Relationships between the biotic and abiotic factors of the mangrove ecosystem.
Trophic levels in the mangrove ecosystem:
In the mangrove ecosystem the abiotic and biotic features rely on one another to survive. In particular the biotic features whereby the autotrophic feeders are the producers and beginning of the food chain as they are the food source for the primary consumers which are heterotrophic and are consequently unable to produce food themselves. The autotrophic organisms of an ecosystem such as planktonic alga produce their own food through the process of photosynthesis where the energy from the sun is converted into oxygen. Additionally, the carbon dioxide needed by plants is provided through the respiration of animals breathing out the oxygen produced by the plants. These autotrophic feeders become the food source for primary consumers such as tadpoles and mosquito larva which in turn provide a food source for the secondary consumers and this continues in stages throughout the ecosystem.
Organisms in the ecosystem:
Decomposers such as bacteria and fungi break down and recycle organic material within an ecosystem and returns nutrients to the soil that are the basic needs for plants in order for them to survive and produce oxygen needed for us to breathe through photosynthesis.
Decomposer lifecycle - Fungi breaks down the soil and removes what it needs from it --> Releases the nutrients back into the soil --> Plants/ trees absorb these nutrients through their roots and utilise them to grow.
Scavengers such as maggots, crabs and worms eat the dead and/or decaying plant and animal matter. Scavengers benefit the ecosystem in which the live because they assist in rapidly breaking down the dead plant and animals matter to smaller components. This is advantageous for the ecosystem because the prevent the excessive accumulation of the biomass of dead matter, which can otherwise be hazardous to the living components within an organism because they encourage the survival of harmful pathogens.
Detrital feeders consume the waste products of other animals found within the environment. Detrital feeders contribute beneficially to the decomposition and nutrient cycles.
Producers are plants that produce their own food. This is done by using the light energy produced by the sun, carbon dioxide from the air and water from the soil to produce energy in the form of glucose and oxygen. This process is called photosynthesis. Producers can be described as autotrophs or autotrophic because they produce their own food and do not rely on other organisms within the ecosystem to obtain their energy.
Consumers are organisms that obtain their energy by consuming other organisms. Consumers are commonly described as heterotrophs because they are unable to produce there own food.
Biomass refers to the accumulation of living matter within an organism.
Adaptations of the organisms at Home bush:
Roots The soil that mangroves inhabit is anaerobic meaning it has low oxygen content therefore the aveicennia or grey mangrove adapted pneumatophores through which gaseous exchange occurs allowing the plant to obtain oxygen. Pneumatophores act almost like straws that allow the plant to breathe. Pneumatophores are aerial roots which also provide structural support for the grey mangrove in the soft muddy setting. The height of the pneumatophores depends on their location and distance from water. The closer to the water a pneumatophore is, the taller it will be allowing it to penetrate over the changing water level.
Animal adaptations:
The mangrove snail- The mangrove snail has modified various features of themselves in order to adapt to the saline environment at Home bush mangroves. The shell of this gastropod is crucial in its survival from both the environment and predators. The shell of the snails found at Home bush protects its body from the saline conditions because it has modified itself to allow the snail to live in its shell for 99% of its life. This is due to the fact that the biofilm (a thin robust layer of bacteria and other microorganisms) that is found within the snails shell is their main food source so they are able to sustain life without leaving their shells and are consequently unaffected by the saline environment. Additionally these gastropods are able to protect themselves against birds and other predators because their faeces take the appearance of a worm which misleads the snails natural predators. This survival technique is reinforced by the snails slow movement which does not attract the attention of predators, and by the brown coloured shell which allows them to camouflage with their surroundings.
The mangrove crab- The existence of the mangrove crab within the studied environment are imperative in the breaking down of leaf litter which they feed on. During low tide the mangrove crabs remain within their borrows only emerging for necessities such as food. Additionally during high tide the mangrove crab is able to escape the water and predators by ascending trees as far up as the canopies. The mangrove crab is able to source out fallen leaves through vibration. Mangrove crabs are able to survive during low tide due to the breathing specialisation of oxygenated water which constantly passes through its gills as it would underwater. A sample of water is continuously redirected through specialised panels on the crabs body that allow air flow.
Leaves of the mangroves are able to reduce water loss by turning their oval, pointed leaves away from the hot exposure of the sun. As a result the surface area of the leaf that is heated by the sun is dramatically reduced, henceforth preventing water loss via evaporation.
