Ecosystem concepts and characteristics

¶ … Fen in a Forest Ecosystem

The ecosystem that is of interest in this particular case is the fen in a forest. These are two ecosystems of different categories and yet coexist with the fen being an aquatic ecosystem and the forest being a terrestrial ecosystem. This combination of ecosystems gives a rich place that can effectively support the endangered species and species that are considered vulnerable and rare to be found in many ecosystems.

A fen is described as a wetland system that has permanent water sources mainly from the ground that keeps the wetland always with water though at times the levels may drop slightly. The substrate to the fen is always alkaline to slightly acidic soil. The ground water and the water that is directed to the fen from the slopes caries with it a lot of nutrients to the fen hence this ecosystem can support many types of plants. Most commonly found in a fen are grass, sedge, rush, spring peeper, green snakes, dragonfly, mosquito monarch butterfly among many others (Irish Peatland Conservation Council, 2015).

A forest is a dynamic constantly changing ecosystem that is mainly comprised of trees that have undergrowth beneath them. A forest often supports a lot of ecosystems within it, from other smaller plants to the animals and birds that seek refuge in it. Trees in the forest play an important role of cleaning the air, cooling the environment during hot days and conserving the heat in cold nights and also act as a sound absorber, facts that make the forest conducive for many species to live in (Forest Facts, 2007).

The monarch butterfly, which is found in the fen, is one of the insects that portray the most highly evolved migration pattern of any known species of butterflies. They are known to travel over 2800 miles from the U.S. And Canada to the central Mexican forests. They then hibernate in the mountain forests where the weather is les harsh. Despite this unique quality of the butterfly, the WWF reports that its population has hit an all time low over more than 20 years. This is due to the abnormal weather patterns experienced in the U.S. And Canada which happen to be the breeding grounds, now turned to death fields for the butterfly (World Wildlife Fund, 2015). The monarch butterflies have the intrinsic value in their very existence as the butterflies found in U.S. And Canada. They also have the instrumental value in that they help in pollination that in turn enables plants in the forest to make food for other animals and man. The monarch butterfly also holds the uniqueness value in that it is found only in Canada and U.S. And also bearing the fact that it is the only butterfly that has the most evolved and elaborate migration patters.

The green snake is also found in the fen and fundamentally survives on the insects, birds and small rodents like the mice that may be found around the fen. The smooth green snake is not poisonous hence kept as pet by many people around this ecosystem. The snake has the intrinsic value juts as the other species around the fen since it exists independent of the functions it plays in the eco system. The instrumental value can be associated with the part they play in the food chain since they are eaten by the hawks and the uniqueness value is the fact that they are a species that can be kept as pet by human beings.

The other specie that is found in the fen is sedges which grow up to four feet high in bunches and resembles grass. This is another important species in this eco system since it not only provides food for the animals tat come by to drink, but also act as shelter and breeding grounds for other smaller species like insects, hence playing a very important role in the ecosystem. The intrinsic value is embedded in its existence since there is no alternative for sedges, while the instrumental value is in the fact that it provides food to other species like animals and even insects and the uniqueness value is that it can not be easily found in other regions but the fens or water logged areas.

The forest also has species that are important in the completion and enriching of this ecosystem. First are the trees that define the forest. They grow tall and hence are the most visible in this ecosystem. The trees have the intrinsic value as the existing species across the world. The instrumental value of trees in this particularly ecosystem is that it helps in providing shelter and breeding ground for other species like the birds and lizards. The trees also cover the smaller plats and helps keep the forest within the right temperatures for food to grow and feed animals that walk through the forest. The uniqueness value of these trees is that they play a significant role of cooling the environment and cleaning the air, functions that no other species can so effectively do.

The other species found in the forest are the undergrowth or the small plants and climbers. These are found beneath the trees and have a shorter lifespan after which they die off and decompose. The intrinsic value is found in their existence within the forest and nowhere else. The instrumental value is that they help in providing humus to the top layer of the soil hence the forest will keep bringing forth the new plants for animals to feed on. The uniqueness value is that they can grow nowhere else apart from beneath the trees hence give the animals in the forest the abundance of food without having to travel far off.