Ecosystems
View allAll Photos Tagged ecosystem
More and more wanted in our fragile Ecosystem.
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Dear friends,
unfortunately, I didn't have much time for Flickr lately.
...My thoughts and wishes go to the people in regions hit by a horrible heatwave lately ( North America) and the regions in my country (North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate),
parts of Benelux Union, Denmark and Austria ,
hit by a devastating flood disaster some days ago..Fingers crossed.
From tomorrow on, I will be away now for about 10 days.
Many thanks for your kind visits and comments.
Looking forward to watch your lovely images after may return.
Wishing you a safe and happy weekend.
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Ein Traum von einer Wildblumenwiese
Mehr und mehr gewünscht und praktiziert für unser fragiles Ökosystem.
Liebe Flickr Freunde,
Meine Gedanken und mein Mitgefühl gehen zu den Menschen ,
die kürzlich von einer extremen Hitzewelle (Nordamerika) heimgesucht wurden und den Opfern und ihren Angehörigen in den Gegenden von Deutschland (Nordrhein-Westfalen und Rheinland-Pfalz), Teilen der Benelux-Staaten und Österreich, die von einer fürchterlichen Flutkatastrophe überrascht wurden. Viele stehen schlichtweg vor dem Nichts...
Leider hatte ich kürzlich wenig Zeit für Flickr und werde nun ab heute für ca. 10 Tage abwesend sein.
Ich freue mich auf Eure neuen Bilder nach meiner Rückkehr.
Danke für Euern Besuch und Eure Kommentare.
Auf bald.
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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
Lycoptera (fish fossil) 11x12x.4 cm
Liaoning Prov, China.
Lycoptera were small, freshwater fish that lived from the late Jurassic to Cretaceous periods (125-135 million years ago), in present-day China, Korea, Mongolia, and Siberia. This species is a member of the Jehol Biota, a prehistoric ecosystem known for its early birds and feathered dinosaurs.
Lion fish is harmful to humans. It is a genus of venomous marine fish, officially named Pterois, native to the Indo-Pacific. Also called firefish, turkeyfish, tastyfish, or butterfly-cod, it is characterized by conspicuous warning coloration with red, white, creamy, or black bands, showy pectoral fins, and venomous, spiky fin rays. Juvenile lionfish have a unique tentacle above their eye sockets that varies in phenotype between species. The evolution of this tentacle is suggested to attract new prey.
The lionfish is a successful invader. It’s important to note that in its native region, this species isn’t especially abundant.
To date, there have only been occasional reports of lionfish in the western Mediterranean. But In the past 5 years, the threat of a lionfish invasion in the Mediterranean seems to materialize. Sightings of the lionfish P. miles in the coastal waters of southern Cyprus and Greece are becoming more and more frequent - I met this one snorkeling, as you can see.
It’s important to point out that the invasions of exotic species are not the only threat to Mediterranean ecosystems. In fact, there are multiple threats, including overfishing and climate change. Water temperatures in this sea are constantly increasing and invading species are expanding. Both factors cause changes in the marine community and tropicalization phenomenons.
Karpathos island, Greece.
Amboseli National Park, formerly Maasai Amboseli Game Reserve, is in Kajiado County, Kenya. The park is 39,206 hectares (392 km2; 151 sq mi) in size at the core of an 8,000 km2 (3,100 sq mi) ecosystem that spreads across the Kenya-Tanzania border.
Amboseli National Park offers some of the best opportunities to see African wildlife because the vegetation is sparse due to the long, dry months. The protected area is home to African bush elephant, Cape buffalo, impala, lion, cheetah, spotted hyena, Masai giraffe, Grant's zebra, and blue wildebeest. A host of large and small birds occur too.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amboseli_National_Park
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 ❤️
at dawn in Enonkishu Conservancy in the Greater Masai Mara ecosystem, Kenya
Although coucals are related to cuckoos they are not brood parasites.
These mid sized birds are no easy subjects as they move around in bushes and thickets all the time. Early in the morning is the best time in my experience.
Centropus superciliosus
Wenkbrauwspoorkoekoek
Coucal à sourcils blancs
Weißbrauenkuckuck
Cucal cejiblanco
Cucal cigliabianche
Cucal-de-sobrancelhas-brancas
Many thanks for your views, favorites and supportive comments.
All rights reserved.
Fons Buts©2025
My photos may not be used on websites, blogs or in any other media without my written and explicit permission.
this shrike species was called Common Fiscal but now it has been split into 2 species , the Northern and the Southern Fiscal. It was also called Fiscal Shrike in the past
Enonkishu Conservancy in the Greater Masai Mara ecosystem, Kenya
Lanius humeralis
Noordelijke gekraagde klauwier
Pie-grièche à dos noir
Stanleywürger
Alcaudón Fiscal Norteño
Fiscal settentrionale
picanço-fiscal-do-norte/picanço-de-dorso-preto
Many thanks for your views, favorites and supportive comments.
