Stability and Change in Ecosystems

This week's assignment--find things that are going to change in nature--should be easy because everything will change.  The trick is to predict the change in the time periods given--one day, one season, one year and 20 years for a certain habitat or ecosystem.

I chose my own backyard which is the edge of an 80 acre wood.  Certainly there would be many changes.  Upon opening the door, I found the first thing in the wet leaves of our yard---and this would change in one day I was sure.  The half eaten mouse left by my cat would probably be eaten by some scavenger when darkness returns tonight.

If not, certainly the decomposers would start changing this carcass.  The temperatures are quite warm today, around 60 degrees, so some decomposition will take place.

Next, to find something that would change in one season.  Today would be considered fall, so I was looking for something that would change by winter.  Of course, all of the trees would lose their leaves, but I was looking for something different.  Again, I found it a few steps from my door.  The beauty berry that I had planted.  This is a native species that produces fabulous berries.

But these berries will not be ripe until winter.  They will turn black and be a great winter food source for the birds in our yard.  The leaves will also change color and fall by winter.

For something that will change in one year, I took a picture of the small seedling that had grown up this year in the decaying stump in our yard.

Next year, with good rain and growing conditions, this small oak will put on a lot of growth, but it will take many years to grow to be the size of the mighty oak it replaced.  The oak whose stump is partially visible was almost 180 years old.  I doubt that I will be around to see the seedling become a majestic oak, but future generations will!

For something that will change in 20 years I chose another oak.  This one is mature and only growing slowly, if at all, each year.  This tree will change in 20 years to become a stump because we will harvest it according to our forest management plan.

What do you think would happen to it if we didn't harvest it?  What would it be like in 20 years?

If you ask why harvest the trees, I say why not?  Taking out this giant will let the sun reach the forest floor where there are many acorns waiting to germinate and become the next big tree.  This is one way the forest can renew itself.  An actively growing tree will take in more carbon dioxide than the older, slower growing tree.  In that way, the new forest will help more with the growing crisis of global climate change, and we use the old tree for forest products that people need.  I see it as a win win situation.

Certainly there will be many changes in the future for our little woods.  I can't wait to watch and see what happens.