Stone Mountain located in the suburbs of Atlanta has a very unique and different ecosystem.. The Stone Mountain Park is the home to many plants and animals.
The Stone Mountain Park is the home to animals such as the White-tail deer, the Red-tailed hawk, Monarch Butterflies, Cottontail rabbits, Black Rat Snake, Eastern Chipmunk, Painted Turtle, Title Swallowtail, American Toad, Great Blue Heron, Grey Squirrel, Mallard Ducks, Grey Fox and Wild Turkey. The park also houses several plants such as Trout lily, Red Moss and Sandwort, Poolsprite and Quillwort, Prickly Pear Cactus, Yucca, Dayflower and Confederate Daisy.

White-tail Deer:
The deer is among the variety of habitats which can be seen in the park in early mornings. Deers eat leaves, twigs, nuts and acorns. Deers are in important part of the ecosystem of this country as they were used for food. Their skin have also been used for clothing by Native Americans. “White-tailed deer can greatly influence the composition of plant communities through their grazing, especially where they are abundant.” http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Odocoileus_virginianus.html, (2008)
Red-tailed Hawk:
This hawk can be seen around the entire park. These birds eat mice, rabbits and snakes. Their long strong toes and talons are used to claw and kill their prey. They have a special role in the ecosystem. By eating rodents, they aid in the rodents not having a bigger population. “Their special role in nature is keeping the rodent population under control.” www.Stonemountainpark.org ( 2008 ).

Monarch Butterflies:
This beautiful insect are seen feeding on the flowering plants in the park during the summer. The monarch butterflies hatch their eggs on a very toxic plant- milkweed plants. When the eggs are hatched, their babies eat off the plant, thereby becoming toxic. This prevents their predators from killing and eating them. Their bright colors are used as a warning to their predators of how toxic they are. These butterflies help reduce the growth of the toxic plants since they eat these plants.

Cottontail Rabbits:
These nocturnal mammals can be seen in the park in early mornings and late evenings. They eat lots of plants. The rabbits are preys to large mammals and birds. Their defense is speed and their sharp sense of hearing. These rabbits are hosts to fleas. This can be harmful when they come in contact with humans.
Black Rat Snake:
This is a non-venomous constrictor. They feed off rodents and other small animals. They also help in keeping the rodent population low.

Eastern Chipmunk:
These small mammals are throughout the park. They usually occupy areas with dense plants, as they are able to hide easily among those. The Chipmunks can be seen eating nuts. Chipmunks are important to the ecosystem as they help in the dispersal of seeds by storing their seeds. Buried seeds oftentimes germinate as well when they get forgotten.

Painted Turtle:
These are very popular in the entire North America. These turtles usually hibernate at the bottom of ponds and shallow lakes during winter. They are usually out and about during warm weather. They eat fish and insects and leaves. Painted turtles are prey to foxes and raccoons but are predators to small fishes.

Tiger Swallowtail:
This is one of the most popular butterfly of North America and Georgia State. They are seen eating flowering-plants throughout the park. These butterflies add extreme beauty to the park.
American Toad:
There are many of these toads in and around the park. The toads prefer to live in freshwater ponds during their early stages. They then live in dense patches of vegetation. “Toads prefer to live in areas where insects and moisture are abundant. These toads do have warts in the spots on their skin and these secrete a toxin, which will make many predators sick if a toad is eaten.” http://www.stonemountainpark.org/new%20plants%20and%20animals.htm, (2008). The main predators of American toads are snakes. There are some snakes that are immune to the poisonous glands of American toads. “When these toads are faced with a predator that is immune to their poison they will sometimes urinate on themselves to become a less attractive meal. They also inflate their bodies with air to make themselves more difficult for a snake to swallow.” http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Bufo_americanus.html (2008).

Great Blue Heron:
This bird can be seen near the park lakes. They live in the marshes and eat mainly fishes but are also predators to frogs, lizards and snakes and other water insects. The Great Blue Heron help control the fish and insect population. They provide a great food source to the animals that prey on them.
Grey Squirrel:
These are one of the most common animals in the park and can be seen in the park woods. They feed on plenty of nuts. The grey squirrels are important important role in the ecosystem is the dispersal of tree seeds. The grey squirrel are hosts for parasites such as fleas, ticks, lice and roundworms. These animals served as food to Native Americans. People still eat them today.

Mallard Duck:
These are often seen near the park’s lakes and ponds. The Mallards eat a variety of food such as vegetation, insects, worms and gastropods. The Mallard ducks also are important to humans. “An important game species. The money generated by license fees pays for the management of mallard populations and is used to protect important habitats. Also, money spent on hunting equipment is a significant addition to the economy.” http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Anas_platyrhynchos.html, (2008)


Grey Fox:
The Grey Fox can be seen within the park. This is the smallest of the dog family. They feed on mice, moles, birds eggs and rabbits. The fox are preys to eagles and man in some areas.
Box Turtle:
The box turtle can be seen in the wooded areas of the park and near shallow water. The box turtle eat snails, insects, berries, fungi, worms, roots, flowers, snakes and birds. The box turtle can be extremely dangerous to human since the turtle can eat poisonous mushrooms, for instance, without being harmed. The turtle carry a virus in their blood which can be deadly for humans. On the other hand, the turtle help with seed dispersion of berries as well as by eating harmful insects, they help the ecosystem and man. The Native Americans used them for food, medicinal and for hunting purposes.

