As humans spread invasive species around and alter fire regimes, we change the basic functioning of single keystone species, which ultimately radiates to other species. With whitebark pines declining from 40%-90% throughout their range, these high elevation regions are drastically being transformed. Grizzly bears depend on these fatty pine nuts to get them through the harshest winter months when little else is available. As these tree populations decrease, the fight for survival intensifies. It is time we all think about plant conservation and our role as humans in protecting these truly wild places. I’m here to remind you, and remind myself, that the struggle for survival in Yellowstone is ramping up, and that the decimation of one species radiates throughout the food web, which increases competition, which unfortunately increases the rates of human-bear conflicts.
Read moreFungal dispersal from down-under; how one Australian mammal spreads mycorrhizal spores
The Swamp Wallaby (Wallabia bicolor)
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Read moreWest coast fire regimes associated with giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum)
In today’s lecture, we are going to look at the specific fire interactions of the West Coast. I am going to focus on one of my favorite species, the giant sequoias (Sequoiadendron giganteum). These massive trees require a natural fire regime for multiple reasons. From seed release, germination, and early tree development to the removal of ladder fuels, fire plays an integral role in sequoia recruitment.
Fire suppression and climate change leading to more frequent, more intense droughts have led to the rapid alterations of West Coast fire regimes. Without natural fire regimes, insanely intense, huge canopy fire ensue which changes ecosystem processes. These ecosystems need more natural fire regimes, which is why workers of the United States Forest Service are carrying out prescribed burns and letting natural fires ensue to emulate pre-settlement fire regimes.
Read moreSound: How different organisms interact with these invisible vibrations
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Read moreTifft Nature Preserve: From Rags To Riches
When one visits Tifft Nature Preserve, the succession of different forest species can easily be seen.
Learn about how the remnants of Buffalo's industrious past have been transformed into a rich urban ecosystem. Set into motion by the Greenway Ecological Fund and the Buffalo Museum of Science, if you're in the area and are interested in restoration ecology, Tifft Nature Preserve is a must-see. In this article, my former student Emily Volker delves into forest succession and many other ecological interactions taking place in this urban habitat.
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