All went well until Andrea decided to pull down on a piper branch to reach some stems which were more than 10 feet high. Andrea suggested that I reach up for the branches while she pulled down and lowered the main branch. I said, no, I should pull the branch down while she selected the plant stems. Well, this turned out to be a bad idea... As I pulled on the branch, I felt (and heard) two loud cracks as the branch gave way and separated from the tree. One crack was the branch, but the other was my left shoulder. Already nursing a torn rotator cuff in my right shoulder, I quickly realized that I had just sustained a similar (and possibly worse) injury to my left shoulder. Ouch! The pain was pretty intense, but I also felt pain for the piper plant. I didn't know it was so fragile, and I didn't like that I had just caused damage to the rain forest. Andrea assured me that it would all be recovered in one year, but that news and an Aleve did not make me or the piper feel much better... We returned to the station with our samples and transplanted them into the pots we had prepared the day before. If they took root, we would suspend them at high and low heights in the canopy near the station.
After the transplanting, I spent a few hours nursing my shoulder, and we also enjoyed another fine lunch provided by our local Ecuadorian chefs. During the meal, I spoke with a man named Jim who has been living at the station for two months. He is a retiree (and former Sasquatch hunter) from America who is building a treehouse a mile or so from the station. What a fascinating man! He spends his days in the forest looking for beetles and photographing all sorts of specimens. He has a background in zoology, PR, and web design but has chosen to take to the jungle in his golden years (some say to escape what he sees as the pending economic collapse in the U.S.). He will be secluded in his treehouse and expects to enter his new home by ascending with ropes, like mountain climbers. Amazing (and crazy?).
After lunch, I spent a couple of hours spreading and pinning more than a dozen moths, skippers, and butterflies. Our samples will be dried and sent to a university in Quito where they will be identified and catalogued. The process of pinning is delicate but seems to be an important part of entomology and taxonomy.
Later, after dinner, Andrea gave a lecture on the pink-belly piper, her focal point of research and the reason my left shoulder is aching as I write this journal entry. Andrea explained that there are 1,500 different piper species and that there are more than 250 species of Eois caterpillars on pipers. The piper is found in the tropics worldwide at the 1800-2400 km elevation. In her studies, Andrea and her colleagues found 11 morpho-species on just one plant. This is an example of a genetic divergence without a host plant shift, and this process has been occurring since the Pleistocene era. Another amazing tidbit -- we are studying ancient plants that still thrive today. What an amazing place!
QUESTION: In any given biome, does variation of life (biodiversity) indicate that the ecosystem is healthy? Why or why not?
It is a healthier ecosystem if there is diversity in plants and animals because there are more food sources to chosse from. If a lot of things are growing, that shows that the system is healthy and able to support a variety of life.
ReplyDeleteIn any given ecosystem, variation of life can mean that the ecosystem is healthy because we see plants are multiplying and doing a lot of different things, but also variation can mean that it's not healthy because it is not well and not allowing other things to grow into it because there could be parasites on the plant that can kill insects that go on the plant.
ReplyDeleteI think that in any given biome, the variation of life indicates that the ecosystem is healthy. I think that because if there is lots of diversity in that area it shows that the area has great climate and all the animals and plants can depend on each other for survival.
ReplyDeleteIts healthier for the ecosystem because there is more things to study and if a lot of it is destroyed then you know you can multiply it. there is also a wide choice to choose from.
ReplyDeleteA variation of life in a biome can show that the ecosystem is healthy. It is healthy because the land can nourish any kind of plant or flower. It can also provide animals with food and water to survive.
ReplyDeleteI think that if a given biome is home to a lot animal, insects, and plants it tells me that the biome is healthy because it can support life and also that the soil is fertile so plants can thrive.
ReplyDeleteI believe that variation of life and increased biodiversity does indicate that the ecosystem is healthy and in a given environment, the more variety of species of plants could mean that there is less negative climate changes. The biome is probably less disturbed from outside negative climate forces. In a unhealthy environment, there may be fewer species with only the strongest ones surviving. More plant species can improve the food chain for animals in the area.
ReplyDeleteBROOKE B.
ReplyDeleteI think that more biodiversity in a biome means that it is healthy because it indicates that more species can live there. I think that it is good because more things can thrive and become a bigger species. It also means that there are more plants which we really need in this world.
NICK M.
ReplyDeleteYes it does show that the ecosystem is healthy. If there are a lot of different kinds of plants then it shows that many can survive their which means it is healthy.
JOHN C.
ReplyDeleteIf plantlife and animals do not survive in a boime shows that they are not healthy because it should be able to live in a more protected enviroment, because they don't have their predators in that biome.
WESTON J.
ReplyDeleteVariation of life is good for ecosystems because that means that all the plant life is doing well and that no one plant is dominating the area. All the plants and animals are getting enough food and not dying because of not enough food. The ecosystem is very healthy when there are many types of plants and animals.
ZOE W.
ReplyDeleteIn any given biome, variations of life indicate that the ecosystem is healthy because if there if a nice and healthy diverse amount of things living there, you know that there is not that much bad air and waste. You would know that because plants and wildlife can't survive in a bad biome.
