An in depth analysis of the relationship between biotic and abiotic factors in an enclosed environment. Details the fundamental relationship between nutrient cycles in terrestrial, aquatic, and decomposition chambers. Research conducted in order to further understand limiting factors within ecosystems (phosphorus and nitrogen) and how they impact living organisms.
See Full PDF See Full PDF
Download Free PDF View PDF
Download Free PDF View PDF
Download Free PDF View PDF
Download Free PDF View PDF
Download Free PDF View PDF
An ecosystem is a community of living organisms in conjunction with the non-living components of their environment, interacting as a system.These biotic and abiotic components are regarded as linked together through nutrient cycles and energy flows. As ecosystems are defined by the network of interactions among organisms, and between organisms and their environment, they can come in any size but usually encompass specific, limited spaces although some scientists say that the entire planet is an ecosystem.Energy, water, nitrogen and soil minerals are other essential abiotic components of an ecosystem. The energy that flows through ecosystems is obtained primarily from the sun. It generally enters the system through photosynthesis. By feeding on plants and on one another, animals play an important role in the movement of matter and energy through the system.By breaking down dead organic matter,decomposers release carbon in to the atmosphere and facilitate nutrient cycling by converting nutrients stored in dead biomass back to a form readily used by plantsand other microbes. Ecosystems are controlled both by external factors such as climate and some internal factors. They control the overall structure of an ecosystem and the way things work within it, but are not themselves influenced by the ecosystem.Other external factors include time and potential biota. Ecosystems are subject to disturbances and are in the process of recovering from past disturbances.Ecosystems in similar environments that are located in different parts of the world can have very different characteristics simply because they contain different species. Internal factors not only control ecosystem processes but are also controlled by them and are often subject to feedback loops.While the resource inputs are generally controlled by external processes like climate and parent material, the availability of these resources within the ecosystem is controlled by internal factors like decomposition, root competition or shading. Biodiversity affects ecosystem function. Ecosystems provide a variety of goods and services upon which people depend. Classifying ecosystems into ecologicallyhomogeneous units is an important step towards effective ecosystem management, but there is no single, agreed-upon way to do this. AQUATIC ECOSYTEM An aquatic ecosystem is an ecosystem in a body of water. Communities of organisms that are dependent on each other and on their environment live in aquatic ecosystems.
Download Free PDF View PDF
TERRESTRIAL ABSTRACT The biotic and abiotic components as well as the possible feeding interactions were determined with the use of the ecological field investigation. The terrestrial ecosystem was observed by measuring the amount of light, air temperature (in which the thermometer was hung five centimetres above ground and the temperature was recorded every ten minutes for thirty minutes), wind velocity, humidity, soil texture, soil moisture, elevation, topography, locality and the biotic factors were also listed. AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM ABSTRACT The biotic and abiotic components as well as the possible feeding interactions were determined with the use of the ecological field investigation. The aquatic ecosystem was observed by measuring the width and depth of the stream, type of substrate, water temperature (the thermometer was dipped five centimetres below the water surface for twenty minutes and was repeated thrice), turbidity and the biotic factors were also listed. This study aimed to determine the biotic and abiotic components as well as the possible feeding interactions (food chain) of the organisms in the aquatic ecosystem via ecological field investigation. The specific objectives were 1. Determine the similarities and the differences of the biotic and abiotic components of the two ecosystems 2. Infer the possible feeding interactions of the organisms in each ecosystem 3. Identify the structural modifications in the organisms that enable them to adapt to their specific ecosystems.
Download Free PDF View PDF
