| Bog and Boreal Forest, Vermont |
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© Copyright Dan L. Perlman, 2005-2007
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| Bog and boreal forest, Vermont. The bogs of the north country are glacial relicts from the last ice age. These bogs are cold and highly acidic, so that only a few well adapted plant species can survive. Most notable of these plants is the sphagnum moss which forms a large floating mat around the open water. With time, the moss thickens and spreads. Dead plant matter that sloughs off of the mat and falls to the bottom of the bog decays very slowly, as the conditions are inimical for bacterial decomposition. The bog slowly closes in on the water, eventually filling in, and becoming forested.
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| title | Bog_and_Boreal_Forest, Vermont, EL_DP45 |
| continent | North America |
| country | USA |
| state/province | Vermont |
| source | Dan L. Perlman |
| Ecosystems | Wetlands, aquatic; Forests |
| Forests | Boreal forest or taiga |
| Wetlands, Aquatic | Bogs, fens |
| Lessons | Ecosystem Sampler |
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| Coastal sage scrub, Point Lobos, California |
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| Coastal Sage Scrub, Point Lobos, California. Much of coastal California experiences a Mediterranean climate, with cool, wet winters and hot, dry summers. The plant species of the coastal sage scrub community have adapted to this regime quite well, and many of them have thick leaves that resist water loss. These species are also adapted to deal with regular fires and conservation biologists have been using fire to manage and restore this plant community. This area is protected by the state of California in Point Lobos State Reserve.
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| title | Coastal_sage_scrub, Point_Lobos, California, EL_DP22 |
| continent | North America |
| country | USA |
| state/province | California |
| city/place/location | Point Lobos State Reserve |
| source | Dan L. Perlman |
| Ecosystems | Grasslands, savannas |
| Grasslands and savannas | Mediterranean scrub |
| Conservation | Nature preserves; Endangered ecosystems |
| Lessons | Ecosystem Sampler |
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Image
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| Desert, Kau Desert, Big Island, Hawaii |
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© Copyright Dan L. Perlman, 2005-2007
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| Kau Desert, Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii. Due to the consistent northeast trade winds and the rain shadow created by the island's volcanoes, this spectacularly dry and lifeless desert exists just four miles (six km) from a tropical rainforest.
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| title | Desert, Kau_Desert, Big_Island, Hawaii, EL_DP60 |
| continent | North America |
| country | USA |
| state/province | Hawaii |
| source | Dan L. Perlman |
| Ecosystems | Deserts |
| Lessons | Ecosystem Sampler |
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Image
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| Desert with Saguaro cactus, dusk, Arizona |
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© Copyright Dan L. Perlman, 2005-2007
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| Sonoran Desert with Saguaro Cacti, Arizona. Saguaro, the archetypical cactus, actually has a rather limited distribution, as it is only found in southern Arizona and northern Mexico. These giants of the desert can reach 50ft (about 15m) in height and 10 tons (9,000kg) in weight, and they can live 200 years. They are marvelously adapted to life in a dry climate, with wide spreading roots that can quickly gather water from the infrequent rains of the region. All of the other plants in this image exhibit their own adaptations to a dry climate, such as small and thickened leaves.
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| title | Desert_with_Saguaro_cactus, dusk, Arizona, EL_DP65 |
| common name | Cactus, Saguaro |
| scientific name | Carnegia gigantea |
| taxonomic group | Cactaceae |
| continent | North America |
| country | USA |
| state/province | Arizona |
| city/place/location | Tucson |
| date1 yyyymmdd | 20000928 |
| source | Dan L. Perlman |
| Ecosystems | Deserts |
| Nutrient cycles | Water |
| Lessons | Ecosystem Sampler |
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Image
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| Forest, Redwoods, California |
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© Copyright Dan L. Perlman, 2005-2007
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| Redwoods Forest, Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, California. These forests are home to redwoods, some of the world's largest trees. These trees are regularly 3-4 yd (almost 3-4 m) in diameter, 75 yd (70 m) tall, and over 1,000 years old. The very largest and oldest can reach over 5 yd (5 m) in diameter and be more than 2,000 years old.
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| title |  Forest, Redwoods, California, EL_DP52 |
| common name | Redwood |
| scientific name | Sequoia sempervirens |
| taxonomic group | Taxodiaceae |
| continent | North America |
| country | USA |
| state/province | California |
| city/place/location | Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park |
| source | Dan L. Perlman |
| Ecosystems | Forests |
| Forests | Temperate coniferous forest |
| Conservation | Nature preserves |
| Lessons | Ecosystem Sampler |
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Image
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| Forest and stream, Vermont |
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© Copyright Dan L. Perlman, 2005-2007
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| Forest and stream, Vermont. The northeast of the US is a well-watered land that supports forests and numerous perennial streams and rivers.
