Term Papers on Ecosystems

Term Paper Title	Ecosystems
# of Words	1418
# of Pages (250 words per page double spaced)	5.67

Ecosystems

Introduction

     On March 26, my peers and I visited Fort Tilden, the first of two ecosystems we were to observe.
At this specific site we were interested in the interaction of living and nonliving things in this
environmental ecosystem.  On April 2, we visited Plumb Beach, our second ecosystem we observed.  Both
beaches are part of Gateway National Recreation Area.  During these lab periods we attentively examined
and inspected several sand danes.
     There are several different kinds of ecosystems.  An ecosystem is an area where the living
community interacts with the nonliving world.  The two ecosystems I visited were the sand dunes.  The
sand dunes are mounds of sand that are piled up by the wind.  Sand dunes are on coastal or inland
areas(Encyclopedia of Plants,1988).  The conditions of the sand dunes are quiet harsh due to the high speed
winds and intense heat from the sun.  There is also very little water available.  In fact the main source of
water is from the rain(Encyclopedia of Plant,1988).  Because of this, the primary plant is grass.  Grass has
the flexibility and adaptability which permits it to live in many different situations.  Grass have long roots
enabling it to get water and nutrients(Scientific American,1974).
     There are certain adaptations that different plants adopt to, like grass accumulation on the sand
dunes.  These plants may have similar leaf structures because there they share  the common hazard of
losing water by evaporation process of transpiration(Scientific American, 1974).
     Sand dunes like other types of ecosystems are very complex.  The different components such as
biotic and abiotic surroundings, greatly effect the population and status of the particular place.  Besides
this, man plays a major role.  If people pollute the environment, no matter how much water and nutrients
the organisms receive, they will still be unable to survive.
MATERIALS and METHODS
At the two Sand dune ecosystems, my group and I were to investigate the difference in abundance and
distribution of plant life within the two ecosystems.  The first one "Fort Tilden", is an undisturbed sand
dune ecosystem.  It has been protected from human disturbance by an extensive fence system.  The second
sand dune "Plumb Beach", is a disturbed sand dune ecosystem.  We also had to compare the abundance of
plants in the front and back of the sand dunes and the interdunes.  They may all have a difference
abundance of vegetation.  We walked across the dunes at both beaches and gazed at the vegetation and
species.  Our focus at hand was on four particular plants.  They were grasses, herbs, shrubs, and trees.
     My general hypothesis was that the disturbed ecosystem should have a lot less vegetation  then
that of the undisturbed ecosystem.  When people step on and litter on the sand dunes, they destroy the
plants and vegetation.  As to the difference of the front and back of dunes, my hypothesis is based on the
direction of the wind.  The wind causes that there should be less vegetation.
DISCUSSION
Comparison of the two sand dunes
     Based on the data I collected in both sand dunes, I did not see a significant difference in plants
between the disturbs and undisturbed sand dunes.  There were however, a few blow outs which were
caused on people stepping on the sand dunes and by all the litter that is found all over the beach.
     The reason for the fairly large abundance of plants at Plumb Beach ecosystem, must be caused by
some other factor then that of Fort Tilden which is undisturbed.  As we know, peoples behavior makes a
noticeable affect on plants, e.g. the blow outs.  Therefore, it might be the difference in distance of the sand
dunes.  The primary sand dune in Plumb Beach is closer to the water, therefore, causes more vegetation or
equal to Fort Tilden, even though it is known to be disturbed.
Sand Dunes at Fort Tilden
Primary dune: The Front of the dune had 15% grass, 5% herbs, 0% shrubs and 0% trees.  The back had
45% grass, 15% h...

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