Grassy Ridge Bald, one of the highest grassy balds in the Appalachian Mountains, at Roan Mountain on the N.C.-Tennessee state line.

Balds are home to a variety of what Weigl calls “rare, endemic, relict and disjunct plant species.” These species are light-dependent and cannot exist in forested habitats, and they must have existed over large enough distances and periods of time to speciate. Balds that have grown over have a significant decrease in vertebrate diversity, as well.

There are other places with similar stories. The polonina in Poland are one such habitat that Weigl has studied. They also support rare plants and have large herbivores including European bison, red deer, wild horses, and wild cattle. In addition to fossil data, there is a record of megafauna left by drawings on the walls of caves in that region. There are also grass balds in the Oregon coast with a similar history and rare species.

Whatever their origin, the unmanaged balds are disappearing.

#Ecosystem #Prehistoric #NorthAmerica

The Return

Forwarded from Best of Hominins

Grassy Ridge Bald, one of the highest grassy balds in the Appalachian Mountains, at Roan Mountain on the N.C.-Tennessee state line.

Balds are home to a variety of what Weigl calls “rare, endemic, relict and disjunct plant species.” These species are light-dependent and cannot exist in forested habitats, and they must have existed over large enough distances and periods of time to speciate. Balds that have grown over have a significant decrease in vertebrate diversity, as well.

There are other places with similar stories. The polonina in Poland are one such habitat that Weigl has studied. They also support rare plants and have large herbivores including European bison, red deer, wild horses, and wild cattle. In addition to fossil data, there is a record of megafauna left by drawings on the walls of caves in that region. There are also grass balds in the Oregon coast with a similar history and rare species.

Whatever their origin, the unmanaged balds are disappearing.

#Ecosystem #Prehistoric #NorthAmerica

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962 viewsAug 23, 2021 at 17:32