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| title | Forest_and_stream, Vermont, EL_DP41 |
| continent | North America |
| country | USA |
| state/province | Vermont |
| source | Dan L. Perlman |
| Ecosystems | Wetlands, aquatic |
| Wetlands, Aquatic | Rivers, streams |
| Lessons | Ecosystem Sampler |
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Image
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| Grassland with zebra and wildebeest, Tanzania |
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| Tropical grassland, Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania. This image was taken in Ngorongoro Crater, an extinct volcano crater some 100 square mi (250 square km) in area, with a 2,000 ft (600 m) wall around it; the crater wall can be seen rising behind the animals.
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| title | Grassland_with_zebra_and_wildebeest, Tanzania, EL_DP33 |
| common name | Wildebeest; Zebra, Plains |
| scientific name | Connochaetes taurinus; Equus burchelli |
| taxonomic group | Bovidae; Equidae |
| continent | Africa |
| country | Tanzania |
| city/place/location | Ngorongoro Crater |
| date1 yyyymmdd | 2003 |
| source | Dan L. Perlman |
| Ecosystems | Grasslands, savannas |
| Grasslands and savannas | Tropical grassland |
| Ecological interactions | Herbivory; Competition |
| Organisms | Animals |
| Animals | Mammals |
| Lessons | Ecosystem Sampler |
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Image
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| Grasslands, National Bison Range, Montana |
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© Copyright Dan L. Perlman, 2005-2007
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| Grasslands, National Bison Range, Montana. Most of the center of North America was covered by grasslands or prairies before the arrival of European settlers. Relatively low rainfall throughout the region, combined with the heavy use of fire in the eastern portions of the grasslands by Native Americans, kept the area in grassland rather than forest. This particular grassland exists as part of the National Bison Range. Established in 1908 by President Theodore Roosevelt, the Range was one of the first Federal wildlife refuges in the US and it played a critical role in saving the bison. Although their populations probably numbered in the tens of millions in the early 19th century, some researchers estimate that there were fewer than 1,000 bison alive in 1890, putting the species very near extinction. Through the efforts of early and staunch conservationists William T. Hornaday and President Roosevelt, these magnificent animals were brought back from the brink and they are well protected today.
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| title | Grasslands, National_Bison_Range, Montana, EL_DP21 |
| continent | North America |
| country | USA |
| state/province | Montana |
| city/place/location | National Bison Range |
| source | Dan L. Perlman |
| Ecosystems | Grasslands, savannas |
| Grasslands and savannas | Temperate grassland |
| Conservation | Nature preserves |
| Lessons | Ecosystem Sampler |
| keywords | Prairie |
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Image
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| Mangrove stilt roots, Rhizophora, Costa Rica |
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| Rhizophora mangroves, Costa Rica. Mangrove swamps, also known as mangals, are very difficult habitats in which to live. Existing at the interface between land and ocean, mangrove swamps are alternately flushed by fresh water and salt water, and their water levels, oxygen levels, and salinity levels change throughout the day as tides move in and out. Plants in this habitat must be able to live under a very wide range of physical and chemical conditions, and very few are able to do so. Rhizophora has evolved the stilt roots or prop roots seen here that get the main trunk of the tree out of the water; these roots also enable the plant to perform gas exchange above the level of the often water-logged soil. Mangrove forests function as critical nurseries for many marine species, as they trap and drop large amounts of nutrient rich material among their roots, and therefore play an important role in the economic lives of many tropical human communities. Unfortunately, in too many parts of the world, mangroves have been cut for charcoal or have been replaced by artificial shrimp ponds, which earn vast amounts of money for their owners for the very few years that they are productive (before they become fouled and must be shut down).
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| title | Mangrove_stilt_roots, Rhizophora, Costa_Rica, EL_DP10 |
| common name | Mangrove, Red |
| scientific name | Rhizophora |
| taxonomic group | Rhizophoraceae |
| continent | North America |
| country | Costa Rica |
| city/place/location | Pacific Coast |
| source | Dan L. Perlman |
| Ecosystems | Wetlands, aquatic |
| Wetlands, Aquatic | Mangroves; Marshes, Swamps |
| Conservation | Endangered ecosystems |
| Lessons | Ecosystem Sampler |
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Image
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| Marsh, Salt marsh, Massachusetts |
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| Salt marsh, Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. Salt marshes are highly productive ecosystems that provide valuable ecosystem services. They help buffer inland ecosystems from the force of waves while acting as a nursery for the young of many commercially valuable fish and shellfish species. This marsh is protected by the Massachusetts Audubon Society.
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| title | Marsh, Salt_marsh, Massachusetts, EL_DP20 |
| common name | Grass, Marsh |
| scientific name | Spartina |
| taxonomic group | Poaceae |
| continent | North America |
| country | USA |
| state/province | Massachusetts |
| city/place/location | Martha's Vineyard |
| source | Dan L. Perlman |
| Ecosystems | Wetlands, aquatic;Grasslands, savannas |
| Grasslands and savannas | Marsh |
| Wetlands, Aquatic | Marshes, Swamps |
| Nutrient cycles | Nitrogen |
| Conservation | Nature preserves |
| Lessons | Ecosystem Sampler |
| keywords | Gramineae |
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Image
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| Savanna with Zebras and Impalas, Tanzania |
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| Savanna with zebras and impalas, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. Tropical savannas are home to large numbers of herbivore species. These herbivores frequently form mixed herds, and often eat different types of plants (herbs vs. grasses, for example) or different parts of plants (upper leaves vs. the entire plant down to ground).
