Ecosystem Response to Disturbance
Shaniya McNair
Physical Science 103 Section 401
Professor Jamal Uddin
September 24, 2023
Ecosystems are lively and constant environments that undergo ecological succession,
which happens to be a process described by the gradual transformation of species composition
and community structure over a course of time. This essay explores the concept of ecological
succession within a familiar environment, the ways that I see organism populations working
within the ecosystem, and the potential impacts of removing current species and introducing
foreign species. Additionally, the idea of how both abiotic and biotic factors play essential roles
in controlling population explosions within these ecosystems will be discussed.
When I am at school, and when I am home, I live in an urban environment, so I do not
get a lot of opportunities to view wildlife and nature. More specifically, back at home I live in a
apartment complex so there’s not much opportunity to be around nature. However, I will use
another familiar environment that I go to often. My older sister has a house, and I go there
frequently when I am in my home state. She has a front yard, and she has a large field behind her
house. In front of her house in the yard there are flowers growing and plants growing. This is an
example of ecological succession that I notice, because when she first moved into her house two
years ago, there were little to no flowers and no plants at all. Over time, the yard became
habitable for flowers and plants through succession but also with the help of proper care of the
grass and soil. Furthermore, the large field behind the house went from being mostly soil with
little to no blades of grass, to an affluent green area of land. There is now an abundance of grass,
so much that the grass has to now be cut down to prevent it from growing too high. The two
species that I will be referring to are the flowers and bees that are also in the environment.
Population balancing is extremely important in all ecosystems and environments because without
the help of one organism or contributing factor, something may cease to be or be hindered in a
way that damages the ecosystem. In this example, if bees were to be removed from the
environment, they would not be able to pollinate the flowers. This would be an issue because
pollination assists in the process of generating new plant seeds. In turn, pollen and nectar that is
made from the process is a very important part of a bee's diet needed for survival. So, if flowers
were removed from the environment, bees would start to die off. This is my prediction of what
would happen once introducing and then removing these species. Lastly, abiotic factors such as
rain and sunlight would increase population explosion because in this sense more rain and
sunlight would boost plant production. Inversely, biotic factors such as plants help increase the
population of species such as bees mentioned.
Ecological succession, population dynamics, and the interplay of abiotic and biotic
factors are essential components of ecosystem ecology. Understanding these processes is vital
for conservation efforts and the preservation of biodiversity. As ecosystems continue to face
anthropogenic pressures, it becomes increasingly important to manage and protect them with a
deep appreciation of their complexity and resilience.
