Rainforest
1. What is the function of the Center for Tropical Forest Science (CTFS)?
A group who study the rainforest of the world who work together to find out how rain forests function and how they are going to change for in the future.
2. Why are the trees given the title of “engineers” of the tropical rain forest? Trees provide the habitat that all organisms depend on. Trees create the structure in the forest and are central to the ecosystem.
3. Why does a high-density species suffer greater mortality rates than rare density species?
High-density species, or common species, have many pathogens that have adapted to it and are more likely to get attacked and die more often also known as density-dependent processes.
4. Why do tropical rain forests have such immense diversity? How do they maintain their diversity? Each species of trees create a special environment for many different kinds of organisms which create diversity.
One way trees have adapted is that they become specialists to survive in harsh conditions.
5. What role do tropical forests play in stabilizing climate and atmosphere?
Rainforest's absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and by cutting down trees it is contributing to climate change.
A group who study the rainforest of the world who work together to find out how rain forests function and how they are going to change for in the future.
2. Why are the trees given the title of “engineers” of the tropical rain forest? Trees provide the habitat that all organisms depend on. Trees create the structure in the forest and are central to the ecosystem.
3. Why does a high-density species suffer greater mortality rates than rare density species?
High-density species, or common species, have many pathogens that have adapted to it and are more likely to get attacked and die more often also known as density-dependent processes.
4. Why do tropical rain forests have such immense diversity? How do they maintain their diversity? Each species of trees create a special environment for many different kinds of organisms which create diversity.
One way trees have adapted is that they become specialists to survive in harsh conditions.
5. What role do tropical forests play in stabilizing climate and atmosphere?
Rainforest's absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and by cutting down trees it is contributing to climate change.
Yellowstone National Park
6. What is the focus of Robert Crabtree’s research project in Yellowstone National Park?
To research the cascading effect of the elimination and reintroduction of the Wolf.
7. What was the cascade effect of the elimination of the Park’s wold population after 1926? Consider the following in your answer: willow, beaver, and elk populations. After eliminating the wolf the elk population skyrocketed and started consuming most of the vegetation in the Lamar Valley. Many species, such as beavers, that depended on this vegetation dwindled in population. Willow is a main staple in the elks diet and has since been almost extinct from the rapid consumption of the growing elk population.
8. Food chains and webs can be shaped from the “top down” or from the “bottom up”. Which of these two categories best describes the wolf reintroduction project of 1995 and 1996?
The effect of reintroducing a carnivore, such as the wolf, to Yellowstone Park has a “top down” shape on the ecosystem.
9. What are the “hot spots” in Yellowstone and how are they important o the wolf reintroduction research project?
The “hot spots” in Yellowstone have the most biodiversity and consist of streams, rivers, and lakes known as riparian habitats. By reintroducing the wolf it has effected the willow population.
10. How can the data from a tropical rainforest that explains species diversity and abundance be helpful in managing and protecting temperate forests such as those in Yellowstone National Park or any other ecosystem on earth.
By learning from the interactions of different species in rain forests we are able to gain reference for understanding preservations methods in other ecosystems.
11. Sketch or represent in some way the pyramid of energy flow for willows, beavers, elk, and wolves in Yellowstone National Park. Label the percent of high quality energy that persists at each level.
Wolves < Beavers and Elk < Willows
Wolves depend on beavers and elk for food source thus using 10% of the high quality energy.
Beavers and Elk consume the willow for there nutrition and are using 10% of the energy.
Willow absorb the sunlight for there energy thus using 100% of available energy.
To research the cascading effect of the elimination and reintroduction of the Wolf.
7. What was the cascade effect of the elimination of the Park’s wold population after 1926? Consider the following in your answer: willow, beaver, and elk populations. After eliminating the wolf the elk population skyrocketed and started consuming most of the vegetation in the Lamar Valley. Many species, such as beavers, that depended on this vegetation dwindled in population. Willow is a main staple in the elks diet and has since been almost extinct from the rapid consumption of the growing elk population.
8. Food chains and webs can be shaped from the “top down” or from the “bottom up”. Which of these two categories best describes the wolf reintroduction project of 1995 and 1996?
The effect of reintroducing a carnivore, such as the wolf, to Yellowstone Park has a “top down” shape on the ecosystem.
9. What are the “hot spots” in Yellowstone and how are they important o the wolf reintroduction research project?
The “hot spots” in Yellowstone have the most biodiversity and consist of streams, rivers, and lakes known as riparian habitats. By reintroducing the wolf it has effected the willow population.
10. How can the data from a tropical rainforest that explains species diversity and abundance be helpful in managing and protecting temperate forests such as those in Yellowstone National Park or any other ecosystem on earth.
By learning from the interactions of different species in rain forests we are able to gain reference for understanding preservations methods in other ecosystems.
11. Sketch or represent in some way the pyramid of energy flow for willows, beavers, elk, and wolves in Yellowstone National Park. Label the percent of high quality energy that persists at each level.
Wolves < Beavers and Elk < Willows
Wolves depend on beavers and elk for food source thus using 10% of the high quality energy.
Beavers and Elk consume the willow for there nutrition and are using 10% of the energy.
Willow absorb the sunlight for there energy thus using 100% of available energy.