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| title | Savanna_with_Zebras_and_Impalas, Tanzania, EL_DP30 |
| common name | Impala; Zebra, Plains; |
| scientific name | Aepyceros melampus; Equus burchelli; Acacia |
| taxonomic group | Bovidae; Equidae; Fabaceae |
| continent | Africa |
| country | Tanzania |
| city/place/location | Serengeti National Park |
| date1 yyyymmdd | 2003 |
| source | Dan L. Perlman |
| Ecosystems | Grasslands, savannas |
| Grasslands and savannas | Tropical savanna |
| Ecological interactions | Herbivory; Competition |
| Organisms | Animals |
| Animals | Mammals |
| Lessons | Ecosystem Sampler |
| keywords | Alcelaphini; Leguminosae |
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Image
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| Swamp, White Cedar, Massachusetts |
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© Copyright Dan L. Perlman, 2005-2007
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| Atlantic white-cedar swamp, Massachusetts. Swamps are wetlands that support trees along with shorter plants. White-cedar swamps, such as the one in this image, were once rather common in coastal New England. But with the many uses of the rot-resistant wood, such as for shingling and roofing, most of these swamps were stripped of trees long ago. This swamp is protected by The Nature Conservancy.
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| title | Swamp, White_Cedar, Massachusetts, EL_DP14 |
| common name | White-cedar, Atlantic |
| scientific name | Chamaecyparis thyoides |
| taxonomic group | Cupressaceae |
| continent | North America |
| country | USA |
| state/province | Massachusetts |
| city/place/location | Norwood |
| street/site/trail | Black Pond Bog |
| source | Dan L. Perlman |
| Ecosystems | Wetlands, aquatic |
| Wetlands, Aquatic | Marshes, Swamps |
| Conservation | Nature preserves; Endangered ecosystems |
| Lessons | Ecosystem Sampler |
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Image
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| Tropical Dry Forest, Santa Rosa, Costa Rica |
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| Tropical dry forest, Santa Rosa National Park, Costa Rica. While tropical rainforests get a tremendous amount of attention in the popular press, the tropical dry forest is actually much more threatened, especially in Central America and Mexico. Tropical dry forests grow in regions where there are both an extensive dry season and a wet season. In forests such as the one in this image, four or five months may go by with little or no rain, and many of the tree species in these forests have evolved to be deciduous, losing their leaves throughout most or all of the dry season. Animals in these forests must also deal with the dry season. Some birds and butterflies migrate to wetter regions during the dry season, while a number of others have a quiescent stage during the dry period.
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| title | Tropical_Dry_Forest, Santa_Rosa, Costa_Rica, EL_DP35 |
| continent | North America |
| country | Costa Rica |
| city/place/location | Santa Rosa National Park |
| source | Dan L. Perlman |
| Ecosystems | Forests |
| Forests | Tropical dry forest |
| Conservation | Endangered ecosystems |
| Lessons | Ecosystem Sampler |
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Image
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| Tropical Rainforest, Costa Rica |
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| Tropical rainforest, Costa Rica. Rainforests like this covered large swaths of the tropics until the 20th century, when they began to be cut for their lumber or to make room for agriculture. Those rainforests that remain, however, support extraordinary numbers of plant and animal species, many of which have not even been described by biologists.
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| title | Tropical_Rainforest, Costa_Rica, EL_DP25 |
| continent | North America |
| country | Costa Rica |
| city/place/location | Rara Avis |
| date1 yyyymmdd | 199006 |
| date2 yyyymmdd | 199008 |
| source | Dan L. Perlman |
| Ecosystems | Forests |
| Forests | Tropical rainforest |
| Lessons | Ecosystem Sampler |
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Image
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| Tundra at Summit Lake, Mount Evans, Colorado |
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© Copyright Dan L. Perlman, 2005-2007
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| Tundra at Summit Lake, Mount Evans, Colorado. Far above tree line, the landscape is covered with small wildflowers, short grasses, and lichens. Between a short growing season, high winds, and thin soils, this is a very difficult habitat in which to survive. This is also a good situation in which to see primary succession, as the bare rocks are first colonized by lichen then later by flowering plants as small amounts of soil form.
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| title | Tundra_at_Summit_Lake, Mount_Evans, Colorado, EL_DP57 |
| continent | North America |
| country | USA |
| state/province | Colorado |
| city/place/location | Mount Evans |
| date1 yyyymmdd | 20000710 |
| source | Dan L. Perlman |
| Ecosystems | Other |
| Other ecosystems | Tundra |
| Selection and adaptations | Extreme environments |
| Change over time | Succession |
| Succession | Primary succession |
| Lessons | Ecosystem Sampler |
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Image
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Updated: 2013-06-20 10:36:59 gmt
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