Changes to Ecosystem

Changes to Ecosystem

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Understanding Ecosystems

An ecosystem is a place where living things, like plants and animals, and non-living things, like soil, water, and air, all interact with each other. It can be a small area, like a pond, or a big area, like a forest. For living things to survive in an ecosystem, they need certain things to live, like food, water, and shelter.

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An ecosystem is a community of interacting organisms and their environment.

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Think about an animal living in the wild. What are some things it needs to survive?

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All organisms have needs, such as food, water, and air. If the needs of the organisms in the ecosystem are not met, they cannot survive. For example: if deer need to eat grass and the place they live in (their ecosystem) no longer has grass, they have to move somewhere else or risk not surviving.

Organisms only survive in an ecosystem when their specific needs are met

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Beavers

Beavers are nature's engineers, with a knack for transforming landscapes. Their skillful dam-building changes the scenery, turning streams and rivers into tranquil ponds and lush wetlands. Not only do they help prevent erosion and control water flow, but they also act as savvy carbon collectors by storing it in their beautiful pond creations.

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nEGATIVE IMPACT

water Temperature

FISH MIGRATION

FLOODING

It can impact what types of fish and other wildlife are able to live downstream of beaver dams.

Having a beaver dam redirect water into low-lying areas can cause structural damage as well as changes to the local ecosystem. The damage may be even worse during rainy periods.

If beavers build dams along the migratory routes, these fish may not be able to get through, which in turn can affect their reproduction and reduce their numbers.

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POSITIVITY

WATER FILTER

As water drains through the filter-like weave of the dam, much of the sediment and debris is strained out. This leads to a source of purer, cleaner water downstream from the dam.

woodland diversity

Awesome homes that boost the number of different plants and creatures in the area. It's like a party that helps make the neighborhood more lively and diverse!

NEW WETLAND AREAS

Beaver-created water playgrounds! Will bring new friends but also act as superhero shields against flooding.

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A healthy ecosystem has many different kinds of organisms.

When you think about an ecosystem, like a forest, there are many living things that are important. Trees, deer, plants, birds, squirrels, and insects are all important members of the ecosystem. There are many other living things that also live in an ecosystem, but they might not be as easy to see. We often forget about all the bacteria, fungus, and tiny insects that are equally important. Ecosystems depend on many organisms to keep them in balance.

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When the balance of nature is disturbed, living things can struggle, and some might even die. Humans can disrupt this balance in several ways, like pollution, cutting down too many trees, building on land, or taking too much water. Making smart choices to protect ecosystems will help all living things survive and grow. It's also important to remember that not all disruptions come from humans; some happen naturally.

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Another way humans affect ecosystems is by bringing in invasive species. Invasive species are plants or animals that do not belong in that ecosystem. They can disturb the natural balance. For example, wild pigs were brought to the United States many years ago. Every year, they cause a lot of damage to crops, costing billions of dollars. Wild pigs also eat turkey eggs and other animals. Since they are not in their original home, wild pigs do not have any natural enemies, which makes it hard to control their numbers.

Newly introduced organisms can throw off the balance of an ecosystem.

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When invasive species are introduced three possible things can happen to existing animals. (1) The animals can adapt and stay in that ecosystem. (2) The existing animals die or (3) the animals can move somewhere else to find a new home

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Art & Writing Activity

Draw any animal of your choice. Create or draw a habitat for your animal.Answer these questions for your animal: Why are you important to your ecosystem? What might happen if you weren’t there?

Bunnies

I eat plants like grass and clover. This helps to keep the plants healthy and growing. I also help spread seeds through my droppings. This means new plants can grow in different places! I provide food for other animals. Many creatures, like foxes and hawks, rely on me for their meals. If I were not around, these animals might struggle to find food. This could make their population decrease. I also dig in the ground to make their homes. This helps create spaces for other animals, like birds or insects, to live too. If bunnies disappeared, many animals might lose their homes. So, you see, bunnies are very important in nature! We help keep plants healthy, provide food for other animals, and create homes for many creatures. If bunnies were not there, the whole ecosystem would change and could become unbalanced.