Ecosystem Dynamics

Ecosystem Inputs These are the critical factors required for an ecosystem to function	Internal Ecosystem Dynamics This is the way living organisms interact within an ecosystem.  The way these factors interplay will directly impact how species survive within an ecosystem	Ecosystem Outputs These are the ‘services’ a functioning ecosystem provides.
1. Energy: usually from the sun and utilised by producers 2. Nutrients: usually from the soil, decomposition or from other ecosystems 3. Water: From rainfall, creeks, runoff, lakes etc. 4. Atmosphere: The balance of oxygen and CO2 in the air is vital for survival of almost all living organisms 5. Biodiversity: This means the range of organisms interacting in an ecosystem. Generally, the greater the biodiversity, the more likely an ecosystem is to thrive and be resilient to change.	1. Predator-Prey relationships: The transferal of energy around the food web 2. Decomposition: The recycling of nutrients 3. Interspecific competition: This is the competition between different species of organisms.  It is often between species who share similar food sources, habitats, or other resources. An example is between rabbits and bandicoots. Weeds and pest animals often reproduce faster than native species, meaning that they ‘out-compete’ the locals. This can cause localised extinctions or push species to adapt to new habitats or food sources. 4. Intraspecific Competition: This is the competition between individuals of a species.  It includes competing for mates, habitats, food and other resources.  Each environment has a specific ‘carry capacity’ of how many individuals of a species it can hold.  Exceeding this number can cause populations to plummet.  5. Symbiotic Relationships This is where different species depend on other species within their ecosystem. Examples are bees pollinating flowers (mutualistic), ticks parasitising a rabbit (parasitic) or birds nesting in trees (commensal)	1. Heat energy: most of the sun’s energy is passed onto the environment via the heat caused by organisms’ metabolising 2. Nutrients: Nutrients are recycled in an ecosystem, but can also flow on ‘down-stream’ to another area via erosion, water movement or through the air 3. Water: Via transpiration from trees and by leaching through soils 4. Atmosphere: Ecosystems aid in the regulation of atmospheric gases  5. Biodiversity: Healthy ecosystems encourage further biodiversity by producing genetic diversity, adaptations in species, etc.  From this new species develop.

Symbiotic Relationships:
Watch this and take notes:
Crash Course: Community Ecology Dynamics
Symbiosis Made Simple

Questions to Consider for Your Assignment:
1. What species would you consider 'a key-stone' for the Taroona ecosystem? That is, which species would you consider is the most important, effectively holding the rest of the ecosystem together?

2. What species are playing a role in decomposition? You don't need the species specific name, just the general terms.

3. What sort of relationships might be occurring out there? See if you can think of a mutalistic, commensal and parasitic relationship.