Essay on Environmental Studies

Submitted By s_lavrenchuk
Words: 1142
Pages: 5
Open Document
Environmental Sciences
SCIE210

Coral Reefs are one of the most interesting and colorful ecosystems to be found in the marine environment on the planet. Environmentalists are saying that coral reefs are disappearing due to the atmosphere changing and human behavior. This paper will discuss how the Abiotic and biotic components work together to make and keep coral reefs.

Where might this type of ecosystem be located? Give one specific example.

Coral ecosystems can be broadly divided into four categories based upon their proximity to land: fringing reefs, shelf reefs, barrier reefs and atoll reefs. Coral reefs form in shallow water that is clear and is between seventeen and thirty degrees Celsius (Coral Algal Reef, 2000). The largest coral reef is situated on the northeastern coast of Australia and is call the Great Barrier Reef (Coral Reef, 2005).
Describe the structure of the ecosystem: List both the abiotic components and biotic components.

Coral Reefs are ecological systems that are made up of hard and soft corals. Corals are layers of calcium carbonate put together over time by many soft-bodied animals called coral polyps. There are two different kinds of corals; hard (rigid exoskeleton fish) and soft (no exoskeleton fish) (Reef Relief, 2010). The structure of the coral reef ecosystem consists of abiotic and biotic components. The abiotic components feature non-living things such as water temperature, sunlight, oxygen, nutrients and salinity (salt). The biotic components are crabs, lobsters, sea horses, sponges, worms (which get protection from other predators or live in the coral reef); manatees, birds, and other fish (which feed off of the coral reef.

Describe the function of the ecosystem: How do the abiotic and biotic components interact in biogeochemical cycles? Describe both the carbon and nitrogen cycles

Carbon is the seat of energy storage and tissue building in living organisms. The carbon cycle in coral reef starts with respiration, which takes carbohydrates and oxygen and combines them to produce carbon dioxide, energy and water as a result. Afterwards, the process of photosynthesis produces carbohydrates and oxygen out of carbon dioxide and water. “Photosynthesis by diverse plant forms (from unicellular dinoflagellates to fleshy macro-algae and coralline crusts) fixes carbon into compounds which are directed into pathways that are primarily bioconstructional or trophic in output” (Done, 2013). It can be said that the outputs of respiration are the inputs photosynthesis and vice versa. These two reactions are complimentary in the way they deal with energy.

Nitrogen is a vital element to all life processes on the planet. There are many important forms of nitrogen, which makes the nitrogen cycle one of the most difficult to learn. Nitrogen gas in the atmosphere is composed of two nitrogen atoms bound to each other. It is a non-reactive gas meaning it takes a lot of energy to get nitrogen gas to break.

Simplified Illustration of the Nitrogen Cycle

Nitrogen first goes through the process of nitrogen fixation. This process is done because most of the living things cannot use nitrogen in the N2 state. It has to be stabilized; otherwise, nitrogen will not react with the molecules of a living organism. One way in which nature fixes nitrogen is by lightning. Another way is with the help of bacteria (Abboud). After the nitrogen is fixed plants can use it, and then primary consumer eats the plants. This causes the consumer to gain the nitrogen that it needs to survive. After the primary consumer, the secondary consumer eats the primary consumer. The second consumer then receives the nitrogen that it needs to survive. In the end of the process the secondary consumer eventually dies, and decomposers break up its remains. The decomposers take the organic compounds and the nitrogen cycle continues. Next, the denitrifying bacteria sends nitrogen back up to the
Show More

Related Documents: Essay on Environmental Studies

4050R Environmental Case Study Essay

4050AR Environmental Case Study Jacky Chung Fig 1, Taken from second floor highlighting the atrium and stairs in Central Library Liverpool Introduction In this case study I will be investigating the internal environmental aspects of the Liverpool Central Library, I will be discussing how effective the building performs in terms of lighting and thermal comfort. To evaluate these properties I will be exploring questions such as, how is daylight…

Words 1552 - Pages 7

AP Environmental Unit 5 Study Guide Essay

Study Guide Unit 5 chapters 10, 11, & 12 Chapter 10 Where were the gray wolves reintroduced? / Who supported the reintroduction? 1. Yellowstone National Park ecosystem The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) supported the reintroduction including the United States Congress. Ecological services of the forest 1. Support energy flow and chemical cycling 2. Reduce soil erosion 3. Absorb and release water 4. Purify water and air 5. Influence local and regional climate 6. Store…

