A good example of what cannot be replicated in a monoculture can be found in our practice of silviculture. Doug Fir / Hemlock monocultures for example are devoid of soil fungi that are symbiotic if not essential health of the entire ecological system.
For instance, there exists a vole that eats only a certain type of mushroom that grows naturally in native doug fir forests. The vole excrement combines with an enzyme in the gut that makes up take of nutrients by the the root system possible. Without the vole, each tree has to have it’s natural immune system beefed up by commercially produced chemicals to enhance crop yield. But, that’s just one example.
Monoculture species can tend to get out of control when improperly managed. New Zealand would love to rid itself of the Monterey Pine if it could. New Mexico would like to get rid of the Russian Olive, and Southern Florida would like to eradicate the Austrian Pine as noted below.
“This is a destructive invasive species! Australian pine is an extremely aggressive and densely rooted species that smothers its struggling competitors under a heavy blanket of needle-like litter. Monocultural stands displace sand-binding native dune and beach vegetation, encouraging coastal erosion, changing soil chemistry, degrading wildlife habitat, and drastically altering coastal environments. Few animals can survive in the ecologically sterile interior of an Australian pine forest. The Plant Conservation Alliance names this species as an Alien Invader. It is listed as a Category I invasive exotic species by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council.”
http://www.floridata.com/ref/c/casu_equ.cfm
If we don’t consider these problems within our designs, all we are are decorators.
