The worlds oldest trees are dying. Trees that are around 300 years old are dying off rapidly. This could be come a serious issue for the ecosystems in the world. These trees have been dying off at a rate that is around 5 times faster than ever before.
It is interesting that so many of these trees are dying so quickly all of a sudden. It is not like it is in just one area either. It is spread out around the world. The raising deaths of trees in many areas can be found anywhere from national parks in Montana to the African Savahana. The trees are even dying in the more human inhabited areas where people take efforts to preserve them. There are some obvious possibilities for deaths of trees, logging, diseases, etc, but not that would have this big of an effect. What is causing the trees to die so quickly? The scientists who are trying to make sense of it even seem to be having some trouble with the issue.
"It is a very, very disturbing trend. We are talking about the loss of the biggest living organisms on the planet, of the largest flowering plants on the planet, of organisms that play a key role in regulating and enriching our world" This quote from one of the scientists questioned in the article opens up even more questions. What will happen to all those who are dependent upon the trees? The animals who live in them and seek protection in them. The animals that rely on them for a food source... If all these trees are dying are species going to be hugely impacted? I wonder if there will be a loss of species slowly, obviously because a huge change like that wouldn't happen immediately. However if trees that are so carefully preserved are dying, what can we do to stop it?
When an animal is sick or dying you can nurse it back to life. If there is a threat of extinction you can help them to reproduce, and honestly the majority of people care a lot more about animals than trees. In this situation it isn't the threat of extinction though, its death. What can we do to save the trees, is there really anything we can do?
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/12/121206162519.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_science+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+--+Top+Science%29
I think this was reflective. I liked the connection at the end to animals that are dying and trees dying. I think if you added some ideas on how to save the trees it would have added to the blog. Overall, great job.
ReplyDeleteC-reflective
ReplyDeleteR-aware-
A-reflective
I-reflective - a lot of good connections and questions
S-Reflective
You put a lot of your opinion in this and asked a lot of good questions with a lot of good information! Nice job!
C:You did a good job by expressing the importance of the trees. I never knew how widespread this issue was so you're helping to educate others as well.
ReplyDeleteR:Here, we can generate more ideas on how to help the environment as a whole, not just the animals.
A/I: I think that you could add a little here by explaining a real situation about how trees are dying and how the problem was being resolved. Maybe the Asian Long-horn Beatle event in the western part of the state could spark some new ideas.
S: I liked how you showed concern for more species than just animals. They are important but they would not be living if it wasn't for the oxygen-producing trees.
Overall, I would give you a reflective. Nice Job!
C - Aware
ReplyDeleteR - Reflective
A - Aware
I - Novice/Aware
S - Novice/Aware
Final Grade (This may be removed at your discretion): Aware (-)
To improve you should: Consider the specifics of the impact on the ecosystem, explore the effects that the removal of these trees might have, Also there may be benefits of losing these old trees, while they are carbon stores etc. it might mean that different species are able to move in to the new niches provided.
Very nice job... Thanks for sharing this amazing and educative blog post! Tree Service Near Me
ReplyDelete