Hi, my name is Zeke and I will be taking you guys on an adventurous journey through the ecosystem.

Lets Get Started!

Lets start with what an ecosystem exactly is. An Ecosystem includes all the living organisms that interact with one another and also with the physical and non-physical factors present.

Some Examples of ecosystems include a pond, a forest, an estuary, and a grassland.

When studying an ecosystem it is important that the way in which organisms interact with each other within the ecosystem is considered. These relationships are identified as biotic Factors.

Biotic Factors are all living organisms in an ecosystem.

All the species of plants, animals, and fungi, as well as all the micro-organisms are examples of biotic factors found in an ecosystems.

Abiotic factors is the opposite of Biotic factors. Abiotic factors are the non living factors in an environment that effect ecological interactions.

Examples of Abiotic factors includes rain, wind, temperature, altitude,soil, pollution, nutrients, pH, types of soil, and sunlight.

Next, we will discuss two cycles that are crucial to ecosystems. These cycles are Carbon and Nitrogen.

The Nitrogen Cycle

This cycle is key in the existence of ecosystems and food chains. Nitrogen forms about 78% of the air on earth.

It is an important part of processes such as amino acids, proteins and even our DNA. It is also needed to make chlorophyll which is used in photosynthesis to make their food.

Take a look at how the Nitrogen Cycle works!

The Carbon Cycle

Is a complex series of processes through which all of the carbon atoms in existence rotate. 

It is important to all ecosystems, and life on earth.

Living things need carbon in order to live, grow, and reproduce.

The transformations of energy in an ecosystem begins first with the input of energy from the sun. Energy from the sun is captured by the process of photosynthesis.

Transformation of Energy:

a simple food chain, in which energy from the sun, captured by plant photosynthesis, flows from trophic level to trophic level via the food chain.

A trophic level is composed of organisms that make a living in the same way, that is they are all primary producers (plants), primary consumers (herbivores) or secondary consumers (carnivores).

Population

a group of organisms of the same species living in an area at the same time.

Look at the population of Giraffes!

The population density can be affected by a number of factors:

Birth: The number of new individuals born to a population.

Immigration: The number of new individuals joining a population.

Death: The number of individuals within a population that die.

Emigration: The number of individuals leaving a population.

Look at the population of Fishes!