ALEX W.
ReplyDeleteIn any biome, it shows that the area is healthy when many different things live there. If many animals, insects, and plants live there, there can be amazing climate for that given ecosystem.
SEBASTIAN M.
ReplyDeleteThe variation of life in a biome indicates that an ecosystem is healthy if it has great climate, fertile soil, thriving crops, and a lot of animals. It also needs to have resources like food and water to survive.
In any biome, variations of life indicate that the ecosystem is healthy because if their are more plants than that means the area is green and full of life. With many plants and animals roaming around the area safely, it means that the biome is healthy because many living creatures are surviving. In an unhealthy biome, you wouldn't see many plants or animals and there would be pollution in the air or trash all around you. Having a large diversity in a biome means that it is healthy because many plants and animals are surviving and the air is healthy.
ReplyDeleteIf the ecosystem is healthy it shows that the ecosystem can support many different animals, trees, plants, and insects. The ecosystem shows its diverse also. If an ecosystem is unhealthy then it doesn't have that many animals, trees, plants, and insects and can't really support life.
ReplyDeleteif any given ecosystem has signs of life that means that the ecosystem is very heathy and is great for all sorts of things like animals raising a family or seeing caterpillar holes in leaves. also they will produce resources to sustain life.
ReplyDeleteMIKAELA K.
ReplyDeleteI think that variation of life definitely indicates that the ecosystem is healthy. If so many plants and animals are thriving and multiplying then that means the ecosystem has a good climate, and a variety of food and water sources.
FIONA D-C.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the more diverse a biome is the healthier it is.
This is because with more animals there are more predators which means that no one spices will over populate.
This is also good for some types of plants that are eaten by insects such as caterpillars.
In an area that has an abundance of animals it implies that it has a good source of food and shelter for the animals to be able to survive.
NICHOLAS Y.
ReplyDeleteIn order for plants and species to survive in any given ecosystem, the climate must be good and the soil must be healthy. The variation of life indicates that the ecosystem is healthy because a variety of species and plants can live in that environment.
In a Biome plant diversity shows a healthy ecosystem because different plants can thrive off eachother. If the biome wasn't diverse, plants would die.
ReplyDeleteIn a Biome where there are multiple types of plants shows a healthy ecosystem. Its shows a healthy ecosystem because if there are many different types of plant it shows that the ecosystem is providing for those plants. The plants can use whats provided to survive and also the plants are not taking the life away from each other. They all can coincide
ReplyDeleteIn any given biome it is healthy because the diversity there. If there is different living things such as species, animals or plants the ecosystem would be healthy, but if the biome didn't have so much diversity the living things will die faster.
ReplyDeleteBio-Diversity indicates that an area is healthy, It means that the biome can support different life forms without being harmed. This is an important part of survival because if it could'nt support bio diversity the forest would probably die eventually.
ReplyDeleteBio-Diversity means that the area is healthy. It means that that certain biome could support different varieties of animals and insects. The forest relies on bio-diversity. If there're no bio-diversity, then that biome would soon be gone.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteyael nosratiApril 22, 2014 at 5:51 PM
I think that in any given biome, the variation of living things does mean that the ecosystem is healthy because if there are many different species of living plants and animals that means that there is food, good climate, and water means it is healthy.
Yes because a healthy ecosystem supports a wider range of biodiversity. When an ecosystem starts to fail species like bugs and birds can't survive within the worsening conditions.
ReplyDeleteI think that in any given biome, the variation of living things indicates that the biome is healthy. Since the area can support the growth of many types plants, it means that this can also be a habitat for animals. If all these species are thriving here, it must mean this biome has a good climate and clean water sources.
ReplyDeleteIn a biome if there is biodiversity then it is a healthy ecosystem because it means that different types of plants and animals can grow and survive in different parts of the biome.
ReplyDeleteI think in any biome, the variation of life does indicate that the ecosystem is healthy. Why I think that, is because if plants and animals can co-exist- the environment must be thriving.
ReplyDeleteI think biodiversity in a biome is an indicator that the region is healthy. In a place where plants and animals have all the sources of nutrience they need, new species can live there and the biome will thrive. If there is little variety, the biome may die.
ReplyDeleteIn any given biome, biodiversity indicates that the ecosystem is healthy because the more variety of animal species and plants are surviving in a biome the chance of overpopulation of one specific animal and over eating of one specific plant can be very slim so this indicates that biodiversity does help the ecosystem to stay healthy.
ReplyDeleteIn any given biome, the variation of life indicates whether the ecosystem is healthy because if there are more plants, the area may be very lush and green and if there are more animals, they may be very healthy and getting enough food and water. If the biome was to be unhealthy, the number of plants and animals would decrease. The animals and plants show if the biome is healthy and if there isn't a large amount, that means the biome is not doing well.
ReplyDeleteI think if there is biodiversity in a biome, that indicates that the ecosystem is healthy. If all the animals and plants are getting all the sources they need, the species will multiply and thrive. If there is not many useful sources, it is possible for the biome to die.
ReplyDeleteADAM H.
