Extended Discussion on Forestry as well as Species that Once Existed: Robby Buck

                    Extended Discussion on Forestry as well as Species that Once Existed

Massive forest fires are prevalent primarily because forests have been slashed, and ground clutter has not been cleared. This neglect allows the ground clutter to dry out, making it highly unstable and flammable. As a result, various species have gone extinct in different regions worldwide. For instance, beavers have locally gone extinct in Wisconsin, which is detrimental to the environment since beavers are a keystone species that create wetland refuges for wildlife.

When a forest is destroyed, a process called succession occurs, where it initially transforms into shrubland, which is then colonized by forest species. This is followed by the growth of young, fast-growing trees, and eventually, slower-growing hardwood trees. This process is crucial; if a fire occurs, having a diverse ecosystem allows for recovery. However, if an area remains in a disturbed state without recovery, it can reach an alternative stable state, preventing it from returning to its original form.

Certain plants, such as osage oranges, pawpaws, and avocados, used to be spread by giant ground sloths. However, after these ground sloths went extinct around 30,000 years ago, around the time humans first arrived in North America, these plants lost their primary means of distribution. Instead, deer and other animals have tried to fill this role. In areas where deer populations are high and predators are absent, such as wolves, which have been largely eradicated in the eastern states by hunters seeking to protect their cattle, the problem intensifies.

Regarding deer ticks, an increase in deer leads to a higher prevalence of Lyme disease. Conversely, fewer squirrels and white-footed mice result in fewer deer ticks reaching adulthood, consequently reducing the risk of Lyme disease transmission to humans and deer. Originally, the passenger pigeon occupied the ecological niche now filled by small arboreal animals that consume tree nuts and seeds. Passenger pigeons helped control tick populations because they would eat the ticks and could fly away, unlike squirrels and mice, which remain vulnerable to becoming targets for deer ticks.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Kip Redick Example of a Student's Choosing

  This is an example of a topic of the student's choosing.   During the summer of 2022, I attended an environmental encounters trip to Iceland with Dr. Kip Redick, Dr. Joe Balay, and 14 other students. It was a two week trip, but those short two weeks completely changed my life. I learned about more things than I thought was possible in 14 days, and I've never been more interested in learning before. It completely opened my eyes to a whole new perspective, on how the world should live, and what the environment should look like. Everyone was so kind, and they are the most environmental conservative countries.  While there, we did many different activities, including hiking on a glacier. It was so fun, but exhausting and kind of sad at the same time. It was obvious to see how much the glacier have had melted in the past years due to global warming, as there was a large glacial lake at the bottom with melted ice, and the glacier was all rock and sediment before w...
Read more

Kip Redick Example of an Outside Reading Post

 Recently I decided to give the renowned masterpiece by Jon Krakauer known as Into the Wild  another read. Needless to say I was just as heartbroken as the first time I read this novel/watched the 2007 film. I felt the need to discuss the work here simply because I feel it relates to a lot of discussions we have been having in class. I mean think about it, a young man sets out across the country to explore creation as it was intended to be experienced. As the story progresses, I remember being left with a sense of wonder, even thinking things along the lines of "I wonder would what happen if I just decided to do this one day?" I feel it's common knowledge how this story ends by now, with the main protagonist passing away alone in the wilderness, no one around for miles due to accidentally ingesting a poisonous plant. Although I have previously discussed how nature is God's most pure creation and should be treated as such, I feel I need to address a differ...
Read more

Kip Redick Student's Free Choice Example

  Here is an example which would be a free choice entry.    Since last semester, I have been on e-board for the Green Team at CNU. I am the sustainability and research chair and my role is to make campus more green and sustainability which is challenging because CNU tends to be stubborn and not want to change. Although I have been struggling to do my job and change things, I have gotten so much insight from the other Green Team members because we come from different customs and view points. We have bonded over our love for the environment and our need to change. We have our own rituals were we try to connect with nature through meditation, yoga, and reciting poems and sharing ideas. We have a big/little system called Oaks and Acorns in order for new members to know how the group works and become close to each other. Green Team is not dominated by one class, one religion, or one race. That is why I love this organization so much. We are all accepted and brought...
Read more