Ecosystem Connections

Ann Carrotozzolo

Part One

Earth is comprised of land (biosphere), air(atmosphere), and water (hydrosphere). Thesethree parts work together to sustain the bioticand abiotic features of Earth. The marine andterrestrial environments have a particularly

great influence on one another.

How Marine and Terrestrial Environments Effect One Another

Example #1:

One way in which the land can affect the water is throughpollution. Humans partake in a number of activities that

result in harmful materials entering water supplies. Whilethere are specially designed facilities that filter and

purify contaminated water before it reaches the taps ofhouseholds, there are no filters to protect marine organisms

exposed to the same contaminants. Such pollutants that enter water supplies via humans are liter (i.e wrappers, cans, bottles), fertilizers,

pesticides, oil, gas, and soaps.

Human Activities That Lead to Pollution

Here is an example of a car leaking oil.

If humans maintained their cars

properly, this could be prevented.

Unfortunately, the oil that leaks from

cars will eventually enter water

sources after a rainfall.

How Your Actions Can Effect The Well-Being of Marine Environments

Click on the link below to see what you are doing that is harmful to marine environments, and what you can do to reduce the level of threat you pose to marine environments.

http://www.epa.gov/reg5rcra/wptdiv/p2pages/water.pdf

How Marine and Terrestrial Environments Effect One Another

Example #2:

Another way in which the land affects the water is through land degradation. Once an agricultural society that relied

on the harvesting of crops for survival, we are now a society that has been transformed by the Industrial Revolution. We

have become reliant on industry and the buildings (i.e. schools, factories, malls) that are by-products of its

foundation. To make room for all of these buildings that sustain industry , the land has had to be cleared of

vegetation and water. Forests have been cleared, and water sources such has ponds and streams have been rerouted or

drained to accommodate for construction. Land degradation creates soil runoff into nearby water supplies.

Evidence of Land Degradation

This is a forest being cleared via arson

of living organisms.

How Your Actions Can Effect The Well-Being of Marine Environments

• Click on this link to read an article about reversing the effects of both land and water degradation.

http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/brightspots/PDF/Globally/Reversing_trends.pdf

How Marine and Terrestrial Environments Effect One Another

Example #3:On the flip side, water can also affect the land.

Water can affect the weather and climate of landmasses. Oceans, in particular, influence

temperatures in coastal regions, rainfall totals, and other weather conditions (i.e. hurricanes, blizzards etc.) via currents and the amount of water vapor they emit into the atmosphere.

Effect of Water on Land

Here is a hurricane. Most severe

storms that occur on land are created

by conditions that originate in the

water.

How Marine Environments Effect Our Well-Being

Click on the link below to understand the connection between pollution (both on land and in water), global warming, and future storms.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2009/0109-global_warming_causes_severe_storms.htm

Part Two

Question #1:

1. Ecologically speaking, in what way (s) is this interconnection between the systems essential for their existence? Explain and provide examples.

Part TwoAnswer #1:• Given the above responses, my third example is the only positive interconnection

between water and land. All water in the hydrosphere goes through the Water Cycle: evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff. The Water Cycle is meant to ensure balanced levels of water in the hydrosphere, as well as balanced levels of water in the biosphere.

• The land cannot sustain life if it does not receive water via precipitation. Droughts cause living organisms, such as plants, to dry up. When this happens, herbivores and omnivores suffer because they rely on plants for nutrition. Carnivores will eventually suffer because herbivores and omnivores are their sources of food. Decomposers will be the only members of the food chain to survive, as they will eat all the dead things left behind.

• When plants dry up during a drought, there is also the potential for wildfires to ignite, completely destroying habitats.

• The land may also not sustain life if it receives too much water via precipitation. Floods can also completely destroy habitats.

• All living organisms require a balanced amount of water for survival. If the Water Cycle process ceases, so does life in water and on land.

The Food Chain

Balance of Water in Environments

Click on the link below to read about a need for a balance of water in an ecosystem.

http://www.marietta.edu/~biol/102/ecosystem.html#Energyflowthroughtheecosystem3

Part Two

Question #2:

2. In today’s global environment, is the interconnection between these ecosystems potentially harmful to their ecological processes? Explain and provide examples.

Part TwoAnswer #2:

• In today’s global environment the interconnection between water and land is harmful to the ecological processes that occur in these ecosystems. On land, humans are polluting at higher rates than ever before. We are driving bigger cars that are emitting more pollutants into the atmosphere. We have destroyed land via construction, and have done little to replenish the amount of trees cut down. In addition, not everyone is on board with the “GO GREEN” slogan; not everyone recycles or attempts to conserve natural resources. All of this destruction has resulted in global warming. The natural steps of the Water Cycle have been interrupted by increased temperatures on Earth. Weather and climate patterns are changing and will most likely be altered, completely. Land and water habitats are already feeling the effects of global warming, and will only continue to do so.

The Polar Bears

The polar bears are an example of

ecological processes being interrupted

by the damage humans have been,

and continue to inflict upon land and

water. Every melting glacier signifies

another destroyed habitat.

The Polar Bears

Click here to see and hear how pollution has contributed to global warming, and the viability of the polar bear.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6257664215421518968