Assignment 5: Biome/Ecosystem Project

Alyssa Nucci  AP Biology-4 The Temperate Deciduous Forest:  K-Selected and R-Selected Species         K-selected species are species whose populations fluctuate at or near the carrying capacity of the environment. K-selected species have relatively stable populations and produce low numbers of offspring, therefore are density dependent. These species are characterized by long gestation periods, slow maturation, and long life spans. K-selected species tend to live in stable biological communities like forests. Examples of K-selected species include the American black bear, red fox, and white-tailed deer.         R-selected species are species whose populations are defined by their biotic potential, meaning their maximum reproductive capacity. These species produce high numbers of offspring, require short gestation periods, mature quickly, and have short life spans. R-selected species are able to reproduce at a younger age, however many offspr

Alyssa Nucci  AP Biology-4 The Temperate Deciduous Forest:  Primary and Secondary Succession         Primary Succession occurs in areas where the soil is incapable of sustaining life.  Primary succession begins in desolate areas, first inhabiting lichens or plants that can survive in such an environment. Over hundreds of years, these species convert the environment into soil that is able to sustain simple plants like grasses. These grasses further modify the terrain, and once the soil has eventually reached its optimal richness, other plants can grow and thrive as well. An example of primary succession in the Temperate Deciduous Forest biome is lichens. Lichens are found in these barren areas and are able to give off acid which will degrade the rock present into soil. Once there is soil, moss grows and adds nutrients into the soil. Grasses are now able to form as the soil thickens, eventually providing a home for bushes and small trees. Trees requiring little amounts o

Alyssa Nucci  AP Biology-4 The Temperate Deciduous Forest: Keystone Species        Keystone species are organisms within an ecosystem in which other species largely depend upon, furthermore upholding the sustainability of the ecosystem. In the Temperate Deciduous Forest biome,   a keystone species is the white-tailed deer. This is because their feeding activity can affect many plants and animals in the surrounding environment. White-tailed deer thrive best in forests with biodiversity. In the spring and summer seasons, these deer eat grasses, wildflowers, mushrooms, and woody plant leaves. As fall begins, the deer gravitate towards acorns, fallen fruits, and crops. In winter, deer eat woody vegetation such as twigs, bark, and foliage.         Deer are preyed upon by wolves, coyotes, bears, bobcats, and humans. As prey, their carcasses can sustain other organisms in their environment such as eagles, ravens, crows, etc. Deer can affect the ecosystem's food chain as

Alyssa Nucci AP Biology-4 The Temperate Deciduous Forest: Symbiotic Relationships        In a mutualistic relationship, the two organisms benefit from each other. In the Temperate Deciduous Forest biome, an example of mutualism is the relationship between deer and birds. Deer let birds eat the bugs off of their fur. This allows the deer to get rid of these insects, while in turn, the birds gain a sustainable food source.         With commensalism, one organism enjoys the benefits from the other organism without causing any harm to it. An example of commensalism in this biome is the squirrel and the oak tree. The squirrel is able to seek shelter, protection from predators, and food from the tree, while the tree is neither harmed or benefited.         In a parasitic relationship, one organism thrives on another organism, thus harming it. The relationship between deer and ticks is a good example of parasitism in the Temperate Deciduous Forest. The tick

Alyssa Nucci AP Biology-4 The Temperate Deciduous Forest: Predator/Prey Relationship         It is given that predators influence the population of their prey. However, it is shown here that conversely, prey affects the number of predators. As the number of prey drops, so does the number of predators, due to a now limited food supply. Here is an example of a common predator/prey relationship in the Temperate Deciduous Forest: Wolves and Rabbits. As the number of wolves decreases, in turn the number of rabbits begins to increase again, eventually increasing the number of wolves. This cycle can repeat indefinitely as long as the predator and prey populations remain.  “Predator-Prey Interaction .”  Predator-Prey Interaction , www2.nau.edu/lrm22/lessons/predator_prey/predator_prey.html.

Alyssa Nucci  AP Biology-4 The Temperate Deciduous Forest: Representative Food Web        Here is a representative food web of the Temperate Deciduous Forest biome. We can see the primary producers gaining energy from the sun and providing energy to the primary consumers. These consumers then provide energy to the secondary consumers as a food source, and so on as the tertiary consumers consume the secondary consumers. The energy transfer between the trophic levels can be seen with the use of arrows, moving from the first to last trophic level, and then to the detritivores, which recycle thus energy in order to begin the process over again as the primary producers use these provided nutrients as well as sunlight to produce energy to be consumed by the next trophy level, and so on again.  Rhizobium, et al. “Decomposers, Aquatic and Nutrient Cycles - Ppt Video Online Download.”  SlidePlayer , slideplayer.com/slide/4195842/.