View allAll Photos Tagged ecosystems
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.
Grizzly Bear
The Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis), also known as the North American brown bear or simply Grizzly, is a population or subspecies of the Brown Bear inhabiting North America.
Grizzlies, like black bears, come in a variety of colors. They can range from blond to nearly black. Sometimes they have silver-tipped guard hairs that give them a "grizzled" appearance. Grizzlies often have a dished-in face and a large hump of heavy muscle above the shoulders. Their claws are around four inches long. Grizzlies usually weigh around 300-600 pounds but can grow up to 1,400 pounds. Adult Grizzlies can be six feet or more when standing on hind legs, and three to four feet when standing on all fours. Based on a multi-year DNA study, it's estimated that there are roughly 750 grizzly bears living within the Greater Yellowstone Area.
For more info: www.livewaterjacksonhole.com/the-jackson-hole-way/grizzly...
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.
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This photograph captures the dynamic vibrancy of a Bougainvillea in full bloom, its fuchsia bracts creating a lively dance of color against the foliage backdrop. The intense pink-purple hues of the bracts contrast sharply with the verdant green leaves, illustrating nature’s bold and bright color palette. A diligent bee, a tiny yet significant presence, hovers with delicate precision among the blossoms, underlining the essential role these flowers play in the ecosystem. The rich saturation of color, combined with the intricate details of the flowers and visitor, showcases the complex beauty of these hardy plants, often associated with warm, tropical climates. This image celebrates not only the visual spectacle of the Bougainvillea but also the life and activity it supports within its flamboyant embrace.
The Pantanal, formerly known as the Laguna de Jarayes, is the largest wetland in the world. The region, whose name derives from the Portuguese word "pântano" (meaning "swamp"), is located in South America, mostly in Brazil, but also encompassing parts of Bolivia and Paraguay. It covers a total area of 150,000 km².
The Pantanal floods during the rainy season, submerging 80% of its territory. As a result, the Pantanal boasts the world's richest collection of aquatic plants. It is believed to have the densest flora and fauna ecosystem in the world. However, the area is often overshadowed by the Amazon rainforest.
Wood decay fungus along a rain forest trail. These types of mushrooms are an important part of the forest ecosystem and nutrient recycling. More importantly, they are an opportunity to title an image with a word beginning with the letter “x” and a rhyme.
The Rhön Mountains are a group of low mountains in central Germany, located in the states Hesse, Bavaria and Thuringia. They are the product of ancient volcanic activity and are separated from the Vogelsberg Mountains by the Fulda River and its valley.
Wasserkuppe, highest point of Rhön. These mountains are a popular tourist destination. Hikers come for the nearly 6000 km (3750 miles) of tracks through the picturesque scenery, More recently, farmstays are flourishing in the region.
Since 1991, UNESCO has declared the Rhön a Biosphere Reserve on account of its unique high-altitude ecosystem. Photo taken from the Rother Kuppe in Roth.
De Rhön is een middelgebergte van vulkanische oorsprong in het hart van Duitsland in het grensebied van Beieren, Hessen en Thüringen. Het wordt begrensd door de rivieren de Fulda en Sinn in het westen. De Rhön geniet sinds 1991 als biosfeerreservaat erkenning van de UNESCO.
Northchurch Common, Hertfordshire, England
Foggy morning walk
One mature Oak plays host to a myriad of other life forms.
In this photo, the preparation of the ground for the installation of an almond tree, whose shapes resemble tombs, portrays the destruction of an entire natural ecosystem representative of a region.
The long thick branches of green, lush trees entwine and protect the forest by forming a canopy. The forest floor, consisting of decaying leaves, flowers embedded deep into it's soil still gives life to the ferns, grasses, mushroom and tree seedlings. The bushes crowd each other and grow around the trees with, grass covering the forest floor protecting it. It seems chaotic to read doesn't it? This isn't even 1% of the chaos that gives life to an ecosystem & helps it thrive.
Why should we seek stability, when chaos is the reason behind birth, reincarnation (reference: dead leaves & flowers, etc), a full beautiful life & an elegant meaningful death?
I don't want to be stable if I can be a living, breathing, powerful body full of chaos.
Just something to think about.
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The National Elk Refuge lies on the other side of this fence, with the Gros Ventre Mountains behind.
