Ecosystems Model Reflection

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Kennesaw State University *

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2001

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Geography

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Feb 20, 2024

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docx

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2

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Betsy Barron Ecosystems Model Reflection 1) Look at your model from class showing the movement of energy and matter and your original observations on SeeSaw/model of the ecosystems: a. Pick two items from your original model/observations and describe or draw how you could add them to your class model. From my original model I selected the birds and crickets, I would incorporate them into my class model by drawing an arrow from the cricket to the bird. The arrow is drawn pointed towards the bird because the bird consumes the cricket. b. How would the flow of energy relate to these items? The cricket would be labeled as the primary consumer because it is the first one to eat the plants, I would label the bird as the secondary consumer because the bird eats the primary consumer. c. How would the flow of carbon and nitrogen relate to these items? The flow of carbon and nitrogen moves through food chains, first plants take up carbon dioxide and nitrogen. When animals consume those plants the nitrogen and carbon dioxide become transferred to those animals. If tertiary consumers eat the secondary consumers the carbon and nitrogen is passed on to them as well. Once animals pass away and decay the nitrogen and carbon is released from their bodies. 2) Looking at your observations on SeeSaw and/or models of your ecosystems, identify two examples of relationships between living things such as competition, cooperation, mutualism, commensalism, parasitism, or predator/prey. Explain why these are examples of the relationships. In my model I observed a birds and trees in my back yard. A bird living in a tree is an example of a commensalism relationship because the bird benefits by having shelter and the tree is unharmed by the birds presence. 3) Reflect on your learning about ecosystems and how they work. What are three new ideas that you have about ecosystem? For each idea: a. Describe what the idea is. 1-Carrying Capacity The maximum number of individuals in a species that the amount of resources in an area can support, can be affected by limiting resources and competition. 2-Carbon Cycle
The process of carbon moving from one to another through photosynthesis, respiration, and decomposition. 3-Symbiosis A close relationship of two organisms in an ecosystem (including: mutualism, commensalism, parasitism, cooperation, competition). b. Describe how you learned about it. 1-For the carrying capacity I learned by playing the outdoor game as a class. The game about the deer and resources made me realize how limiting resources such as water, food, shelter and competition with other organisms can have an effect on the carrying capacity. 2-I was able to learn about the continuous flow of carbon though the class models that we drew in our groups. Having the drawings of the organisms and connecting it to the different flows of energy taught me how plants and animals are closely related to the carbon cycle. 3- I gained a better understanding of symbiotic relationships through the charts in the power points as well as the examples that we provided in class. c. Describe how this idea relates to how you interact with your ecosystem. 1-As human beings we can be at competition for the same resources that other organisms need in order to survive. Humans can also have an effect on the carrying capacity if we hunt animals or destroy their homes. 2-We can impact the carbon cycle by burning fossil fuels or through the process of deforestation, we release stored carbon into the atmosphere. 3- Humans depend on the land for water, food, and other resources. When we take care of our environment it be beneficial to both us and the other living organisms. However sometimes human beings taking away too much from the earth can turn into a parasitic relationship.
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