Ecosystems

It is commonly expected that global climate change has and will continue to cause major changes to global ecosystems. Douglas Johnson of the Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Centre has provided research that indicates, “huge shifts in the distribution of many grassland bird species” (Manitoba Eco-Network, 2015). It is predicted that an increase in the frequency and severity of droughts will result in forests and wetlands being replaced by an increase in grasslands. The plants and animals that…

plants and animals are well adapted to this environment. Though, similar to other biomes, the Chaparral can be impacted by humans and environmental factors. In addition, the altering of organisms’ energy sources can negatively impact the biome’s ecosystem. It is important to have a biome where humans, plants, and animals can coexist utopically. The Chaparral biome is considered appealing to humans, hence it is a tourist attraction. To accommodate the tourist’s needs, humans are developing…

Earth, which is why the biodiversity of the coral reef ecosystem has been accurately dubbed the rainforest of the sea. The Coral Reef Alliance claims that “coral reefs are the primary habitat for more than 4,000 species of fish, 700 species of coral, and thousands of other plants and animals. However, as the current scientific research indicates, the coral reef population is rapidly dwindling, and the wildlife residing within the coral reef ecosystem is in imminent danger. The marine habitat…

Invasive species in wetlands of the Mojave Desert negatively affect all aspects of the ecosystem. Invasive species are overtaking most of the wetlands in the Mojave Desert. Wetland areas in the desert are rare and very important sites for desert wildlife and migrating birds. Some of the main species that are invading wetland areas are Salt Cedar (Tamarisk spp.), Russian Knapweed (Acroptilon repens), Pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium), Fivehook Bassia (Bassia hyssopifolia) and Cheatgrass (Bromus…

issues that need to be addressed. The following report will analyse the issue of the introduction of cane toads into Australia. This will be achieved by reviewing the current situation of the cane toad, the negative impacts they are having on native ecosystems and some recommendations to minimise the impact of cane toads in the future. Background Information: Cane…

is affected. The disappearance of a single species acts like a ripple in a pond (Slingenberg et al., 2009); spreading through the ecosystem and affecting other species in unexpected ways. In general, species extinction primarily disrupts the food chain, leaving the ecosystem at greater risk for further biodiversity loss. While natural disasters and extreme ecosystems are naturally occurring, humans cause much of the environmental stress which is a direct driver of biodiversity loss. Habitat…

understanding a water body due to its important ecological role and its ability to characterize the water quality (Ghazan et al 2006). Aquatic macrophytes are important because they play prominent role in nutrient and heavy metal recycling of many aquatic ecosystem (Pip and Stepaniuk 1992). Heavy metals and other contaminates can be removed by microorganisms. It has been demonstrated that aquatic macrophytes such as Eichornia crassipes, Lemna spp. Salvinia spp, Typha spp and Azolla spp. has been…

For this assignment, I chose to interview Dr. Stuart McDaniel, an assistant professor at the University of Florida. Since Dr. McDaniel was a child, he loved the outdoors and was always interested in backpacking. He had a specific interest for maps and the distribution of plants. Plants on mountain tops never ceased to amaze him. He received is Bachelors of Science in biology from Oberlin College. In 1994, he moved to Paraguay as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Agroforestry department. After that,…

Global Climate Change Cannot be Ignored Imagine taking a vacation to New York during autumn to visit the city and enjoy its wonders. However, even though it is already mid-September, a hurricane warning blares throughout the streets. The vacation transforms into a dangerous situation and suddenly events such as hurricanes become more common even out of season. This scenario is likely to occur with the continuation of climate change because warmer temperatures will be able to fuel more powerful…

of North Carolina are unlike any other; varying from the ecosystems of the coast to those of the mountains in the west. With such diversity, North Carolina is bound to attract throngs of people, which it does. This vast population requires the use of natural resources, and in order for long-term civilization to be feasible, sustainability must be kept in mind. As previously stated, North Carolina is hosts a multitude of different ecosystems. There are, however, three major subdivisions. On the…