Bio research paper-Glacier, shared by Canada & US - Essay Example

Collision of cloud particles falls as snow and rain that accumulates on the peaks of St. Elias Mountains, Takashina Mountains among other ranges. The snowpacks melt in warm weather and proceeds into the rivers, canals, and coastline of the park. Glacier Bay National Park is known for its diverse plant species that readily help in replenishing nitrogen in the ecosystem. Flora consists of hemlock forest, sprus, willows, alder, dryas, and fireweed. Researchers indicate that the presence of moss, alder and dryas is the immediate evidence of an excellent nitrogen cycle in an ecosystem.

The park nitrogen is improved by the ability of dryas and alders to add nitrogen directly from the air. These two plant species fix the collected nitrogen from the air into their rot nodules before dropping their leaves that serves in nitrogen addition to the soil. Fungi indigenous to the forest also help in the nitrogen cycle. Plants such as hemlock, willows, fireweed and sprus found in Glacier Bay National Park absorb CO2 during photosynthesis. These plants are the primary producers of carbon in the cycle.

They release the absorbed CO2 into the atmosphere in the process of respiration. The aquatic plants found in rivers Alsek, Glacier Bay, Lynn Canal, and Dry Bay also absorb the dissolved carbon dioxide in these water bodies. They use the absorbed CO2 in photosynthesis. Human activities in the park such as constructing a road leading to Newmont Exploration minefield contributes to the carbon cycle because it leads to deforestation of the park. Tourists visiting the park use gasoline and petroleum in their cars.

Burning petroleum releases carbon into the atmosphere. Differences in Glacier Bay National Park’s temperature, rainfall, and composition are an evidence of rich habitat for several native plant and animal species. Tree species vary with the altitude of the mountain ranges. The lowlands of Fairweather range are covered