All rights reserved.
Fons Buts©2025
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
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.
Native Cockroach (Balta family, poss B. epilamproides)
Our native Cockroaches are not like regular indoor Cockroaches. They are a valuable part of the ecosystem, and do not venture into homes.This is the first I have seen and photographed. I was amazed by its 'lacy' wings.
Happy Wing Wednesday!
during the last game drive in Lemek Conservancy we saw the third male of the coalition for the first time and he was now also following the mating couple, just like the second one.
The mating pair is shown in the first comment box.
This was in the morning and obviously this third male had been in a fight shortly before
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.
Parque Nacional Las Tablas de Daimiel, Villarrubia de los Ojos, Ciudad Real, Castilla-La Mancha, España.
El parque nacional de las Tablas de Daimiel es un espacio natural protegido español que protege el humedal homónimo. Se encuentra situado en los términos municipales de Daimiel y Villarrubia de los Ojos, en la provincia de Ciudad Real, comunidad autónoma de Castilla-La Mancha. Es además una zona de especial protección para las aves (ZEPA) y parte de la Reserva de la Biosfera La Mancha Húmeda. Con 192 025 visitantes anualmente (2015), las Tablas de Daimiel es el decimotercer parque nacional más visitado de España.
Las Tablas son uno de los últimos representantes de un ecosistema denominado tablas fluviales que se forman al desbordarse los ríos en sus tramos medios, favorecidos por fenómenos de semiendorreísmo y la escasez de pendientes. El humedal se forma en la confluencia del río Guadiana y su afluente Cigüela y es uno de los ecosistemas acuáticos más importantes de la península ibérica por la variedad y calidad de la fauna y flora que habitan en ella, así como por aquellas aves que la emplean en los pasos migratorios. Las Tablas sirve de refugio a más de 2.000 especies (plantas, aves, insectos, peces, réptiles... ).
Las Tablas son el último representante de un ecosistema denominado tablas fluviales que se forman por los desbordamientos de los ríos en sus tramos medios, favorecidos por fenómenos de semiendorreísmo y por la escasez de pendientes.
El parque cuenta con unos humedales formados a partir de la confluencia del río Guadiana y su afluente Gigüela y es uno de los ecosistemas acuáticos más importantes de España debido a la fauna y flora que habitan en ella. También es importante por el gran número de aves migratorias que pasan por la zona como los ánades y los ánsares.
Las Tablas de Daimiel pueden considerarse, dentro de una clasificación hidrológica-estructural de los humedales, como un "hidrohumedal de recarga"; en teoría, con disposición plurianual de agua superficial, que recarga constantemente el acuífero infrayacente. Aunque en los tiempos actuales, a veces se asemeja más a un "higrohumedal", de recarga temporal.
Las Tablas de Daimiel están formadas por las aguas de dos ríos de diferente naturaleza, lo que las convierte en un ecosistema privilegiado: el agua del río Gigüela que procede de los páramos de Cabrejas en la serranía conquense aporta aguas salobres, mientras que el río Guadiana aporta aguas dulces que surgen de sus ojos aproximadamente a unos 15 km al norte del parque nacional, en el término municipal de Villarrubia de los Ojos.
The Tablas de Daimiel National Park is a protected natural area in Spain that protects the wetland of the same name. It is located in the municipalities of Daimiel and Villarrubia de los Ojos, in the province of Ciudad Real, autonomous community of Castilla-La Mancha. It is also a special protection area for birds (ZEPA) and part of the La Mancha Húmeda Biosphere Reserve. With 192,025 visitors annually (2015), the Tablas de Daimiel is the thirteenth most visited national park in Spain.
The Tablas are one of the last representatives of an ecosystem called river tables that are formed when rivers overflow in their middle sections, favoured by semi-endorrheism phenomena and the lack of slopes. The wetland is formed at the confluence of the Guadiana River and its tributary Cigüela and is one of the most important aquatic ecosystems in the Iberian Peninsula due to the variety and quality of the fauna and flora that inhabit it, as well as the birds that use it for migratory passages. Las Tablas serves as a refuge for more than 2,000 species (plants, birds, insects, fish, reptiles...).
Las Tablas is the last representative of an ecosystem called river tables, which are formed by the overflow of rivers in their middle sections, favoured by semi-endorheism phenomena and by the lack of slopes.
The park has wetlands formed from the confluence of the Guadiana River and its tributary Gigüela and is one of the most important aquatic ecosystems in Spain due to the fauna and flora that inhabit it. It is also important because of the large number of migratory birds that pass through the area, such as ducks and geese.
The Tablas de Daimiel can be considered, within a hydrological-structural classification of wetlands, as a "recharge hydro-wetland"; in theory, with a multi-year supply of surface water, which constantly recharges the underlying aquifer. Although in current times, it is sometimes more similar to a "hygro-wetland", with temporary recharge.
