Benefits of an Ecosystem

Benefits of an Ecosystem

• Cultural• Products• Environmental• Economic• Other

Cultural

• Recreation- canoeing, swimming, fishing

• Educational- walks led by naturalists to learn more about birds and plants

• Spiritual- inspiration, reduce stress

Products

Ecosystems also provide us with products that make our lives easier

• Examples– Lumber- from trees– Food- fruits and vegetables, fish, meat– Medicines

Environmental

• Climate moderation-plants take in CO2 , which helps trap thermal energy that warms the Earth’s surface

• Water and air purification- certain plants and organisms can remove and destroy some harmful chemicals in the air, water and soil

• Oxygen supply- through photosynthesis

Economic

• Job opportunities- forestry

• Tourism products and services- ecotourism

Other

• Erosion reduction- roots of plant anchor the soil

• Flood prevention- wetlands absorb surface water

• Maintaining balanced wildlife

Balance & Change in Ecosystems

Equilibrium: the state of an ecosystem in which the biotic and abiotic features remain

relatively constant over a long period of time

Balance & Change in Ecosystems

Equilibrium: the state of an ecosystem in which the biotic and abiotic features remain

relatively constant over a long period of time

Succession: the observed changes over time in an ecosystem, following a disturbance

Balance & Change in Ecosystems

Equilibrium: the state of an ecosystem in which the biotic and abiotic features remain

relatively constant over a long period of time

Succession: the observed changes over time in an ecosystem, following a disturbance

Disturbance examples:forest firevolcanic eruptionhurricanehuman disturbance

Balance & Change in Ecosystems

Stages of Succession after a disturbance leaving only bare rock

Balance & Change in Ecosystems

Stages of Succession after a disturbance leaving only bare rock

stage 1: lichen and moss

Balance & Change in Ecosystems

Stages of Succession after a disturbance leaving only bare rock

stage 1: lichen and mossstage 2: annual plants

(create seeds & die at the end of each year)

Balance & Change in Ecosystems

Stages of Succession after a disturbance leaving only bare rock

stage 1: lichen and mossstage 2: annual plants stage 3: small perennials (live year after

year)

Balance & Change in Ecosystems

Stages of Succession after a disturbance leaving only bare rock

stage 1: lichen and mossstage 2: annual plants stage 3: small perennials stage 4: scrub (shrubs & small trees)

Balance & Change in Ecosystems

Stages of Succession after a disturbance leaving only bare rock

stage 1: lichen and mossstage 2: annual plants stage 3: small perennials stage 4: scrub stage 5: mixed forest (remains stable in this

stage)