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Ecosystems
Composition of an Ecosystem
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An ecosystem (short for ecological system) is an
ecological community together with its
environment, functioning as a unit.
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Climate
Soils
Vegetation
Wildlife
People
All ecosystems are "open" systems in the sense
that energy and matter are transferred in and out.
Composition of an Ecosystem
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A combination of biotic, abiotic, and
cultural factors lead to many different
types of ecosystems.
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Grassland
Rainforest
Desert
Coniferous Forest
Deciduous Forest
Composition of an Ecosystem
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Biotic Factors (living)
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Abiotic Factors (non-living)
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Plants
Animals
Microorganisms
Air
Water
Rocks
Energy
Cultural Factors
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People
Composition of an Ecosystem
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Lined up in a spectrum, a tropical rainforest is
at one end and a desert is at the other end
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Rainforest = high temperature + high precipitation
Deciduous Forest = warm temperature + high
precip.
Coniferous Forest = cool temperature + high
precip.
Grasslands = warm temperature + moderate precip.
Desert = any temperature + low precip.
Composition of an Ecosystem
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Climate has the greatest influence on
ecosystems
Polar
Mid-Latitude
Sub-Tropical
Tropical
Composition of an Ecosystem
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The tundra is a biome of short vegetation
growing in climatically stressed environments
of the Arctic and Antarctic and on
mountaintops.
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The boreal
coniferous
forest (or taiga)
is extensive in
northern
regions of
Canada,
Alaska, and
Eurasia.
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The temperate deciduous forest contains
various species of angiosperm trees, which
drop their leaves in the autumn, plus some
species of coniferous trees. This forest type is
widespread south of the boreal forest.
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Temperate grasslands are widespread in the dry
interior of North America and other continents,
and are dominated by species of grasses and
other herbaceous plants.
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Desert is a very sparsely vegetated biome of
extremely dry environments.
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tropical forests occur in warm regions where
rainfall is abundant throughout the year.
This was the only photograph that wasn’t taken in Canada!
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There are also several types of localized
ecosystems that may not appear to fit with their
surrounding dominant ecosystem.
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Wetlands
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Swamp
Marsh
Bog
Fen
Caves
 Mountains
 Mountains can have many different ecosystems from
the base to the summit
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A swamp is a forested wetland.
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A marsh is a relatively fertile wetland
dominated by taller herbaceous plants, such
as bulrush and cattail.
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A bog or muskeg is a standing body of water
with no underground spring. A form of moss
grows and forms a thick mat of floating plants.
These plants, over time, can fill in the pond or
small lake with peat that will eventually be firm
enough to support trees.
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In fens, groundwater comes from glaciers that
have melted, sitting upon layers of soil that
are not permeable; thus keeping the water
from sinking beneath the surface.
Survival of the Fittest
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Fragility and resiliency of ecosystems
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Survival of a species within an ecosystem
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genetic characteristics
availability of habitat
population size
Our Local Ecosystem
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Climate
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Watershed
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Lake Huron, St. Clair River, Perch Creek, Cow Creek,
Talfourd Creek, Bear Creek, Sydenham River, Hickory
Creek, Ausable River
Plants
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temperature
precipitation
Remnant Forests, crops, urban parks, yards, Oak Savannah
Animals
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Deer, coyotes, raccoons, fox, opossum, amphibians,
reptiles, birds, fish….
The Great Lakes
Lake
Huron
The
Southern
Ontario
Bioregion
Toronto
Sarnia
Lake Erie
Lake Ontario
1800
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70% of Lambton
county was covered
by forest
30% by wetlands
1983
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85% agriculture
<1% wetland
12% forest
3% urban
Lake Huron
Lambton
County
St. Clair
River
Blue Point
Sarnia
Camlachie
Canatara
Beach
The St. Clair
Community
Chemical Valley
The Northern
Half of the
St. Clair River
Corunna
The Southern
End of the
St. Clair River
The St. Clair River Delta
Lake St. Clair
Lake
Huron
Pinery Provincial
Park
Kettle Point
Blue Point