Thursday, April 30, 2009

The Ecosystem of a Decaying Tree Stump

In biological terms, an ecosystem means the interactions of organisms living together in a particular place and among those organisms and their abiotic environment, in which they are complex because each organism responds not only to other organisms but to the conditions in the atmosphere, soil, and water. The Ecosystem management is heavily involved in the process of conservation approach that emphasizes multiple restoring and maintaining the quality of an entire ecosystem rather than concentrating on the conservation of individual species which makes the use of certain acknowledgement of particular organisms, habitat and climatic temperatures.
During our research and observation, I have discovered that many species develop over a certain period. Over several days rain occurred in the first two weeks of March, and as soon as the humidity changed after the occurrence of the rain, some species such as mushrooms started the formation blossoming. Climate changes evolved over time because of the excessive weather in temperature changes. I have also learned that water and temperature are most likely the two basic abiotic factors that have the greatest affect on organisms in the habitats of ecosystems. Also, during our observation, we have discovered that these particular species showed in our research are most commonly found in habitats and how they have the most magnificent formations.
This research is based on the ecosystem of a decomposing stump, but we have included research on a log too. We proceed in discussing mainly three particular phylums: Ascomycota, Bryophyta, and Basidiomycota. Also, we will discuss various types of different fungus that have occurred throughout the temperature changes in the humidity of February and March.

An ecosystem in a decaying stomp can be determined by a classification of specific types of species and organisms. A decaying wood is usually more important than that of a living tree because it provides a good shelter for most organisms.
Dead and dying trees play a vital role in the functioning and productivity of arboreal ecosystems through effects on biodiversity, carbon storage, soil nutrients cycling, energy flows, hydrological processes and natural regeneration of trees.
Due to the decaying process, changes in moisture content will cause the wood to shrink or crack; it could become unstable and cause a potential hazard. It may be necessary to reduce the size of the piece of decaying wood or to re-erect it.
During the aging process and through the activity of wood digesting organisms, the tree progressively develops features such as hollowing, decaying wood and water pools. The tree is gradually transformed into a complex of habitats with often unique combinations of niches for many species, established sometimes over many centuries.
The natural tendency to lose branches, to hollow and decay may initiate an adaptive growth process in the tree to compensate for potential weaknesses in the wood strength which may appear as a localized deformation i.e. a change in the shape of the trunk or branch.
There are two distinct types of decaying wood habitat. The first is associated with standing dead trunks, limbs or branches left around the outside of the tree, while the second is found within the trunks and branches in which the decay forms cavities (Cowan).
The decaying wood inside living trees decomposes from the inside out, forming cavities, rot holes and hollow trunks, which are created by invertebrates and fungi, but it goes to provide shelter for biodiversity of birds, small mammals and reptiles (Cowan).
Most resources perform vital ecological roles that vary in different biological transformations and the cycling of nutrients, decomposition, and respiration. Although, these roles affect ecosystems, it also affects the health and the production of soil. Down wood is also a major source of mychorrizal fungi, so it retains moisture and serves as important reservoirs of such fungal activity during dry summer months (Marcot).
Decaying wood is a major contributor to humus and organic matter which helps to maintain or improve the structure of soil in the production of nutrients. Nitrogen is available in the soil of forests found in matter of woody material which creates a condition of acid in a microbial activity that fixes up nitrogen (Marcot).