In the mangrove ecosystem the abiotic and biotic features rely on one another to survive. In particular the biotic features whereby the autotrophic feeders are the producers and beginning of the food chain as they are the food source for the primary consumers which are heterotrophic and are consequently unable to produce food themselves. The autotrophic organisms of an ecosystem such as planktonic alga produce their own food through the process of photosynthesis where the energy from the sun is converted into oxygen. Additionally, the carbon dioxide needed by plants is provided through the respiration of animals breathing out the oxygen produced by the plants. These autotrophic feeders become the food source for primary consumers such as tadpoles and mosquito larva which in turn provide a food source for the secondary consumers and this continues in stages throughout the ecosystem.
Organisms in the ecosystem:
Decomposers such as bacteria and fungi break down and recycle organic material within an ecosystem and returns nutrients to the soil that are the basic needs for plants in order for them to survive and produce oxygen needed for us to breathe through photosynthesis.
Decomposer lifecycle - Fungi breaks down the soil and removes what it needs from it --> Releases the nutrients back into the soil --> Plants/ trees absorb these nutrients through their roots and utilise them to grow.
Scavengers such as maggots, crabs and worms eat the dead and/or decaying plant and animal matter. Scavengers benefit the ecosystem in which the live because they assist in rapidly breaking down the dead plant and animals matter to smaller components. This is advantageous for the ecosystem because the prevent the excessive accumulation of the biomass of dead matter, which can otherwise be hazardous to the living components within an organism because they encourage the survival of harmful pathogens.
Detrital feeders consume the waste products of other animals found within the environment. Detrital feeders contribute beneficially to the decomposition and nutrient cycles.
Producers are plants that produce their own food. This is done by using the light energy produced by the sun, carbon dioxide from the air and water from the soil to produce energy in the form of glucose and oxygen. This process is called photosynthesis. Producers can be described as autotrophs or autotrophic because they produce their own food and do not rely on other organisms within the ecosystem to obtain their energy.
Consumers are organisms that obtain their energy by consuming other organisms. Consumers are commonly described as heterotrophs because they are unable to produce there own food.
Biomass refers to the accumulation of living matter within an organism.
Adaptations of the organisms at Home bush:
Roots The soil that mangroves inhabit is anaerobic meaning it has low oxygen content therefore the aveicennia or grey mangrove adapted pneumatophores through which gaseous exchange occurs allowing the plant to obtain oxygen. Pneumatophores act almost like straws that allow the plant to breathe. Pneumatophores are aerial roots which also provide structural support for the grey mangrove in the soft muddy setting. The height of the pneumatophores depends on their location and distance from water. The closer to the water a pneumatophore is, the taller it will be allowing it to penetrate over the changing water level.
Animal adaptations:
The mangrove snail- The mangrove snail has modified various features of themselves in order to adapt to the saline environment at Home bush mangroves. The shell of this gastropod is crucial in its survival from both the environment and predators. The shell of the snails found at Home bush protects its body from the saline conditions because it has modified itself to allow the snail to live in its shell for 99% of its life. This is due to the fact that the biofilm (a thin robust layer of bacteria and other microorganisms) that is found within the snails shell is their main food source so they are able to sustain life without leaving their shells and are consequently unaffected by the saline environment. Additionally these gastropods are able to protect themselves against birds and other predators because their faeces take the appearance of a worm which misleads the snails natural predators. This survival technique is reinforced by the snails slow movement which does not attract the attention of predators, and by the brown coloured shell which allows them to camouflage with their surroundings.
The mangrove crab- The existence of the mangrove crab within the studied environment are imperative in the breaking down of leaf litter which they feed on. During low tide the mangrove crabs remain within their borrows only emerging for necessities such as food. Additionally during high tide the mangrove crab is able to escape the water and predators by ascending trees as far up as the canopies. The mangrove crab is able to source out fallen leaves through vibration. Mangrove crabs are able to survive during low tide due to the breathing specialisation of oxygenated water which constantly passes through its gills as it would underwater. A sample of water is continuously redirected through specialised panels on the crabs body that allow air flow.
Leaves of the mangroves are able to reduce water loss by turning their oval, pointed leaves away from the hot exposure of the sun. As a result the surface area of the leaf that is heated by the sun is dramatically reduced, henceforth preventing water loss via evaporation.