An ecosystem is a community of organisms interacting with each other and with their environment.
Abiotic factors- pH, salinity, temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen
Temperature- The mean annual temperature in estuaries is approximately 51 degrees Fahrenheit. To the right is a picture for average temperature throughout the year in estuaries.
Precipitation-
Soil Type- For soils, they are categorized in four basic components: minerals, organic matter, air, and water. In estuaries specifically, the soil is made up of 45% minerals, 25% water, 25% air,and 5% organic matter
Abiotic factors- pH, salinity, temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen
Temperature- The mean annual temperature in estuaries is approximately 51 degrees Fahrenheit. To the right is a picture for average temperature throughout the year in estuaries.
Precipitation-
Soil Type- For soils, they are categorized in four basic components: minerals, organic matter, air, and water. In estuaries specifically, the soil is made up of 45% minerals, 25% water, 25% air,and 5% organic matter
Food Webs
Below is a picture for a food web for biotic factors in estuaries. It includes producers, herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores that are very common in the area.
Sea grasses- Producer
Nematodes- Anaerobic Bacteria
Zooplankton- Carnviore
Nematodes- Omnivore
Planktivores- Prey
Top Carnivores- Predator
Below is a picture for a food web for biotic factors in estuaries. It includes producers, herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores that are very common in the area.
Sea grasses- Producer
Nematodes- Anaerobic Bacteria
Zooplankton- Carnviore
Nematodes- Omnivore
Planktivores- Prey
Top Carnivores- Predator
Below is a food chain that shows the amount of energy that travels through one chain:
Sea Grasses-------------Nematodes--------------Zooplankton--------------Planktivores
Producer-----------------Primary Consumer---Secondary Consumer---Tertiary Consumer
36,380 kcal--------------- 3,638 kcal-----------------363.8 kcal----------------------36.38 kcal
Some decomposers that live in estuaries are microbes and bacteria. The general function of these decomposers are to recycle nutrients from dead plants or animals back into the ecosystem. Without decomposers, no nutrients will recycle which will cause plants to stop growing, and eventually will topple down the entire ecosystem.
Density Dependent- Factors in whose effect vary depending on the size of the population
(i.e. amount of food, amount of water, amount of space)
Density Independent- Factors in whose effect will remain the same regardless of the population
(i.e. Temperature and Natural Disasters)
Keystone Species- A species on which other species in a ecosystem largely depend, such that if it were removed from the ecosystem, the ecosystem would change drastically
An example of a keystone species in estuaries are oysters. Their primary function is to filter the water, by removing organic and inorganic particles which make the water cleaner for other animals to use. Without them, the water wouldn't be as clean and many animals would not be able to sustain themselves, which would topple the ecosystem.
Sea Grasses-------------Nematodes--------------Zooplankton--------------Planktivores
Producer-----------------Primary Consumer---Secondary Consumer---Tertiary Consumer
36,380 kcal--------------- 3,638 kcal-----------------363.8 kcal----------------------36.38 kcal
Some decomposers that live in estuaries are microbes and bacteria. The general function of these decomposers are to recycle nutrients from dead plants or animals back into the ecosystem. Without decomposers, no nutrients will recycle which will cause plants to stop growing, and eventually will topple down the entire ecosystem.
Density Dependent- Factors in whose effect vary depending on the size of the population
(i.e. amount of food, amount of water, amount of space)
Density Independent- Factors in whose effect will remain the same regardless of the population
(i.e. Temperature and Natural Disasters)
Keystone Species- A species on which other species in a ecosystem largely depend, such that if it were removed from the ecosystem, the ecosystem would change drastically
An example of a keystone species in estuaries are oysters. Their primary function is to filter the water, by removing organic and inorganic particles which make the water cleaner for other animals to use. Without them, the water wouldn't be as clean and many animals would not be able to sustain themselves, which would topple the ecosystem.