We have been on such a journey this year! Remember this? Did this picture make you feel small? As we look at ecosystems we are going to continue looking at the tiny details of our Earth. We might be looking at an ecosystem and see an ecosystem within an ecosystem...kind of like in the movie "Men in Black"? The cat is carrying a tiny universe around its neck and aliens are trying to steal it? A tiny universe in a large universe...you know thoughts like that can make you go crazy.... Ecosystems are like that, tiny worlds within our own world. They are tiny centers of activity between living and nonliving things. Here’s an example of an Ecosystem: The Sonoran Desert in Arizona is a harsh landscape. Within the desert, though, there are streams and creeks. Here, fish, birds, turtles and snakes live. There are trees and plants. This is one type of an ecosystem. In other parts of the desert, there is little water. Here, only a few plants, such as cactus can survive. The animals that live here – snakes, ground rats, and scorpions – must adapt to harsh conditions. This is a different ecosystem within the same biome. Plants and animals in this ecosystem are closely connected to the nonliving parts, like sunlight, temperature and moisture, soil and shade. Daily drama can affect an ecosystem that is well established and organized in a delicate balance of nature. Should a foreign organism enter the ecosystem, it could overpower the system or be overcome by the system (like getting eaten!) Or a sudden violent storm, with wind, rain and flooding, can complete destroy an ecosystem within minutes. Ecosystems that are well adapted and have survived in their little system for hundreds of years use these disasters to replenish their populations. Extra moisture creates more plant growth, reduced animal populations mean plants can grow larger, stronger and provide more shade and shelter for animals that survived or move in from another place. Fire can be devastating to an ecosystem, but in California in Sequoia National Park, fire means rebirth of these giant trees. Their cones will only open when exposed to high heat caused by fire. The cones are very tightly closed to protect the seed from squirrels or birds. After a fire, the cones on the ground, their protective outer shell has cracked open and the seeds freely fall out into the soil where they will germinate and create another giant tree. This is the only way the Giant Sequoia tree starts its life. Ecosystems are fragile and beautiful and all around us, we need to see them through eyes of respect and care.
8 Comments
|
Mrs. TaylorI love science! Everything about the world is interesting and never boring. I love to study plants, animals, insects, and people. My favorite subjects are my students who are the most unique organisms on the planet! Categories |