Ecosytem

Rainforest

1. What is the function of the Center for Tropical Forest Science (CTFS)?

The function of the Center for Tropical Forest Science is to study tropical and temperate forest function and diversity.  

2. Why are the trees given the title of “engineers” of the tropical rain forest?

Trees are given the title of engineers because they provide the habitat that all the organisms depend.

3. Why does a high-density species suffer greater mortality rates than rare density species?

High density species are more popular and usually killed off at a faster rate.  The rarer a density species is the fewer predators it will have.

4. Why do tropical rainforests have such immense diversity? How do they maintain their diversity?

 The different trees are unique to the environment and its organisms.  The common species is easily      attacked by predators when it is a seedling.  The trees become specialists to maintain their diversity.  

5. What role do tropical forests play in stabilizing climate and atmosphere?

Tropical Forest plays a role in stabilizing the climate and atmosphere by absorbing carbon dioxide.  Scientists have discovered that too much carbon dioxide changes the climate. 

Yellowstone National Park

6. What is the focus of Robert Crabtree’s research project in Yellowstone National Park?

The cascade effect on the ecosystem after the wolf was removed from the park and then returned.  R4ejhn4 on the ecosystem after the wolf was removed from the park and then returned.  

7. What was the cascade effect of the elimination of the Park’s wolf population after 1926? Consider the following in your answer: willow, beaver, and elk populations.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Removing the wolves from the park enabled the elk to repopulate.  The down fall was they ended up with so many elk that they were eating up the vegetation such as willows that other species such as the beaver depended on.  The beavers suffered because of this and grew scarce.

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 food chain and web that best describes the reintroduction of the wolves would be top down.  The wolves are at the top of the food chain.  

9. What are the “hot spots“ in Yellowstone and how are they important to the wolf reintroduction research project?                                                                                                                                                        The hotspots in Yellowstone are riperian systems – areas along streams, rivers and lakes.  These spots are necessary for species to survive in Yellowstone.  What researchers have found is that in the areas where the wolves were reintroduced and scared the elk the willow tree is thriving.  In order to survive a willow tree has to grow taller than the browsing level of the elk.

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?

This data would show other tropical rainforest scientists how effective the wolf reintroduction was to Yellowstone and how it has affected wild life and vegetation.  

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.