ECOSYSTEMS “Ecosystem: a community of organisms and its environment which functions as an ecological unit” – the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. An ecosystem is a difficult thing to define, namely because they vary so much. There are tundras, plains, mountains and so on, and there are individual ecosystems within each one, depending on geographical location, weather/climate and even the time of year. An ecosystem can be generalised down into a community of different biotic species living together, in conjunction with the abiotic factors that surround them. In Australia, ecosystems are incredibly diverse. They also are very unique to the country, as continental drift meant that Australia is now separated from other countries, and therefore, other …show more content…
For example, when a taxidermied platypus was first brought back to Britain, scientists were convinced it was fake, created out of body parts of other animals. The reason for it being so unbelievable to them was simply because the platypus had adapted to its environment in such a way that meant there was simply nothing resembling it. One of Australia’s most internationally-recognised ecosystems is the Great Barrier Reef. It is the largest coral reef in the world, and is jam-packed with unusual creatures and plants unable to be seen anywhere else in the world. Unfortunately, the quest for oil and other minerals has recently been driven here, and activists are currently fighting to keep an amazing natural resource alive. The surrounding islands also contain thousands of unique plants and animals that would be This country is also known for having extreme temperatures and very little rain. The environment of Coober Pedy and other similar places really shows the stark harshness of this climate better than anywhere else. Animals that live in these arid areas often are either cold-blooded, meaning they get their energy from the sun (a very easy feat in such places) or are nocturnal. Since humans haven’t adapted to these climates as successfully, the town has to be underground to let people live in …show more content…
Recycling, getting solar panels installed, using water tanks, using LED light bulbs to conserve energy, giving old belongings to charity shops instead of throwing them away, using a water bottle instead of buying water and buying local produce are just the tip of the (hopefully non-melting) iceberg. Even simply donating to charities that do environmental work can help. This means that they can afford food, water, more advertising for their cause and so on. Another useful small thing you can do is volunteer. Many local councils offer programs where willing citizens go and plant trees, give out food and other various tasks. Even though ecosystems can be incredibly hardy, sometimes there are events that cannot be recovered from for a long time. Sometimes the changes can be dealt with by human intervention, recovery programs and the like. But sometimes the damage can’t be seen until it’s too late to do much work, like second-hand
Purpose: The purpose of this lab is to investigate the various components of different ecosystems in a smaller representation and study the conditions required for the ecosystem’s sustainability as well as the connections between
Earth, an endless source of wonder and beauty, produced the Great Barrier Reef. Hustling and bustling, the Reef thrives like a busy city, teeming with life. Sheltering thousands, corals, maintain the well-being of the Reef; however, the world threatens its nature and delicacy. Populations growing and technological advances increasing, the world becomes more and more disconnected with the natural world, posing an alarming risk for the planet we live on. Although many organizations try to keep the oceans clean, because of human interference and unnatural occurrences, the Great Barrier Reef needs scientific help to adapt corals to new conditions for means of survival, putting pressure on the Australian government to save their ocean environment.
way. Just as there is a variety of animals there is a variety of ecosystems and each ecosystem is
The Great Barrier Reef is one of the most fragile ecosystems in the world, it protects coastlines from the dangerous effects of tropical storms and wave action, it is also home to more than 11,ooo marine life. It is one of the world’s largest coral reefs, so large in fact that you can see if from space.
An ecosystem is made up of all the biotic and abiotic features in a specific area, the living correlating with the nonliving, and vice versa. Depending on where the ecosystem may be, organisms may have different relationships with the things amongst them. The tundra ecosystem is an example in this case. Because of its location in the Arctic Circle and its infamous living conditions, organisms use the abiotic and biotic features to their advantage. These kinds of interactions are key to what makes the ecosystem what it is.
Parts of the Great Barrier Reef are over 18 million years old. During this time sea levels have changed, with the Great Barrier Reef being left high and dry during the last ice age, turning into grassy plains. Sea levels rose as ice caps melted around 12 000 years ago, allowing corals to reestablish on old remnant reefs. It is the world’s largest coral reef ecosystem. The Great Barrier Reef is home to 1500 species of fish, 400 species of coral, 40000 species of Mollusk, 500 species of sea weed 215 species of birds, 16 species of sea snake and 6 species of turtle. However over time this diversity is rapidly decreasing, it is vital that the Great Barrier Reef is protected.
