Biotic Components Paper

Biotic Components Paper

Tammie Johnson

University of Phoenix

SCI/256

Introduction

The longleaf pine/wiregrass ecosystem is a habitat of the Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge that is in decline along with species and wildlife that are dependent upon it for survival. It is the official state tree of Alabama and is specifically stated in North Carolina’s state toast. Many factors are part of its disappearance and change that it has incurred over time. This paper will discuss the major structural and functional dynamics, the biogeochemical cycles affected by humans, and how knowledge of the ecosystem’s structure and function can help manage restoration.

The longleaf pine/wiregrass ecosystem was developed by thousands of years of natural fires that occurred every two to four years, once covered nearly 90 million acres and is now reduced to less than two million acres. A 97 percent decline with half of these existing on public lands. Longleaf pine takes 100 to 150 years to become full size and may love to 50 years old. It is immune to fire and in the grass stage last 5 to 12 years. Fires burn off the ends of the needles, but the fire does not penetrate the tightly packed needle bases to reach the bud. It is eaten by feral pigs, which are partly responsible for the decline of the species. The Red-cockaded woodpecker is dependent on Longleaf pine forest for its seeds that are large and nutritious, and has become endangered because of its decline. A contributing factor to the fall of this ecosystem include efforts to suppress fires, human clearance for agriculture and development, aggressive logging, and converting to other types of pine to obtain faster growth and profits.

The longleaf presents value in many ways. It is a species that has a resistance to several insects and diseases that attack other pines. Not only is the longleaf pine resistant to fire, but it requires fire to survive as a...