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What is the longleaf ecosystem?

The longleaf pine forest

What exactly is a forest? It's a large area dominated by trees. A forest is usually made up of just a few types of trees or species depending on climate, soil, elevation, and other environmental factors. Guess which species of tree is dominant in the longleaf pine forest? Hopefully, you guessed the longleaf pine tree! The longleaf pine tree is considered the keystone tree species for this forest type and it determines a lot about the forest ecosystem. Based on what we learned in the Question stage about the longleaf pine tree, let's explore what makes the structure of the longleaf pine forest different.

Compare the two photos of forests below. What is similar about them? What is different?

Amazon rainforest
Forest #1
longleaf pine savannah
Forest #2

You may have noticed that the two forests have similarities, but they also have big differences! Photo #1 is of the Amazon rainforest; Photo #2 is of a longleaf pine forest. You may have noticed that the longleaf pine forest has a high canopy (where the branches and leaves or needles block out the sky), a more open understory (the layer of smaller trees), and a spacious and sunny forest floor compared to the Amazon rainforest. These differences are also illustrated in the two diagrams below. The 'structure' of the longleaf pine forest is important for a healthy ecosystem because many of the plants and animals that live in this forest are found on the forest floor and depend on the space and sun for suitable habitat.

diagram-1
diagram-2

Question to Ponder

What naturally occurring forces could keep the understory open and the forest floor from getting overgrown in a longleaf forest?

The longleaf pine ecosystem

What exactly is an ecosystem? It's the community of plants, animals, and other organisms or biotic elements, that exist and interact with the non-living physical and chemical features of the environment, or its abiotic elements.

A forest ecosystem is this same community set in a place that is dominated by one or a few specific or keystone tree species - here, the longleaf pine tree! So what are the living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) elements that make up the longleaf pine ecosystem?!

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Biotic (Living)

Living organisms that are found in a longleaf pine ecosystem can be grouped into three categories:

PRODUCERS: Living things that can produce their own energy, primarily from the sun. In the longleaf pine ecosystem, the many plant species that grow on the forest floor and the trees are producers.

CONSUMERS: Living things that cannot produce their own energy and rely on eating or consuming producers to survive. In the longleaf pine ecosystem, animals (and even some cool plants!) are consumers.

DECOMPOSERS: Living things that get their energy from breaking down or decomposing dead organisms. In the longleaf pine ecosystem, decomposers include fungi or mushrooms, some kinds of worms and insects, and some soil microbes and bacteria.

Abiotic (Non-Living)

Non-living elements of that are important to understanding the longleaf pine ecosystem include:

SUNSHINE: The structure of the longleaf forest lets a more sunshine reach the forest floor than in many forests. This sunshine is an important energy source for producer species.

SOIL: The soil material and nutrients in the longleaf forest are important for the growth of plants and trees and to provide essential habitat conditions for animals.

CLIMATE: Like much of the southeastern United States, the longleaf pine ecosystem exists and is adapted to long hot summers, high humidity, and frequent summer storms.

FIRE: With those frequent storms comes lightning which sometimes start fires in the forest. The longleaf pine ecosystem is what we consider a fire dependent ecosystem, meaning it actually NEEDS fire to be healthy!

Question to Ponder

If the abiotic (non-living) factors in this ecosystem change, would the biotic (living) organisms be affected? If so, how?

Comparing forest ecosystems

The longleaf pine tree is the keystone tree species in the longleaf pine ecosystem. This tree species shapes all of the biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) elements of the system. Without this tree, the ecosystem would change drastically (also known as ecosystem succession).

There are other well-known types of forest ecosystems that are defined by different keystone tree and plant species. These species create and support other unique communities of plants and animals that depend on other abiotic (non-living) conditions.

Have you heard of any these other trees or ecosystems? How do you think they compare and contrast to the longleaf pine forest?

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Redwoods

The redwoods are the tallest trees in the world, found in southern Oregon and northern California. These huge trees thrive in specific conditions that create an ecosystem that extends far below the ground and up into the high canopy of these forests.

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Mangroves

Mangroves are coastal forest ecosystems that grow in salt or brackish water. The tangled root systems of the trees below the water surface provides shelter for many aquatic animal species. These forests are valuable for protecting land from storms.

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Kelp Forests

Kelp forests are found underwater along the Pacific coast of the US and other places around the world. Kelp is not actually a plant but extremely large brown algae, and many different species of kelp make up kelp forests. These forests support a huge diversity of sea life.

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Bald Cypress

If you live near the longleaf pine ecosystem, you may have seen these trees as well! Bald cypress trees are found in swamps, or low-lying wet areas in the southeastern US. These trees support the swamp ecosystem by creating extensive habitat.

Revisit Your KND Chart

We have UNCOVERED a lot about the longleaf pine forest since we started. Revisit and update your KND chart. What do you know about this type of forest and ecosystem now? Any ideas about why it might need our help? Have you come up with any new questions that you want to answer?

Where is the longleaf ecosystem located?
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