Adelges tsugae also commonly known as the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA), a bug less than 1.5 mm long and dark in color. They are part of the Adelgidae family, having an asexual and sexual generation life cycle with all generations laying eggs (Havill, Nathan, and Salom 2014, 1). HWA originates from Asia and is accidentally brought to the United State in the 20th century. In the United State, the HWA flourish greatly because there are no natural predators, and the hemlocks in the United State are not adapted to HWA feeding compared with the one in Asia. So, without anything limiting the HWA, their population increases rapidly with the abundant food. With the increase in HWA density on the hemlock, trees will die faster and prematurely which destroys the ecosystem. …show more content…
The one in winter is called the sistens and in the spring is called the progrediens, where both generations overlap in spring (Hemlock Woolly Adelgid 2013). During the spring a portion of the progrediens grows wings to look for a spruce to start the sexual generation of the HWA. But in the United State there are no suitable spruce for HWA to start their sexual generation, so instead the HWA in the United State carried out consecutive asexual generations. The advantage of asexual generations is that HWA can lay eggs by itself, so long as there is one HWA, they can repopulate. It takes a mature hemlock tree about four years after the initial infestation for it to die (Balaban, Jane and John 2015). With the rapid increase of HWA population will cause damage to the environment by killing the hemlock and it is almost impossible to wipe them out in the United State because of their survival
The sowbugs remained in the damp soil for 34 minutes, and the dry soil for a short 6 minutes (Table 1). The sowbugs remained in the damp soil 85% of the time, as opposed to 15% on the dry soil (Table 1). These results suggest that moisture was a causative agent in environment preference for the sowbugs (Table 1).
Reproduction and passing on genetic and behavioral traits to an offspring is a common fundamental to all the species on this planet. When studying forest ecology, it is crucial to study the proportion of individuals surviving at each stage of their growth as the lives and mortality experienced in a species population describes a characteristic of the species in question. In the case of American beech and sugar maple, their attempt to produce seeds is analogous to entering lottery, where every seedling has a potential chance of becoming a canopy but only some will survive and reach the canopy size; thus, becoming the fit ‘winners’. Our information shows that together, based on size class distribution, both the species display a ‘winner takes all’ pattern, which supports our hypothesis. The results showed a greater count for seedlings and short saplings than for tall saplings, sub-canopies and canopies. This is evident for a Type III survivorship curve. In Type III curve all individuals initially having a very low chance of survival. However, once the individuals pass their threshold age and survive, they live an advanced age. Only some individuals out the mast seeding production mature to become fully fit canopy trees. On the other hand, our hypothesis of canopy trees representing the bulk of the biomass was supported as the basal areas decreased going from growth stages of canopy to seedlings. This is evidence that once the individuals survive the bottleneck where there is high mortality of young individuals (seedlings), who are then considered as ‘losers’, will allow for the other larger size class individuals to flourish. Here, having considerable amount of dbh (diameter at breast height) accounts for greater surfac...
ImageText BoxImageOne of the biggest threats to the environment of Ontario is the Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar dispar). The species itself is native to Europe and Asia. How this affects us is by weakening trees across Ontario and North America. The first time the gypsy moth was found in Ontario was 1969. The gypsy moth can be found in southern Canada (Ontario), New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and British Columbia. It is known to weaken trees and the caterpillar form live in trees and during most outbreaks its caterpillar feces would fall from the trees to the ground or even on top of humans. The average Gypsy Caterpillar can grow 5-6 centimeters long. With five pairs of blue spots and six pairs of bright red dots on their back. The female moth are white and can fly on the other hand, the male moth are brown and can also fly. The female have a 5cm wing span but male have a 2.5cm wing span. The gypsy moth usually lives in open forests and other forests and take up at least 20% of the space. The Gypsy moth are about 4cm long, tan coloured and can be located on tree trunks, furniture, and buildings. (OFAH Invading Species Awareness Program, 2012)
The Eastern Hemlock is often used for construction timber. The Eastern Hemlock is the offical state tree of Pennsylvania and is often found in cool moist habitats. This evergreen produces cones 3/4" long that are egg-shaped and hanging singly from the tips of twigs. Under each small section of the pine cone are 2 small, winged seeds (Cook Forest, 2013).
Background Information: Pillbugs are terrestrial Isopods which belong to the Class Crustacea. Appearance: flattened or rounded back, seven pairs of legs, sharp – angled antennae. Pillbugs have a set of overlapping gills on their underside. There are 12 different species of pillbugs found in the northern and central United States. However, there are nearly 4000 described species of pillbugs. They are fund in humid areas, compost piles, and leaf litter. They feed on dead vegetation such as wood and leaf litter. They cannot survive below -6.0 C, so they burrow 60 cm below the ground surface to reach safe temperatures. They reproduce during the months of May through September. If the pillbugs are irritated they will frequently exude a thick glue which serves to entangle predators, such as ground beetles, centipedes, and spiders.