By concentrating and feeding elk in winter, it contributes to the spread of diseases among the elk, deer, and bison in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
Explored # 455 on February 28, 2021. Thank you, everyone, for your favorites and kind comments!
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An aerial view of the majestic volcano Mælifell in the southern Highlands of Iceland.
Le Cosmopolitan Culture Park constitue la partie la plus importante de LABIOMISTA. Le visiteur s’y familiarise avec les éléments centraux dans l’œuvre de Koen Vanmechelen : la nature, l’animal et l’art. Il effectue via un réseau de sentiers pédestres flottants un parcours qui le conduit de lieux de domestication en espaces retournés à l’état sauvage. Il découvre en chemin des espèces animales qui tiennent un rôle essentiel dans l’œuvre du plasticien et l’inspirent. Des couples d’animaux sont rassemblés dans trois enclos d’un hectare environ. Les animaux incarnent la diversité propre à notre planète. Ils constituent avec les plantes, les champignons et autres organismes vivants un nouvel écosystème.
The Cosmopolitan Culture Park is the most important part of LABIOMISTA. The visitor becomes familiar with the central elements in the work of Koen Vanmechelen: nature, animals and art. Through a network of floating footpaths, he follows a route that leads him from places of domestication to spaces returned to the wild state. Along the way, he discovers animal species that play an essential role in the work of the visual artist and inspire him. Couples of animals are gathered in three enclosures of about one hectare. Animals embody the diversity of our planet. Together with plants, fungi and other living organisms, they form a new ecosystem.
টাঙ্গুয়ার হাওর বাংলাদেশের বৃহত্তর সিলেটের সুনামগঞ্জ জেলায় অবস্থিত একটি হাওর। প্রায় ১০০ বর্গকিলোমিটার এলাকা জুড়ে বিস্তৃত এ হাওর বাংলাদেশর দ্বিতীয় বৃহত্তম মিঠা পানির জলাভূমি । স্থানীয় লোকজনের কাছে হাওরটি নয়কুড়ি কান্দার ছয়কুড়ি বিল নামেও পরিচিত।
Tanguar haor located in the Dharmapasha and Tahirpur upazilas of Sunamganj District in Bangladesh, is a unique wetland ecosystem of national importance and has come into international focus. The area of Tanguar haor including 46 villages within the haor is about 100 square kilometres (39 sq mi) of which 2,802.36 ha2 is wetland. It is the source of livelihood for more than 40,000 people. The Government of Bangladesh declared Tanguar haor as an Ecologically Critical Area in 1999 considering its critical condition as a result of overexploitation of its natural resources. In 2000, the hoar basin was declared a Ramsar site - wetland of international importance. With this declaration, the Government is committed to preserve its natural resources and has taken several steps for protection of this wetland.
I started writing something about landscape and colours for this photograph but realised I wasn’t feeling any of it. What I feel when I look at this photo is tranquillity, a sense of peace, a sense of joy and wonder and a realisation that we are incredibly lucky to live in such a beautiful world. So why are we hell bent on destroying it? Not just nature; but each other. Why do all news stories talk about violence, destruction and discrimination? Why have we become such hateful, vengeful beasts? Why don’t we show compassion anymore? Why don’t we ever repent our actions? Is this what we are evolving into?
I wish I had more answers.
We came across a large herd of these dainty creatures and my next few pictures will be of these beautiful herbivores!
Explored 18th January, 2015
“Teach this triple truth to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity.” ~ Buddha
Love the first spring walk in this region along the banks of the Columbia River and the Erosion Channels carved by the Ice Age Floods. So much variety in the landscape, such small differences in local ecosystems and plants and flowers and snakes etc.
Grizzly Bear
The Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis), also known as the North American brown bear or simply Grizzly, is a population or subspecies of the Brown Bear inhabiting North America.
Grizzlies, like black bears, come in a variety of colors. They can range from blond to nearly black. Sometimes they have silver-tipped guard hairs that give them a "grizzled" appearance. Grizzlies often have a dished-in face and a large hump of heavy muscle above the shoulders. Their claws are around four inches long. Grizzlies usually weigh around 300-600 pounds but can grow up to 1,400 pounds. Adult Grizzlies can be six feet or more when standing on hind legs, and three to four feet when standing on all fours. Based on a multi-year DNA study, it's estimated that there are roughly 750 grizzly bears living within the Greater Yellowstone Area.
