Requirement 2 (A)
Requirement
Choose an area approved by your counselor and observe (sight, sound, and smell) its ecosystem over a two-day period.
Ecology Overview
Ecology explores living and nonliving things that interact in many ways. Review the information below to understand key terminology.
Humans
Humans are part of the ecosystem; we consume resources, produce waste, and interact with species, deeply influencing the delicate balance of our shared environment.
Environment
All the living and nonliving things that surround and affect an organism.
Living Things
Organisms that can reproduce, grow and develop, respond to their environment, and have a life span.
Nonliving Things
Parts of the environment such as water, sunlight, soil, air, and temperature that affect living organisms.
Ecosystem
A community of living organisms and the nonliving factors that affect them.
Producer
An organism, like a plant or algae, that produces its own food by using sunlight in the process of photosynthesis.
Consumer
An organism, such as a human or mouse, that gets energy by eating plants or other animals.
Decomposer
An organism, like bacteria or fungi, that breaks down dead plants and animals and recycles nutrients back into its surroundings.
Food Chain
The transfer of energy between organisms as they consume each other.
Predators
Animals that hunt, kill, and eat other animals for food.
Native Species
Plants or animals that naturally live in a particular area and have existed there for a long time without human introduction.
Invasive Species
Plants or animals that are introduced to a new area, spread quickly, and cause harm to native species or the environment.
Understanding Ecosystems
Before you can help protect nature, you must understand how it works.
Imagine that you are standing on the bank of a quiet river in Florida. Along the banks of this river you see a great blue heron, an alligator, a rat snake, and a raccoon. On a rock in the river, a Florida red-bellied turtle basks in the sun. Looking down into the water, you see the long body of a fish called a gar gliding through slender leaves of eelgrass.
Snails feed as they travel among the water plants. Here and there, whirligig beetles dot the water surface. Tiny duckweed plants float near the quiet banks. A bullfrog jumps from the river’s edge and disappears into the water. All of the living things in and around the river are connected in some way.
Bullfrogs eat whirligig beetles. Herons eat bullfrogs, rat snakes, gars, and hatchling red-bellied turtles. Raccoons eat bullfrogs, insects, worms, and snails. Snails and adult turtles eat aquatic (water) plants. In nature, living things interact in many ways with each other and the nonliving things in the environment.
What is an Ecosystem?
Did You Know:
Within every ecosystem, multiple relationships and cycles take place. Find out more about some of them before you observe an ecosystem.
Observing an Ecosystem
How To Choose An Ecosystem Area To Observe
Pick a safe location
Pick a safe location
Choose an area where you can stand or sit safely without disturbing wildlife or risking injury.
Look for variety.
Look for variety.
Good ecosystems include both living and nonliving features, such as plants, animals, soil, water, rocks, and sunlight.
Choose a small, manageable area.
Choose a small, manageable area.
A pond edge, trail section, stream bank, or meadow is easier to observe closely than a large area.
Minimize your impact.
Minimize your impact.
Stay on durable surfaces and avoid damage to plants or habitats.
Observe quietly and patiently.
Observe quietly and patiently.
Many animals appear only when the area is calm and undisturbed.
Safety Reminder
Safety Reminder
Always take a buddy to complete your activity. Tell your parent, guardian, or counselor the location of your study area and when you are going to visit it.
How To Observe an Ecosystem
Observation isn’t just about looking at what is around you. It’s also about hearing and smelling your surroundings. These videos show how you can use your senses and digital aids to observe a local ecosystem.
Using Different Senses To Observe an Ecosystem
Observation Through Listening With the Merlin Bird App
Observation Through Smell
Observation Through Photographs and the iNaturalist App
Did You Know:
One of the best ways to observe an ecosystem is to practice Leave No Trace. By moving carefully, staying on trails, and avoiding disturbance to plants and animals, you can observe how nature works without changing it.
Now that you know more about the ecosystems,
let’s learn more about living and nonliving components in our environment and how they interact.
