Ecosystems and How They Work - Assignment Example

Disturbances in forest influence the rate of recovery. Several studies show that the characteristics of this ecosystem influence the rate of recovery. Even though no one theory can explain all factors able to control succession, some variables appear to be more important compared to others (Wright, 2009). Introduction An ecosystem is a group of organisms living together, interacting with each other and with their surrounding (eoearth.org). It consists of two basic components namely, abiotic and biotic components.

The relationship between biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem is known as holocoenosis (Fisher al et, 2009.They are different types of ecosystem; tropical rainforest, grassland, coral reef, estuary, desert among others. Here, the forces will is on tropical rainforest. Ecosystem has four basic functions; regulatory functions, habitat functions, production functions and information functions. Tropical rainforest A tropical rainforest is an ecosystem type that occurs approximately within the latitudes 28 degrees north/south of the equator.

Tropical rainforests ecosystem experiences a significant amount of rainfall and high average temperatures. These rainforests can be found in Australia, Asia Africa, Central America, South America, Mexico and on many of the Caribbean, Pacific, and Indian Ocean islands. The classification within the World Wildlife Fund’s biome describes tropical rainforests as a type of tropical wet forest or tropical moist broadleaf forest. They also referred to it as lowland equatorial evergreen rainforest.

Generally, tropical rainforest biome consists; lowland equatorial evergreen rain forest, montane rain forest, flooded forest and moist deciduous and semi evergreen seasonal forest. An example of montane rainforest is the Sierra Nevada of California (WWF). Every ecosystem consists of biotic and abiotic factors; therefore, montane rainforest has both biotic and abiotic ecosystem. Generally, abiotic components include the non-living, physical-chemical factors such as water, air, and soil among other basic elements and compounds of the environment.

These abiotic factors are broadly classified into three categories climatic factors, edaphic factors and inorganic substances. Climatic factors in Sierra Nevada are influenced by the Mediterranean climate of California. During the fall, spring and winter, haste in the area averages from 510 to 2,000 mm where it takes place mostly as snow over 1,800 m. Furthermore, summers are dry with low humidity; however, afternoon thunderstorms are usual, specifically during the North American Monsoon. Also, summer high temperatures average 6–32 °C.

Moreover, the growing season takes 20 to 230 days, depending strongly on elevation (WWF). An alpine climate experienced in the highest elevations of the Sierra. Consequently, the steepness of the Sierra Escarpment and the height of the range, specifically at the southern end of the range bring forth a wind development referred as the "Sierra Rotor". In addition, this is a horizontal rotation of the atmosphere ,precisely east of the crest of the Sierras, set in movement as a result of strong westerly winds (Fisher et al, 2009).

Edaphic factors in Sierra Nevada include; granite which is mostly found east of the crest and north of 37.2°N. Apparently, most soils in the tropical rain forests are characterized by significant poor nutrients and leaching and; however there are fertile soils contained