Stability and Change: Ecological Succession

A change in....One day

My son, William picked up the infamous dandelion. As he blew on the spores it changed right before our eyes.  The change is not good for the neighbors who wish to rid their yard of weeds.  The change is great for the dandelion as its desire to reproduce is flying through the air. 

A Change in...a season

The Golden Ragwort (packera aurea) will change in one season as it loses its blooms.

A change in...one year

This picture was taken on Saturday, April 26 around noon at the Missouri

Botanical Garden in St. Louis. This area was a Missouri native plant area.  This bed was under renovation. In one year it will be full with plants and shrubs native to Missouri. 

A change in...20 years

This area of the Botanical Garden contained all plants and trees native to Missouri.  This is a picture of a young dogwood tree.  In twenty years this tree will be mature tree.  The dogwood will contribute to the ecosystem in 20 years by providing food to various animals and pollinators.  The dogwood will also contribute to the calcium cycle.  Dogwoods are not only enjoyable to look at they also have an important role in our ecosystem. 

The Unknown????

What in the world?   I saw this little guy Saturday afternoon wiggling on my sidewalk and then fly away. It  has six legs and antennae.  It's abdomen was turning in a circle motion.  The insects wings were not present when sitting there, but I am pretty sure the insect flew to it's current position because that is what drew my attention to it. It's thorax has crease or line down the middle. The insect also had mobility in it's neck. The tip of the abdomen is lighter brown/red compare to the remainder of the abdomen.

I have no idea what it is. Anyone have a clue?

Ecosystem Interactions

foliose lichen

A lichen is a fungus and an algae, and they’re likin’ one another!

Lichens consist of an algae called a photobiont and a fungus called a mycobiont. Together they form something a little bit different – something that allows both the algae and the fungus to live well.

 Most of the fungi in this mutual relationship are not able to survive without an algae partner. Since fungi can not make their own food like the talented algae, they rely the algae for their food. The fungus harvests these sugars, sending out chemicals to help them diffuse through the permeable cell walls of the algae. Most of the algae can survive on their own, but they may need a very specific habitat in order to do so. By cohabiting with the fungus, the algae can live in many different environments and extend its range significantly.  They are both winners in the end. 

Another relationship exists between the lichen and the tree too!  Commensalism exists between the tree and the lichen. The lichen benefits from having the tree as its' home, but the tree is not harmed from the lichen. 

Just remember, everybody needs somebody!

The Backyard Energy Transfer

Energy is a crucial part to the survival of all organisms.  As humans, we usually just drive to the grocery store to obtain our energy.  They even sell "energy bars".  The not so lucky species actually have to hunt for their energy.

On a nice, sunny Tuesday afternoon in April I went looking in my backyard for a classic food chain.

I first found the roots and organic matter under a couple pavers around my mailbox.  Feeding on the roots, were pill bugs.




The roots and organic matter is the first source of energy for the pillbug. They are the producers in the food chain.  The producers obtain their energy from the sun through the process of photosynthesis.

Pill bugs are the primary consumer in the food chain. Primary consumers obtain their energy from producers.

Robins are the secondary consumer in the food chain.










Robins search through the ground and eat pill bugs for their source of energy.  Robins have numerous prey.  Feeding on pill bugs alone would not help the robin survive.  If an organism is higher up in the food web they require more sources of energy.

Adaptations

“Multiply, vary, let the strongest live and the weakest die.” 

― Charles Darwin, The Origin of Species

The diversity of our world makes it beautiful and amazing. I am happy that the genetic code is not always perfect.  Errors in the genetic code cause mutations which is the source of variation.  Not all variations help an organism survive, but they do help our world from being boring.  

Adaptations can be behavioral, structural, or physiological.  This week our focus was finding coloration, size, shape or behavior adaptations.  I don't know if this week i cheated on taking my photos, but I attended the Wetland Days at Busch Wildlife hosted by the Department of Conservation with my boys. I couldn't resist taking pictures. 

Great Horned Owl

Coloration

Peregrine Falcon

The Great Horned Owl is an excellent hunter. His different shades of brown feathers lets him blend in with the tree in which he sits in high above his prey. His prey cannot see him hidden in the tree, but the coloration of his feathers, large eyes, sharp long claws and extreme turning radius of his head makes him a top predator.

Size

Peregrine Falcon uses it's small size to it's advantage.  It's commonly know as a Duck Hawk, it is one of the fastest diving predators. Being smaller in size lets the peregrine falcon reach speeds up to 200 mph and grab its prey in mid air with its' long, sharp talons. 

Hooded Merganser

Shape

The Hooded Merganser has a unique beak compared to most water fowl in Missouri.  This water fowl has a thin, serrated bill used when they dive to catch crayfish and fish in lakes and rivers. The serrated bill gives them their niche amongst the other water fowl by having the ability to dive and catch fish underwater. 

All of these adaptations increase the organism's survival by giving them a better ability to hunt. The more food, the healthier the organism and a better chance for survival.  As I tell my freshman biology students, it is all about surviving and reproducing!