M1 Local Ecosystem Discussion - Essay Example

Download file to see previous pages Native forests, which are the dominant ecological species in the park, provide shelter to other biotic components of the ecosystem such as birds, small animals, and insects. These forests greatly influence the existence of the park in many ways, and their elimination can result in immeasurable changes in the micro-ecosystem in terms of its composition. The native forests occupy the tropic level, which forms the greatest source of energy used within the micro-ecosystem (Nadakavukaren, 2011). The interaction among the various biotic components in the park is diverse with the native forests playing the role of producer while small animals, such as squirrels, some birds, and insects, such as ants and beetles, play the role of primary consumers. These animals feed on the plants and plant products. On the other hand, some birds, mongoose and fox among other small animals, interact with the other biotic components as secondary consumers, in which they regulate the population sizes of the primary consumers as well as that of the producers. In this micro-ecosystem, decomposers such as earthworms, bacteria, fungi and mites play the role of recycling nutrients within the micro-ecosystems through degradation of dead plants and animals. ...
Through the interaction of these biotic components, a complete balance exists between the different groups of animals, insects, plants, and decomposers in the micro-forest ecosystem. From the discussed interaction and the positions taken by the various biotic components in the tropic levels, it is clear that destruction of the native forests would lead to eventual loss of the micro-ecosystem biodiversity (Nadakavukaren, 2011). Specifically, birds in this park feed on insects and the products of plants, after the digestion of which they drop their waste, and this is important in providing nutrients to the plants; meanwhile, small animals in the forest, such as snakes, and the mongoose, feed on the birds. On the other hand, decomposers and some birds such as vultures scavenge on the dead animals. The various biotic components of this micro-ecosystem interact in a food chain, in which energy is transferred across all energy levels. Plants in this ecosystem account for the greatest biomass and thus contribute the highest energy within the identified micro-ecosystem. Energy Pyramid diagram The Discussion Section Local Ecosystem Discussion Dorchester is one of the important ecosystems in United States located within the Boston. The biotic components of this ecosystem include living things such as trees within the city and recreational areas, small animals inhabiting this area, and, of course, people (Gaston, 2010). On the other hand, abiotic components include buildings, soil, and unoccupied landscapes within the city boundaries. Urban wilds have remained a major concern for the city dwellers especially because of the importance of such landscapes in harboring native plants and animals as well as regulation of the city’s atmosphere. Nevertheless, the landscapes have been ...Download file to see next pagesRead More