This link has been bookmarked by 73 people . It was first bookmarked on 01 Sep 2010, by B T.
-
09 Mar 15
-
07 Mar 14
-
29 Dec 13
-
21 Jan 13
-
18 Jan 13
J Nr Wilkinson describes the vegetation of "Green Mountain" - as the highest peak is now known - as a "cloud forest". The trees capture sea mist, creating a damp oasis amid the aridity.
However, this is a forest with a difference. It is totally artificial.
Such ecosystems normally develop over million of years through a slow process of co-evolution. By contrast, the Green Mountain cloud forest was cobbled together by the Royal Navy in a matter of decades.
Dr Wilkinson exclaimed: "This is really exciting!"
"What it tells us is that we can build a fully functioning ecosystem through a series of chance accidents or trial and error."Ascension darwing ecology ecosystems biology environment terraforming
-
27 Sep 11
-
21 May 11
-
18 Sep 10
-
10 Sep 10
-
Johnnie Moorevia Precccupations' delicious feed
-
07 Sep 10
-
05 Sep 10
-
04 Sep 10
-
Ms. Davis"I remember thinking, this is really weird," [Dr Dave Wilkinson] told the BBC.
"There were all kinds of plants that don't belong together in nature, growing side by side. I only later found out about Darwin, Hooker and everything that had happened," he s -
03 Sep 10
-
Ian PattinsonA lonely island in the middle of the South Atlantic conceals Charles Darwin's best-kept secret.
Two hundred years ago, Ascension Island was a barren volcanic edifice.
Today, its peaks are covered by lush tropical "cloud forest".
What happened in the in -
Michael SchmalenstroerA lonely island in the middle of the South Atlantic conceals Charles Darwin's best-kept secret.
-
Alberto CotticaTerraforming nel diciannovesimo secolo: Charles Darwin e la Royal Navy producono una foresta pluviale sulla cima di un vulcano in un'isola aridissima. Un ecosistema funzionante, ma artificiale! In pochi decenni!
-
02 Sep 10
Thomas JamesTwo hundred years ago, Ascension Island was a barren volcanic edifice.
Today, its peaks are covered by lush tropical "cloud forest".
What happened in the interim is the amazing story of how the architect of evolution, Kew Gardens and the Royal Navy consAscensionIsland terraforming geoengineering CharlesDarwin toread
-
Astrofiammante .A lonely island in the middle of the South Atlantic conceals Charles Darwin's best-kept secret - a barren volcanic edifice converted into a fully-functioning but totally artificial ecosystem. Could it be the basis for the colonisation of Mars?
-
Gaurav VaidyaWow! An ecosystem set in motion by man -> http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11137903 /via @neilfws
-
zaana howardHow Charles Darwin's created an artificial ecosystem http://bbc.in/aun0sb Fascinating stuff.
– Warlach (Warlach) http://twitter.com/Warlach/status/22753042222 -
01 Sep 10
-
The idea was breathtakingly simple. Trees would capture more rain, reduce evaporation and create rich, loamy soils. The "cinder" would become a garden.
So, beginning in 1850 and continuing year after year, ships started to come. Each deposited a motley assortment of plants from botanical gardens in Europe, South Africa and Argentina.
Soon, on the highest peak at 859m (2,817ft), great changes were afoot. By the late 1870s, eucalyptus, Norfolk Island pine, bamboo, and banana had all run riot.
-
-
-
So, beginning in 1850 and continuing year after year, ships started to come. Each deposited a motley assortment of plants from botanical gardens in Europe, South Africa and Argentina.
Soon, on the highest peak at 859m (2,817ft), great changes were afoot. By the late 1870s, eucalyptus, Norfolk Island pine, bamboo, and banana had all run riot
-
"There were all kinds of plants that don't belong together in nature, growing side by side. I only later found out about Darwin, Hooker and everything that had happened," he said.
-
Such ecosystems normally develop over million of years through a slow process of co-evolution. By contrast, the Green Mountain cloud forest was cobbled together by the Royal Navy in a matter of decades.
-
"What it tells us is that we can build a fully functioning ecosystem through a series of chance accidents or trial and error."
-
In effect, what Darwin, Hooker and the Royal Navy achieved was the world's first experiment in "terra-forming". They created a self-sustaining and self-reproducing ecosystem in order to make Ascension Island more habitable.
-
However, to date, scientists have been deaf to the parable of Ascension Island.
"It's a terrible waste that no-one is studying it," remarked Wilkinson at the end of the interview.
-
-
Johnathan Fletcher"A lonely island in the middle of the South Atlantic conceals Charles Darwin's best-kept secret.
Two hundred years ago, Ascension Island was a barren volcanic edifice.
Today, its peaks are covered by lush tropical "cloud forest".
What happened in the interim is the amazing story of how the architect of evolution, Kew Gardens and the Royal Navy conspired to build a fully functioning, but totally artificial ecosystem."science biology ecology Darwin evolution terra-forming Britain Navy Ascension Athlantic ocean trees volcano geology ecosystem experiment
-
Francisco_LiendoA lonely island in the South Atlantic conceals Darwin's best-kept secret. Could it shed light on the colonisation of Mars?
Artificial Ascension_Island Darwin_Charles Ecologia_Ecology Ecosystem Mars
-
whip_lashEgged on by Darwin, in 1847 Hooker advised the Royal Navy to set in motion an elaborate plan. With the help of Kew Gardens - where Hooker's father was director - shipments of trees were to be sent to Ascension.
The idea was breathtakingly simple. Trees wenvironment evolution science darwin ecology ecosystem terraforming
-
shawn lIn effect, what Darwin, Hooker and the Royal Navy achieved was the world's first experiment in "terra-forming". They created a self-sustaining and self-reproducing ecosystem in order to make Ascension Island more habitable.
-
-
"What it tells us is that we can build a fully functioning ecosystem through a series of chance accidents or trial and error".
-
In effect, what Darwin, Hooker and the Royal Navy achieved was the world's first experiment in "terra-forming". They created a self-sustaining and self-reproducing ecosystem in order to make Ascension Island more habitable.
-
Would you like to comment?
Join Diigo for a free account, or sign in if you are already a member.