For more info: www.livewaterjacksonhole.com/the-jackson-hole-way/grizzly...
About an hour into witnessing the majestic, ultra-modern skyline of Vancouver awaken to a new day from Stanley Park, a local resident of the ecosystem flew into my composition. I could only assume It wanted to quietly enjoy the peaceful sunrise as well.
The goose didn’t appear too shy as I shifted my camera gear to get closer to it. I thought its presence added a bit of natural beauty to contrast with the brilliant glass and concrete structures reflected in Coal Harbour.
Once situated and my composition was configured, the goose began to perform what remarkably resembled a morning exercise routine! The extension of its wings looked like a human who stretches his or her arms at full length. Afterwards, it would fold its wings back and call out into the harbour with a loud squawk. It repeated this action a few times.
Funnily enough, a few meters away from me, a small group of people had commenced what appeared to be a tàiji (tai chi) routine of their own as well, starting off the morning in the same manner as the goose.
Later, I was surprised to see I had captured the moment when the goose had initiated its avian tàiji. The image felt worthy of sharing. Enjoy.
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Copenhagen Zoo, a verdant oasis in the heart of Denmark's capital, is home to a diverse array of animal life, from majestic elephants to playful penguins. Among its many captivating residents, the prairie dogs stand out as particularly endearing and endlessly fascinating. These small, highly social rodents, native to the grasslands of North America, bring a surprising slice of the wild prairie to the urban setting of Copenhagen.
A Glimpse into Prairie Dog Life
Upon approaching their enclosure, visitors are immediately struck by the sheer energy and intricate social dynamics of the prairie dog colony. These aren't just animals in a cage; they are a bustling community, constantly engaged in a flurry of activities. One might observe them meticulously digging, their powerful claws sending sprays of earth into the air as they expand their elaborate underground tunnel systems. These "towns," as they are aptly named, are not merely burrows but complex networks of chambers and escape routes, vital for their survival and a testament to their engineering prowess.
Beyond their architectural endeavors, prairie dogs are masters of communication. Their distinctive barks, chirps, and yips echo through the enclosure, each sound carrying a specific meaning within their complex vocalizations. A sharp alarm call sends the entire colony diving for cover, demonstrating their innate vigilance against potential predators, even in the relatively safe confines of a zoo. Conversely, a softer, more conversational series of barks might accompany social grooming, a crucial bonding activity that reinforces their strong communal ties.
Social Structures and Charm
What truly captivates observers is the prairie dogs' rich social structure. They live in family groups called "coteries," where individuals share responsibilities for foraging, sentinel duty, and caring for the young. Pups, emerging from the burrows in spring, are an absolute delight, tumbling and wrestling in playful antics that often draw gasps of "aww" from onlookers. Their curious nature and endearing interactions with adult prairie dogs provide a constant source of entertainment and a valuable lesson in animal cooperation.
In Copenhagen Zoo, the prairie dogs serve as more than just an exhibit; they are ambassadors for their wild counterparts, raising awareness about the importance of grassland ecosystems and the challenges faced by these remarkable creatures in their natural habitats. Their presence reminds us that even in the most urbanized environments, there's a wildness to be appreciated and protected. Watching them, one can almost feel the vast North American plains, a testament to the zoo's success in creating an environment where these captivating animals can thrive and enchant.
Rhine-Main-Danube Canal
Rhine-Main-Danube Canal (German, Rhein-Main-Donau-Kanal), artificial waterway with stretches of canalized river, Germany. The canal section joining the Main and Danube rivers stretches 171 km (106 mi) from Bamberg via Nuremberg to Kelheim, and the whole system from the Main at its confluence with the Rhine to the Danube at Passau near the Austrian border is 677 km (420 mi) long. This forms part of a waterway traversing Europe, connecting the North Sea with the Black Sea and passing through the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, and Ukraine.
From where the Main joins the central canal, to around Nuremberg, the countryside is largely hop fields and pasture, the canal reaching a high point of 406 m (1,332 ft) above sea level. Around Kelheim, the low, wooded hills become more densely forested and more dramatic as the canal reaches the Danube.
