More info on Environments and Ecosystems

In a mountainous area conditions are very different at the top compared with down in the valleys

The most noticeable differences are the temperature and windspeed, above a permanent snowline the snow never melts away completely and winter storms bring severe winds. Down in the valleys there is more shelter from the wind and temperatures are higher.

The environment in an active volcano crater will be very different to that on its slopes.

Within any environment are a whole load of smaller environments.

The pictures so far show some distinctly different mountainous environments. There are others - imagine going into the entrance of a cave high on the side of a snowy mountain……. You start off with snow and icicles, no rock to be seen, and little in the way of life- a cold and barren environment. As you go deeper most of the ice and snow disappears, there is still a dim glow of daylight and green algae struggle to survive on the walls.

 

The air is still, the temperature rarely varies by more than a degree or two, if you look closely you will find little buggy things living on the algae and each other, spindly spiders in turn prey on them.

Cave spider

Cave cricket

Further down still and the environment gradually changes the temperature is rising, a stream flows along the floor of the passage and forms occasional pools, it isn’t teeming with life but there are many more varieties of insect even pure white cave crickets. There is no light so most of the creatures have no eyes or ones that don’t really do anything and plants ain't got a chance apart from a few highly specialised algaes.

Within the cave environment are a whole load of smaller environments; conditions in the water and in the dry part are very different and form two distinct environments. Even within the water the pools and the running water provide different environments and host life that has adapted to those conditions.

Bats have adapted for life in the dark and spend a lot of time in caves

Typhlich is a cave fish - no need for eyes or much colour in the dark.

 

As we reach the lower parts of the cave where it opens onto the side of the mountain, the environment is warm and moist, the variety of species of plants and animals increases, mosses and ferns cling to the walls and right at the entrance trees and vines mark the transition to the outside world. There are more 'normal' insects and animals; some visitors, some permanent residents.

Tree ferns up to 5 meters long doing dangling.

The sharp line where inside turns into outside.

 

We can say the cave is an Ecosystem in itself, if we look in more detail we can see that it contains a range of smaller ecosystems each with its own environment, and inhabitants.

You can go really small – unless you are ultra—hygienic or have bitten them away to nothing, by the end of the day, under your fingernails will be a micro environment –dead skin, food, soil, dust, all sorts of stuff and grime and it will be a great home for bacteria......until you scrub em clean again.