Australia is home to the great barrier reef which is the world's largest coral reef system, and home to the kangaroo. Australia is the driest continent in the world. The outback is the part of Australia that few live in because it’s a vast desert (“Australia”). The great dividing range is a long chain of mountains that runs along the Pacific Coast of Australia (“Australia”). Australia is the driest inhabitable country in the world (“Australia”). The great barrier reef of Australia is the largest in the world (“Australia”). Australia is already a dry country and if the temperature rises anymore due to climate change than Australia could suffer from more severe forest fires and be doomed.
The Great Barrier Reef is home to billions of colorful corals, sponges, fish, and “supports a quarter of all marine species” (Becatoros, “Scientist are Racing…”). One example is sea turtles, who use the reefs shore as grounds for reproduction. Without a healthy reef, there is a high chance that sea turtles will go extinct. Similarly, the reef provides a space for
The Great barrier reef has had many recent hardships, including water pollutants and the increasing water temperature. Although it may be too late to save this particular reef we the people must not be so nearsighted to the
A biome, also known as life zones, consists of all plants, animals, and other organisms, as well the physical environment in a particular area. A biome is characterized by its’ plant life, climate, and location. The climate and physical features determine the boundaries of a biome. A biome is made up of many different ecosystems. The ecosystems tend to have the same pants and animals as neighboring biomes around the boundaries. The major biomes are the tundra, taiga, tropical rain forest, temperate forests, desert, grassland, savanna, chaparral, and marine. Each biome has it’s own characteristics such as the tundra.
The Great Barrier Reef is an exemplary model of the famous exotic coral reef seen in a copy of the National Geographic or the popular animated film Finding Nemo. Located on the coast of Australia, it is known as the “largest biological organism in the world” (“Human Impact on the Great Barrier Reef” par. 1). The idea bears that coral reefs are again not an assortment of organisms functioning separately but rather working together to thrive. The groups of coral that are seen in t...
The natural ecosystem provides both goods and services to us. The ecosystem goods are the things that people produced from soil, water and plants; Crops, Fibre, Timber, Livestock, Tourism, etc. are the example of ecosystem goods. And, at the same time people get a varieties of fundamental and life supporting services such as flood control, clean air and water, pollination of crops and other plants, natural hazard regulation, cultural, spiritual and aesthetic services which are called ES ( Kerr, G., 2010).
Scientists have begun to say that we have to do more to protect our ecosystem, because our very existence is depending upon it. When the ecosystem is not functioning properly the continuation of plant, animal and human life ecosystems would be impossible. Life cycles can not function without ecosystems. The ecosystem provides us with clean air, water, habitats for fish and other services. They also aid in the mod...
It may be easier to start out in small steps maybe within the individual household, then work towards others on the outside. Any step or effort made is a positive step in the right direction. Changing the behavior and effects on the environment takes the work of all individuals that share this Earth. One person can only make so much of a difference. Personally, I will put effort into my daily life to try using less water by turning off the faucet while brushing my teeth or in between when I’m washing dishes. I have mentioned to my father how he should call the company that comes to your home and takes your grass out and replaces it with gravel which is small rocks. It is paid by the government because you are helping the environment by using less water and you won’t have to water grass anymore. They put plants of your choice that do not require water. I’m sure if I’m capable of taking public transportation to commute to work and school but maybe I will think about changing my car to a hybrid or an electric in the near future. The government also provides grants to families who are interested in solar panels for their home. That will go a long way to help air pollution and our
The branch of science that deals with how living things, including humans, are related to their surroundings is called ecology . The Earth supports some 5 million species of plants, animals, and microorganisms. These interact and influence their surroundings, forming a vast network of interrelated environmental systems called ecosystems. The arctic tundra is an ecosystem and so is a Brazilian rain forest. The islands of Hawaii are a relatively isolated ecosystem. If left undisturbed, natural environmental systems tend to achieve balance or stability among the various species of plants and animals. Complex ecosystems are able to compensate for changes caused by weather or intrusions from migrating animals and are therefore usually said to be more stable than simple ecosystems. A field of corn has only one dominant species, the corn plant, and is a very simple ecosystem. It is easily destroyed by drought, insects, disease, or overuse. A forest may remain relatively unchanged by weather that would destroy a nearby field of corn, because the forest is characterized by greater diversity of plants and animals. Its complexity gives it stability.