BIO 468 Lecture 11: Feb12bio468
Document Summary
Wind will shape an environment and creates erosion. Farmland is normally grassland which is its normal undisturbed state. Where there is farming it creates a disturbed alternate state. Grass takes more effort to push the environment back to its original stable state than it would be to disturb the original soil state. Sand dunes start in alternate state and gradually move back into its natural undisturbed state. When grass is damaged by walking and vehicles, etc. it turns into its alternate stable state of sand or soil. When new grass is planted wind can create blowout. We must find a way to block the wind! Once wind is blocked, vegetation such as trees can grow and naturally block the wind so more vegetation can begin to grow again, so the area can return to original state. Being constantly eroded, such as a sloped landscape, with lots of runoff, this is a stable state.