ReplyDeleteYou need it for plants which also means you have to rely on the climate of the area.
ALYSSA W.
ReplyDeleteI think that a biome is healthy if there is diversity in animal and plant life. I think this because if there is only one type of animal or plant, it means that the conditions there are so harsh or dry or wet, that only one species has the strength and build to survive in that biome. Also, if there is not diversity in plants, than even the beginning of a species can not occur because of the limited number of plants so the cells and stems cannot drop seeds and mix seeds with other plants to make a new plant that will attract a different type of animal. And if that animal or plant starts to reproduce, the biome changes therefore creating diversity. However, if there is not diversity that shows that the biome is unhealthy and therefore cannot change (change is good).
COLE T.
ReplyDeleteIn any given biome it's healthy if it has many animals, plants, trees, and other signs of life.
SARAH H.
ReplyDeleteI think that in any given biome if there is a great deal of bio- diversity in the area it is a good thing. It tells you that the ecosystem in that area is healthy because it shown that many different things can survive there.
RYAN H.
ReplyDeleteBio Diversity means that the area is healthy. If there are a lot of plants that means that many plants can live in the area. Witch means its healthy.
SARA D.
ReplyDeleteI believe it is a healthier ecosystem because if there are more plants it can feed the animals more and all the smaller animals can support the larger animals.
ALLY S.
ReplyDeleteI think that in a biomes, many living things means that the ecosystem is healthy because animals wouldn't stay in that ecosystem if there weren't good food, climate, or water, same with plants. That proves that the environment is healthy for life.
CHARLIE S.
ReplyDeleteI think it shows that it is a healthy environment because if so many animals are willing to live there, it means it is a safe and healthy environment. It also shows that it has good weather because if there wasn't good weather, there wouldn't be many animals there .
TESS S.
ReplyDeleteThe plant and animal diversity indicates that the area as healthy because there is a large variety of food for the wildlife to choose from.
ALEXANDER R.
ReplyDeleteIf a biome has great biodiversity it shows that the ecosystem is healthy. That means that it gets a lot of rain and sun. If a biome does not have great biodiversity that shows that it is an unhealthy ecosystem. Also a variation of plant life means a variation of animal life because they feed off each other and need each other to survive, and multiply
It's very diverse because different animals eat different foods and produce different items (didn't have a word for that). I think it shows that it is a healthy environment because may animals live there which indicates that it is a safe and useful area to live in
ReplyDeleteA healthy biome needs diversity because all life is dependent on other forms of life for survival including us. For example the Eios caterpillars depend on the Piper plant to feed and for shelter. The Piper plant must be getting nutrients from the soil, rain, and sun to have thrived healthfully for such a long time.
ReplyDeleteI think that if a given biome has a wide variety of plant, animals, and insects, it indicates that the biome is healthy because it has enough resources to support all the different species. If all the animals are provided with the sources they need, they will reproduce and thrive.
ReplyDeleteIf the biome does varry in biodiversity than it does indicate that the biome is healthy. We know this because to support a lot of plant and animal life everything like food and water must be good.
ReplyDelete-kiera Martin
Yes I beileive that a biome is healthy if it has a lot of biodiversity of plants and animals because it shows that the biome has the resources to uhold plant and animas life. It shows that the climate and ecosystem can allow for plant and animal life to multipy and thrive.
ReplyDeleteYes, because if a biome is healthly it would be able to house many types of animals and plants. If the biome is not healthly it would not be able to house many animals or plants
ReplyDeleteLIZA B.
ReplyDeleteI think that the ecosystem is good if there are a lot of different animals and plants. If there are not that is not good because it means people are killing animals and cutting down trees.
TARA R.
ReplyDeleteDiversity in nature is a good thing because it means that everything is healthy. In a given enviroment, everything plays a part. For example, in a garden the plants need water and sunlight to grow. The tiny little insects need plants to feed on and to find shelter in. Birds and other small animals eat the insects to survive. If the plants did not exist, then there would be no insects, and then there would be no birds. Just by eliminating one thing in the the garden, you aere left with nothing. That is why it is a good thing to have diverstiy in a biome.
KALEN A.
ReplyDeleteIt does show that the ecosystem is healthy because it shoes that other life can live in that one place.
CHLOE S.
ReplyDeleteYes it is very important to have a diverse biome because it is very nice and good to have a healthy biome. If you didn't have a healthy biome all the plants and trees would wilt and you wouldn't get a lot of oxygen of food from trees because they would all be dead. Also nature is important to animals. If you didn't have nature no animals would want to be in that biome because it wouldn't be good for them because they have to find food and shelter from nature.
SHAWN W.
ReplyDeleteI think it is a healthier ecosystem if you have diversity in biome, because you can get a different variety of trees which can lead to different variety of foods because food such as apples, lemons, oranges, and bananas come off of trees. Also it's good because if you have a diversity of plants some plants are resourceful to animals because sometimes animals eat plants, and it's good for humans to because we can use it for medicinal reasons. Ultimately I think it is healthier to have a diversity of biome.
Students,
ReplyDeleteThank you! This blog post closed at 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, April 23.