Taking Flight
The Beetle had taken over a species of tree, ultimately eliminating a source of food, forest canopies, and heating the streams of the park.(hint:ash trees)
What is the Emerald Ash Borer?
As summer comes the beetle comes earlier and stays for longer. This means that the beetle population increases every summer time because they are around for longer. But with an increased population they need more food, certain trees are the prime target for the beetle.
What are the Ash trees
We already know that without the tree canopies of the ash tree the forests are more exposed to sunlight. As more sun hits the forest ground, rivers are now set at higher temperatures. With the increased temperatures this important part of the biodiversity of the park is hurt.
What is Aquatic Life?
The quick process of a population rising and dropping very fast due to outside factors. This pattern is known for a population to exceed its carrying capacity and then falling way below. An example is the wood peckers.
What is Boom and Bust?
We can help the park by the process of replanting and encouraging population growth of natural species in the park. As more native species are present and less invasive species are present the natural equilibrium can start to return ultimately strengthening the park health. When native plant life returns native species will consume and their populations will also increase.
What is restoration?
This kind of pollution causes an impressive unexpected amount of harm to the park. Whether you may be having a late night near the campfire or keep your car headlights on for comfort this affects the wildlife because it could throw off the sleep cycle of animals. When animals come out of sleep early they may lose the opportunity for food and ultimately starve.
What is light pollution?
Due to the larvae of beetle eating cambium the tissue needed to transport nutrients and H2O, and tree growth. This ended up creating many spots in trees filled with food. A specific species benefited most from lots of larvae being available to be eaten, their population even temporarily ‘boomed’.
What is the Woodpecker?
Now that trees are dropping sources of food for little critters are decreasing. Ash trees are known as a keystone species for the great smoky mountains because many animals rely on the trees, from shelter to food they need the trees. With all the bugs taking over the Ash trees nut quality can drop. Now small critters that are known for seed dispersion leave many seedlings in very close proximity. This increased seedling growth competition can affect tree life. Regeneration occurs.
What is Slower forest regeneration?
The water increasingly sets the stage for a new life that thrives in warm wet areas. As this life form’s population increases it creates parasitic relationships with the water life. As this life form gets stronger the overall aquatic population decreases.
What are viruses/parasites/dangerous bacteria/fungal infestations?
As New species enter the environment, such as invasive species. The environment's biodiversity is affected by a biotic presence. What is the balanced state of an ecosystem before an outside threat is introduced/has too much influence.
What is the equilibrium?
When these are introduced to a new environment by humans they tend to ‘take over’. Meaning since this isn’t their natural environment chances are that there are things they may not be endangered by and can continue growth at rapid rates. For example the emerald ash borer severely threatened the ash tree population ultimately affecting all organisms that depended on the tree.
What are invasive species?
As this key component of the atmosphere deteriorates it exposes wildlife to amounts of UV rays that exceed normal capacity. When rays have increased power sensitive plants easily slow their growth and get weaker tissue. This results in less food for those on the second trophic level ultimately affecting everyone above.
What is the ozone layer?
As tree canopies opened up the shrub life of the great smoky mountains to better sunny conditions, much shrub life improved. Except most native species weren’t used to this environmental change, this hadn’t been the state of their original environment. Who was? Invasive species, due to the bird’s role in ecosystems the invasive species population spread. As the birds ate more their population increased which just helped the spread of said invasive shrubs. The natural niche that birds take on as a part of their diets and poop patterns.
What are Seed dispersers?
After the tree eventually dies and fully decomposes small animals that had burrowed and made the logs their homes are basically homeless now. What does this increase in the environment for species?(Hint: When a large group of species are all looking for the same thing what happens?)
What is Competition/ stress?
As parasitic relationships started to spread in the rivers As fish were affected the population of aquatic life suffered from a dramatic decline. As birthrates decreased due to infection fish had trouble reproducing. This is known as...
What is infertility?
As trees are removed insects are lost due to loss of food, then they are not able to decompose the ground, now the soil isn’t as healthy, now plant life is damaged, and those who consume said plants have less options. This is an example of?(hint: what complex system in an ecosystem is damaged?)
What is a trophic Cascade?
As Pollutants fill the air they can incorporate themselves within the precipitation of the park. As this hits the ground it harms plants by introducing toxic chemicals, reducing nutrients, and stunting growth. When plants aren't able to reach max potential by spring and summer they can be killed off easily or not even be an option for critters. This can lead to less seed dispersing.
What is acid rain?