomach acid of these birds is so acidic they are capable of digesting almost anything. Their practice of cleaning up carcasses helps us to keep a healthy ecosystem for if the carcasses were left to accumulate and rot diseases would be allowed to spread. They can digest carcasses tainted with rabies, tuberculosis and anthrax without getting sick.
The astonishing fact is this species that stands 2.5 feet tall with a wingspread of 6 feet weighs only about 3 pounds.
This adult bird is approaching a carcass that other birds have been feeding on and left.
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.
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