Wild Turkey:
The turkeys are sometimes seen the park in the forests areas and near the forest edge. The turkeys eat nuts and seeds in the fall and Turkeys are sometimes seen in the park in our mature forests and near forest edges. They feed on nuts and seeds in the fall and in the winter they eat greens and insects. They were also like the deer an important part of the Native American diet. Their predators include the grey fox, rat snakes and raccoons. They are also important to the ecosystem of the park as they are a good source of food for the animals that hunt them. They also help in the maintaining the population of trees and plants as they eat many seeds.
Late Winter:: Trout Lily:
This beautiful plant can be seen throughout park mostly in the wooded areas in late winter. The markings on the trout lily leaf are similar to markings found on the brook trout. Native Americans knew to fish for trout at the time they saw the trout lily.


Spring:: Red Moss (Elf –Orphine): and Sandwort:
The two plants can be seen on the mountain in early spring. The Red Moss is not a moss at all but a succulent plant. The sandwort can easily withstand harsh weather conditions. These plants help host animals that dwell on the mountain, such as lizards. These plants hold strongly onto the soil that they utilise , so by living within the cracks of the mountain, they help prevent erosions.

Poolsprite and Quillwort:
These endangered water plants live within the pools at the protected top of the mountain. Animals love the leaves of the fleshy parts of these plants. These plants are rich in nutrients. Where these plants live, it is known that a good water quality exists.

Summer Flowers::
Prickly Pear Cactus:
This is a very popular plant on the Mountain and throughout the park. This plant biggest function is the storage of water. The fruits and green pads are edible.


Yucca:
This desert plant can be found on the slopes of the mountain. The Native Americans have used the roots and trunk of the tree as soap. The leaves of the plant are used for weaving baskets.


Dayflower:
The flower is used as a herb by many. “Commelina coelestis, C. diffusa, and C. erecta are often grown as ground covers because of their sprawling habit and their small blue flowers. Especially in moist shady places, they spread easily by cuttings and seed and by rooting of their prostrate stems.” www.britaninica.com (2008). This dayflower seeds are eaten by birds such as quails, doves and songbirds.
Late Summer flowers:: Confederate Daisy:
“This is also called “Stone Mountain Yellow Daisy” because it is only found within a 60-mile radius of Stone Mountain. It was first discovered as a new species in 1846 and every fall beginning in August the mountain is scattered with yellow from this flower, which grows on the granite outcrops in shallow soil.” http://www.stonemountainpark.org/new%20plants%20and%20animals.htm, (2008). This beautiful flower is quite an attraction to the park, thereby providing income.


There are great biological inter-relationships that exist among the life forms in the Stone Mountain Park area. The blending of odours, gases and exhaled air tend to balance the composite of the air circulation inhaled by plants and animals. Hence, a positive inter-relationship has developed. The remains of decomposed life forms and droppings from animals as well as dead plants do enrich the soil tremendously. This will promote a healthier plant life which in turn is a great source of animal food.
The human habitation of the Stone Mountain dates back to prehistory. Though there are humans living on the mountain or within the park, there are human intrusions threatening the area. The introduction of toxic elements, such as, chemicals used to control plants and grass are a threat to other life forms. The use of heavy machinery compresses the surface of the earth which in turn will delay plant growth and decrease animal productivity. Fire used in the campgrounds, for instance, is an enemy to the ecosystem.
The protections that do exist to safeguard and preserve the area are extremely effective. The mountain provides a means of study of the various animals and plants. Various habitats will be expanded and studied thereby preventing extinction. The caged and fenced areas prevent intrusion of predators. The Stone Mountain Park provides an avenue of scientific experiments to aid in the improvement of life, disease prevention, weather conditions and disease control.
There are some efforts that can be used to help further this preservation. The staff members can try to discover and implement cures for disease by use of some medicinal plants within the area. Park officials can apply strict means against unwanted species and predators. The park members can ensure that floods, fires and littering are prevented. The staff of the park can install nurseries. Qualified personnel can be employed to study the various plants to determine their medicinal benefits to humans.
Individuals can be supportive of activities within the park. Individuals can also provide information to the park officials if there is any illegal intrusion. Individuals can help encourage visitors to the park as well as school tours which will in turn generate income.
If intrusions go unchecked, the results can be quite devastating. If tigers, for instance, are to intrude on the park grounds, several losses of life will occur. The tigers will eat the smaller animals such as the fox, squirrels and wild turkey. The tigers will also attack the visitors to the park, thereby, creating fear within tourists that may want to visit the park. The ecosystem will be disrupted as well as the income will decrease tremendously.




References:

1. Retrieved October 19, 2008 from
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Odocoileus_virginianus.html, white-tailed deer, 2008
2. Retrieved October 19, 2008 from http://www.stonemountainpark.org/new%20plants%20and%20animals.htm, About Ecosystem: plants & animals, 2008.
3. Retrieved October 19, 2008, from http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Bufo_americanus.html , Bufo americanus, American toad, 2008
4. Retrieved October 19, 2008 from
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Anas_platyrhynchos.html, mallard, 2008
5. Retrieved October 19, 2008, from
http://www.stonemountainpark.org/new%20plants%20and%20animals.htm, about Ecosystem: plants and animal