A cross-Europe canal like this has been a recurring dream of European politicians; as early as 793, Charlemagne made an aborted attempt to drain land for that purpose. In 1846, Ludwig I of Bavaria—using the labour of Italian Gastarbeiteren—laid the foundations by joining the Main and the Danube. Plans for a Rhine-Neckar-Danube canal were halted by World War I, and Ludwig's Canal was abandoned in 1950. Damage to Nuremberg meant that work only started on the Main above Bamberg in 1959, and did not reach Nuremberg until 1972. Completion dates for the canal were repeatedly revised until its opening on September 25, 1992.
Construction of the canal—costing an estimated total of DM six billion—is partly to be paid for by electricity generation at hydroelectric stations along its course. Eastern European business has been much greater than expected, though fears of damagingly cheap trading have been soothed by tariffs and restrictions that roughly equalize the flow of traffic east and west.
The completed waterway transports goods much more cheaply than by road, and some canal-side land has been bought by big oil companies. It is also popular with pleasure boats. Serious doubts though have been raised by the Bund Naturschutz, a German ecological movement—unique species of wildlife along the canal's course may be threatened and sections of canalized river choked by loss of tidal current. After a campaign working since 1965 and a petition in the 1980s, planners—backed by the pro-canal premier Helmut Kohl and defence minister Strauss—responded by high spending on ecological research and by providing, for example, alcoves cut into the canal's banks, meant to act as miniature ecosystems.
Taken from:
uk.encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_781529615/rhine-main-danu...
This slide (shared by CIFOR) shows acacia plantations and oil palm plantations were responsible for 24% and 29% of deforestation in Riau Province between 1982 and 2007. Some of the plantations have moved into peatland, a carbon rich ecosystem, contributing to Indonesia's high greenhouse gas emissions.
Went out for a walk in the rocky shore of Vuosaari, Helsinki.
I found a nice location and started to wander around.
Found this composition after getting my shoes and socks wet, because I wasn't paying attention to the waves. Lesson learned.
I proceeded to set the tripod, grabbed the camera from the backpack as well as the Sigma 18-35mm lens.
After taking a couple of test shots, it became obviously clear that the image needed a polarising filter to expose more detail underwater, and a graduated filter to calm down the bright sky.
I took three shots, first focusing on the rocks in the foreground, then the partially submerged rocks just a few meters away and then all the way to the island with the trees.
After finishing the trip I sat down in front of the computer monitor and started working on the images. I processed the images the way I liked them and proceeded to focus stacking them in Photoshop.
So here's the result of a lovely mid-day walk with wet shoes, hope you enjoy the image.
Doñana's National park (Spain), Dunes ecosystem,
Doñana's National Park includes five different ecosystems: Beaches, Dunes, Border, Marsh and Forest. The system of mobile dunes of Doñana, unique in Spain, is one of the most beautiful landscapes of the park. The dunes, extremely interesting both from an ecological and a cultural viewpoint, are formed by accumulations of sand whose front of progress has a steeper slope than the part of displacement called tail. The progress of the dunes from the beach buries and destroys the vegetation that finds on its way, forming between two dunes the “corrales”, copses of stone pines and bushes. (www.donanavisitas.es/en)
[ESP] El Parque Nacional de Doñana incluye cinco ecosistemas distintos: Playas, Dunas, Vera, Marisma y Bosque. El sistema de Dunas móviles de Doñana, único en España, es uno de los paisajes más bellos del parque. Sumamente interesante, tanto ecológica como culturalmente, las dunas se forman por acumulaciones de arena cuyo frente de avance tiene una pendiente más acusada que la parte de desplazamiento denominada cola. El avance de las dunas desde la playa entierra y destruye la vegetación que encuentra a su paso, formándose entre dos dunas los "corrales", bosquetes de pino piñonero y matorral. (www.donanavisitas.es)
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Ever since I relocated to the prairie full time, in 2011, Waterton has been one of my favourite spots for photographing wildflowers. It's only a day's drive from my home, and because its ecosystems include both prairie grasslands and mountains, a great many species can be found. Among the beauties there is the delicate-looking, creamy white and yellow Mariposa Lily.
Photographed in Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta (Canada). Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission © 2015 James R. Page - all rights reserved.