Team members

Names / Roles:

• [Nicholas Koh]      (Leader)
• [Aisha]      (Wiki Writer)
• [Jun Jie]      (Researcher)
• [Syabil]      (Researcher)
• [Amsyah]      (Researcher) 

Overview

In this section, include a brief description of the (1)allocated ecosystem. You should include the following information:

• Location of the ecosystem
• Description of ecosystem
• Biodiversity of ecosystem (richness of life in ecosystem)

(1)to set apart for a particular purpose; assign or allot: to allocate funds for new projects.

Physical Factors

Search the Internet for information on the following physical factors in the allocated ecosystem. 

• Light (availability of sunlight in the ecosystem),
• ANSWER:Sunlight is nonliving as its rays contain no known carbon; however, its photons can be gathered and stored by any plant or algae that is photosynthetic and so it is essential for any "living" ecosystem. 

• Temperature(temperature of the ecosystem),
• ANSWER:48-49^o C
• Water (water quality in the ecosystem),
• ANSWER: Water quality is fundamental for good river health. Water quality sustains ecological processes that support native fish populations, vegetation, wetlands and birdlife.
• Salinity (freshwater or seawater found in the ecosystem).
• ANSWER:A salt water ecosystem contains salt water. And a freshwater ecosystem includes ponds, rivers, lakes, streams and marshes. They'll contain very little salt, unlike a saltwater ecosystem. Each ecosystem is very different with organisms that require different needs for survival. 
• Air 
• (quality of air in the ecosystem), 
• ANSWER: In deserts, the temperature increases significantly and because of air pollution, the desert will become drier and sandier. Rangelands will be turned into deserts. Air pollution can cause filthy air particles to move across long distances in the air. When the particles, including gases like nitrogen oxide and sulphur dioxide mix with rain, acid rain is formed. Acid rain damage components of the natural environment, including plants and affect the eco-system.
• pH of the environment (how acid or alkaline the ecosystem is), 
• ANSWER: Acid deposition also occurs via dry deposition in the absence of precipitation. This can be responsible for as much as 20 to 60% of total acid deposition.This occurs when particles and gases stick to the ground, plants or other surfaces.
• mineral salts (availability of nutrients and mineral salts in the ecosystem) 
• ANSWER: Human activities are a primary cause of desertification. These activities include overgrazing of livestock,deforestation, over cultivation of farmland, and poor irrigation practices. Overgrazing and deforestation remove plants that anchor the soil. As a result, wind and water erode the nutrient-rich topsoil. Hooves from grazing livestock compact the soil, preventing it from absorbing water and fertilizers. Agricultural production is devastated, and the economy of a region suffers.

Classification of Living Organisms

Classify at least eight of the living organisms found in the allocated ecosystem into the categories below:

1. Producers:forbs,shrub seeds,wild flowers,glass seeds
2. Primary: Consumers:camels,rabbits,kangaroo rats,coyotes
3. Secondary Consumers: fennec,rosy boa,common kingsnake
4. Tertiary Consumers :snakes,hawk,mountain lion
5. Decomposers: desert beetles,earthworm,millipede

NOTE:For each of the living organism, find a picture and write a short description on the organism. You may wish to include feeding habits, region in the ecosystem where it is normally found etc. 

Food Web 

Create a food web using at least eight of the living organisms listed above. You may wish to use Microsoft PowerPoint to create your food web. Save your food web as a picture. Finally copy and paste your picture in this section of your wiki. 

Interrelationship in Ecosystem

Give at least one example for each of the following relationships in the ecosystem:

1. Predator-prey relationship:
2.  ANS:Shark-Fish,Cougar-Deer,Aardvark-Ant
3.  Parasitism
4.  ANS:This parasite has a very wide host range, infecting at least 31 species of wild mammals, including 9 carnivores, 16 rodents, one primate (Human), two insectivores and threeartiodactyls and therefore it can be considered a true zoonosis.
5. Mutualism
6.  ANS:termites associated with the protozoa living in its gut to digest the wood being eaten. Another is the fungi forming a mutualistic relationship with the roots of trees in the forests. There are birds that eat the fruits of plants and later deposit the seeds with a little bird manure as fertilizer. The birds get nutrients and the plants get their seeds distributed in the environment.

Useful Links

Plagarism is a strongly discouraged.

Include the links of all websites you obtained information from to complete your ecology wiki. 

For example:

Wild World @ nationalgeographic.com ( http://www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/terrestrial.html )

 http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/water/waterqual.htm 

http://www.thebigger.com/biology/ecosystem/explain-the-role-of-temperature-in-the-ecosystem/ 

• http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081103180233AAB0dO0 
• http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_an_example_of_parasitism