Words 1568 - Pages 7

Green Washing Critique

Journal. (5)3, pp. 1-15 The author studies the corporate social responsibility of Starbucks Corporation by examining its sustainability record, the green claims, blog posts, comments by the critical public, as well as the response to online criticisms. Moreover, the study’s significance is presented by the fact that it is the first academic study to present an integrated framework for assessing green-washing claims and interrogate the fairness of environmental criticisms based on independent research…

Words 885 - Pages 4

Twin Adoption Study

Multifactorial traits are determined by many genetic and environmental factors acting together. They are also called complex traits or quantitative traits. Both the main effects and the interaction effects of genetic and environmental factors influence the traits. The causal pathways are not one-way drives or strait roads, genes can also influence environmental factors through behaviors. All the factors affecting multifactorial traits are causes and effects to each other. There are several approaches…

Words 843 - Pages 4

Critique on the article entitled "AN EVALUATION OF TOOLS FOR AN ASSESSMENT OF CUMULATIVE EFFECTS IN SOCIOECONOMIC IMPACT STUDIES" Essay example

CUMULATIVE EFFECTS IN SOCIOECONOMIC IMPACT STUDIES By Douglas J. Crookes and Martin P. De Wit CRITIQUE – 2 Citation: Crooks D. And De Wit M. An evaluation of tools for an assessment of cumulative effects in socio-Economic impact studies, Journal of Environmental assessment policy and Management, Vol. 11, No.3, 2009. pp 311-329 CRITIQUE The study focused current and potential tools used for assessing cumulative effects in socio economic studies. It analysed the approaches with their…

Words 668 - Pages 3

Stochastic Inventory Control with Carbon Emissions Regulations Essay

Stochastic Inventory Control with Carbon Emissions Regulations October 27, 2013 Abstract This study analyzes an inventory control problem of a company in stochastic demand environment under carbon emissions regulations. In particular, a continuous review inventory model is investigated under three regulation policies: carbon cap, carbon tax, and carbon cap-and-trade. We analyze and compare the optimal (Q, R) policies under each carbon emissions regulation policy. Furthermore, the effects…

Words 2685 - Pages 11

FINAL GLT3 The Nature Nurture Debate Essay

(Cherry, n.d.). Thus, according empiricists, how a person behaves is the direct result of parenting, childhood observations and other environmental factors and not biology. A person is aggressive because he has learned to be aggressive, the bond a child has for his mother is the result of good parenting and even an individual’s intellect is the result of environmental stimulation as a child (McLeod, 2007). Because empiricism suggests that all human behavior and traits are acquired through learned behavior…

Words 1142 - Pages 5

Viet Da Lat Essay

worldwide, and the majority of lung cancers diagnosed historically among women in Eastern Asia have been in women who never smoked. The specific genetic variations found in this study had not been associated with lung cancer risk in other populations. Although environmental factors, such as secondhand smoke (also known as environmental tobacco smoke) or exhaust from indoor cooking are likely account for some cases of lung cancer among Asian women who have never smoked, they expl ain only a small proportion…

Words 704 - Pages 3

Essay Corporate Environments

Corporate Environmental Reports using Statistical Techniques and Data Mining Analysis of Corporate Environmental Reports using Statistical Techniques and Data Mining Jashua Rajesh Modapothala, Swinburne University of Technology (Sarawak Campus), Kuching, Malaysia E-mail: jmodapothala@swinburne.edu.my Biju Issac, Swinburne University of Technology (Sarawak Campus), Kuching, Malaysia E-mail: bissac@swinburne.edu.my Abstract Measuring the effectiveness of corporate environmental reports, it…

Words 1948 - Pages 8

Essay On Noise Pollution

Over the past decades noise pollution has received increased attention and Studies has reported that noise pollution is one of the environmental hazard affecting human, the effects ranges from annoyance to difficulty in falling asleep, which latter leads to high blood pressure (WHO 2005; Ugwuanyi et al., 2005; Den Boer and Schroten 2007; Tetreault et al 2013 ). Although, noise pollution has been one of environmental concerns as early as the inception of civilization when man was introduced to technology…

Words 902 - Pages 4