Find a personal favorite/particularly interesting US National Park and describe its biodiversity in a general sense. (100-200 words)
Create an energy flow systems diagram on Google Docs including at least five different animal species and 1 plant species. (Describe the interaction between species along the arrows of the diagram.)
Identify a current or potential future threat to a species in the National Park. Has there been any steps taken to address these threats? If so, please describe. If not, think of a way this threat could be stopped or mitigated. (100-200 words)
The Zion National Park is situated in a particularly fascinating area of Southwest Utah, and exhibits some of the most striking landscape scenery in the country. Along with its amazing views, it also houses a variety of plant and animal species. The top predators within the park include cougars, coyotes, X, and X. Bighorn sheep, elk, mule deer, rock squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, and many other small animals roam the park as well. The park contains bright green flora that provides great contrast to the canyon walls throughout Zion. There are a vast amount of plant species throughout the park include sagebrush, prickly pear cactus, juniper, and douglas fir. At Zion National Park, no matter where one turns, a landscape bursting with life is lying there waiting to be explored.
One issue that the Zion National Park has faced throughout much of its history and still to this day, is a shortage of bighorn sheep. The initial decline in bighorn sheep populations was due to the damaging effects of the settlement and development of the local land. As we have seen in this past module and others before it, human development of land has extremely damaging effects including disrupting water flows, depleting resources, and introducing new diseases through livestock. The loss of the bighorn sheep would mean a link in the food chain would be removed, undoubtedly causing damage to the rest of the species in the park. There have been reintroduction efforts ongoing since the mid-1960’s, but numbers stayed low for a number of decades throughout multiple attempts. Presently, there are over 65 bighorn sheep in the park and the herd appears to be doing well and growing. Park officials believe Zion could support at least twice as many bighorns, so hopes are up for the future of this iconic species.
One thought on “Biodiversity in the National Parks”
Hey James, my name is Landon and I’m a junior at Penn State. I really liked what you did with this assignment. I liked that you described your National Park and described the food chain with your diagram. I also liked that you took the park and explained some of the issues that are happening and raising awareness about the park. It would be awesome to grow the bighorn sheep population. Check mine out. http://geog030.dutton.psu.edu/2016/04/12/module-10-biodiversity-2/
Hey James, my name is Landon and I’m a junior at Penn State. I really liked what you did with this assignment. I liked that you described your National Park and described the food chain with your diagram. I also liked that you took the park and explained some of the issues that are happening and raising awareness about the park. It would be awesome to grow the bighorn sheep population. Check mine out. http://geog030.dutton.psu.edu/2016/04/12/module-10-biodiversity-2/