The Tablas de Daimiel are formed by the waters of two rivers of different nature, which makes them a privileged ecosystem: the water of the Gigüela river that comes from the Cabrejas moors in the Cuenca mountain range provides brackish water, while the Guadiana river provides fresh water that emerges from its springs approximately 15 km north of the national park, in the municipality of Villarrubia de los Ojos.
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!
The ecosystems around Mud Lake and near the Ottawa River are supportive of the breeding behaviours of a number of species, and a visit now will likely lead to someone finding several fledglings. The Eastern Phoebe is a frequent nester, and cycles of fledglings pop up through the summer.
I was near the edge of the water looking for frogs, who were loud but hard to see. I sat on the ground and started scanning, and in my peripheral vision I saw this young bird land after catching a dragonfly.
Fledgling Phoebes are a bit of a mess, with feathers going everywhere, but they soon begin to look and act like adults. Aside from the seemingly juvenile behaviour, given its willingness to use a perch a metre off the ground and about two metres away from me, the bird hunted successfully like an adult for about ten minutes, always returning to the same perch. This allowed me to do some minor re-positioning to identify the optimal background under the circumstances (ie not wanting to move too much or to do anything to startle the bird).
I had my tripod set up for the frogs, and the bird suddenly turned its head the other direction, and before I could move the camera to follow and recompose I secured this image. Normally I would have framed the image with space in the direction the bird was looking, but this was a happy accident, as I liked the bokeh and it works better behind the bird.
After another dragonfly was captured, it took up a perch higher up in a leafy tree by the water. And I never found the frogs, but I wasn’t disappointed.
Paracas National Reserve - Perù 20221118
The Paracas National Reserve is a Peruvian protected area that protects desert and marine ecosystems for their conservation and sustainable use. Within the reserve there are also archaeological remains of the Paracas culture.
The reserve is located in the region of Ica, 250 km south of Lima and a few kilometres from the city of Pisco. It covers an area of 335,000 hectares, 65% of which correspond to marine ecosystems. The maximum altitude of the reserve is 786 metres.[3]
The reserve includes coastal geographical elements such as: the Paracas Peninsula, Independencia Bay, San Gallán Island and Paracas Bay.
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.
Arts nature dans le Sancy
Du crochet pour fixer ces pépites en verre coloré et pierres volcaniques (environ 3m de hauteur)
une "histoire de résilience et d'harmonie dans l'écosystème" de la tourbière de Picherande
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”.
The National Geographic Society considers the coastal area of southern Peru to be part of the Atacama Desert and includes the deserts south of the Ica Region in Peru. However, other sources consider that the part of the desert in Peru is a different ecosystem, and should properly be named as Pampas de la Joya desert.
A wonderful desert and landscape for a Peaceful Travel Tuesday!
Thanks a lot for your visits, comments, faves, invites, etc. Very much appreciated!
© All my images are protected under international authors copyright laws and may not be downloaded, reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without my written explicit permission. All rights reserved. Please contact me at thelma.gatuzzo@gmail.com if you intend to buy or use any of my images.
My instagram if you like: @thelmag and @thelma_and_cats
Generations ... In a tree's life
Nature Preserve
Captured w/Apple iPhone 8 Plus back dual camera 3.99mm f/1.8
© All rights reserved.
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.
Wetlands are a distinct ecosystem that benefit people through ecosystem services that include water purification, groundwater replenishment, stabilization of shorelines and storm protection, water storage and flood control, processing of carbon (carbon fixation, decomposition and sequestration), other nutrients and pollutants, and support of plants and animals. Put bluntly, no wetlands, no sustainable life for humans.
Source Wikipedia.
World Wetlands Day, February 2, 2022.
After doing some initial work in Capture NX2 for saturation, brightness, and contrast, I exported a TIFF image to work in Color Efex Pro 4. It was then that I ran across a favorite recipe that seemed to really compliment the late afternoon light, adding those warm colors, shadows, and light that comes around sunset.
“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.
With majestic Ponderosa pines towering up to 130 feet overhead, I find that it’s easy to overlook the understory life quietly persisting on the forest floor. Scattered among the pine needles and shade, small Oregon Grape saplings like this one struggle for light and moisture, their holly-like leaves turning brilliant shades of red in early fall. Soon to be blanketed by snow in this northern Montana wilderness, these hardy little plants face a long battle for survival in the shadow of giants.
This photo was taken in early September in the Kootenai National Forest, just a few miles south of the Canadian border. The towering pines shape the forest ecosystem, influencing light and soil conditions, while the delicate balance of understory vegetation sustains much of the forest’s diversity.
Yay for the little guys!
_DSC4388
© Stephen L. Frazier - All Rights Reserved. Reproduction, printing, publication, or any other use of this image without written permission is prohibited.