Weeks, P., & Packard, J. (2009). Feral hogs: Invasive species or nature. Human Organization, 68(3), 280-292. Retrieved from http://wk4ky4tk9h.scholar.serialssolutions.com.library.esc.edu/?sid=google&auinit=P&aulast=Weeks&atitle=Feral Hogs: Invasive Species or Nature's Bounty?&title=Human organization&volume=68&issue=3&date=2009&spage=280&issn=0018-7259
Redwoods were named for the color of their bark and heartwood. These trees have a high resistance to fungus and diseases due to the high tanin content in the wood. The dense, fibrous bark has an even higher content, and acts as an insulator from periodic fires which have plagued the countryside for centuries. Though these trees are immense, they have delicate foliage. The needles are narrow and sharp-pointed, and combine to form feathery sprays. The cones are an inch long and typically contain fourteen to twenty-four seeds. The older trees offspring sprout form their parents' roots in order to take advantage of the established root system.
The underlying issue of wild horses is the overpopulation of a particular species, which is contributing a serious ecological disaster, overgrazing. The degradation of the land has a domino effect, which will lead to more issues. It is important to maintain a balance between the need of the species, and what is healthy or the environment. The issue created controversy, is central to the passing of laws, and creates an opportunity for the government and the community to work together. There are many way to solve the issue of the wild horses and the issue that are created due to their existence. Issues such as a reduction in the number of the horses removed from the range. Increased use of birth control, a partnership with the Humane Society,
Fruiting heads often remain on trees over winter. Fair seed crops occur every year and bumper crops about every 3 years. The staminate and pistillate of Sweetgum is monoeciouse. The small, greenish flowers bloom from march to early May, depending on latitude and weather conditions. Both the staminate and pistillate flowers occur in heads. The staminate inflorescences are racemes; the solitary pistillate flowers are globose heads that that form the multiple head, 2.5 to 3.8cm in diameter, of small, two-celled capsule. The lustrous green color of the fruiting heads fades to yellow as maturity is reached in September to November. The beaklike capsules open at this time, and the small winged seeds, one or two per capsule, are then readily disseminated by wind. However, the seed balls can be safely collected for seed examination several weeks before ball discoloration occurs without harming the seed. Empty flowers are quit sensitive to cold and often damaged by frost.
long, can destroy pine trees like the whitebark pine. Mountain pine beetles may be more inclined to invade trees that are already weak. For example, a tree affected with a pathogen called white pine blister rust is probably going to favored by a beetle over a healthy tree. After selecting a tree to invade, a mountain pine beetle bores into the tree. Depending on the climate at that tree's location, it may take one, two, or more years to complete its life cycle and lay eggs in the tree. Mountain pine beetles are dependent on temperature because they must emerge from the tree late enough in the early summer that they do not freeze, but lay their eggs early enough in the summer that the eggs have ample time to develop before winter comes (Logan and Powell 2001). This shows how mountain pine beetles are dependent on climate. Once the eggs hatch, the new beetles consume the phloem, tissue that transports nutrients from the leaves to the roots. Without the means to transport nutrients to the roots, the tree slowly
The finch hybrids before the El Niño of 1983, two different species did not mate each other but during the child, a scandens mated with a fortis and produced four fledgings.
where beetles found only in the eastern United States. They also found the back leg of a
Animals are around us all the time. Around the world, animals and their interactions with nature and other species are being studied. This paper will be describe six studies that have recently been conducted on various animals close to home and otherwise. Within these studies are relations to the human world. Researchers connect motion, diseases, and methods of testing health from the wilderness to human civilization. Learning about animals helps us to understand nature better, as well as keying in some interesting information into the lives of humans. Creature-like technology is being incorporated into machinery. Vaccines for camels could aid the human population in staying alive. Learning about ‘Tachykinin’ can help us fight depression. And how is all of this possible? This paper will show you the way.
After the seeds of a mother plant mature, they respond to environmental cues that signal the end of the growing season is near and begin PSD (hibernation). If the seed did not enter this dormancy phase, it would attempt to grow as soon as it reached maturity in the flower of the mother plant. As everyone knows, seeds in the wild do not germinate in the Fall Season because they would soon die during the coming winter months. So it is advantageous for seeds temporarily inhibit the process of germination because it increases their chances of survival and eventual hopes of maturing to breed. Different species of plants use different mechanisms remain in PSD. In botany, PSD can be broken down into two broad categories: Embryo Imposed Dormancy and Seed Coat Imposed Dormancy.
Today, the fashion industry is pumping out thousands of fur coats for prospective buyers. The attempt of masking the true price of retrieving that fur by glamorizing coats is beyond most buyer’s attention. Some people know that animals go through pain when their fur is taken for the purpose of fashion, but most people do not understand the extent of the mutilation they go through. To be sure the fur is fresh and neat, certain animals are sometimes skinned alive. Fur farming is not only inhumane, but it also has a negative effect on nature. Fur farming is bad for the environment, brutal to animals and the animals are also inhumanely killed. According to psychological theory, the humanistic view claims that every person has good in them. However, this act of murdering innocence seems to prove otherwise.