My response

Overall, I feel that the plot study project took more time than it was worth. However, I did still learn some things from it. 1) I learned that animals don't like to show themselves when humans are around. 2) I learned there is much variety, even within a small ecosystem. 3) I can see that all organisms work together to benefit the environment. 4) Humans can disrupt this healthy environment. And 5) Ecosystems are constantly changing. With this knowledge, I can learn to respect the world that I live in and do my best not to disrupt these fragile ecosystems.

Seasonal Changes

My tree is about 12 feet tall. It has a small trunk that branches out with many leaves. It is pictured below:

This is a sketch of my tree's bark (sideways):

These are my five leaves:

Producers & Consumers

Producers:

• Trees
• Shrubs
• Grass
• Wild Black Berry Bush
• Clover
• Dandelion
• Moss

Consumers:

Herbivores:

• Deer
• Rabbits
• Birds
• Rodents
• Bees
• Human (me)
• Butterfly

Carnivores:

• Owls
• Spider
• Hawk

Omnivores:

• Skunk
• Racoon
• Squirrel
• Chipmunk
• Wild turkey
• Possum

Detritivores:

• Earthworm
• Snails
• Dung beetles
• Millipedes
• Slug

Decomposers:

• Mushroom
• Bacteria

Biodiversity | Trees

Pine Tree

Wild Black Berry Tree

Maple

Elm

Oak

Plot Community

Competition:

• Two squirrels fighting over an acorn
• Birds fight over best nesting areas

Predation:

• Owls hunting for squirrels
• Spider capturing insects in its web

Symbiosis-Mutualism:

• Bee pollinating a flower
• Bird eats berries, plant gets its seeds dispersed

Symbiosis-Commensalism:

• Bird living in a tree
• Deer living in a shrub

Symbiosis-Parasitism

• Mosquito biting me
• Mite living in a bird

My Plot is an Ecosystem

My plot is an ecosystem because it is made up of many communities of different species. Each organism is made up of atoms, molecules, cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems. My plot contains oak trees, deer, birds, grass, pine trees, turkeys, and many other different types of plants and animals. All of these organisms interact with each other to create an ecosystem. My plot also contains abiotic factors, such as dirt, steel track, and rocks, which are part of any ecosystem.

Taking Action

To take action, I decided to pick up trash on my plot. Here are just a few pictures I took.

Wendy's cup

Cheeto's bag

Trash bag