Balance of an Ecosystem

Author's Note: In this piece I want the reader to understand the importance of balance in every type of ecosystem. Every animal and plant is important in it's habitat. If the population increases or decreases the effect will be negative on the biome. These effects can include loss of food and loss of habitat. In this piece I plan on improving my word choice.

Ecosystems rely on one thing; balance. Every animal and organism in it’s biome relies on each other to keep it balanced. If they fail, it will result in extinction or loss of animals leaving to find a better habitat. There are three major rolls in the food chain that help keep the balance; producers, consumers, and decomposers. Each of these groups have a important part in keeping the circle of life running.

The producers keep the food chain stable by taking over the base of it. Producers are known for producing their own food from the sun. This process is known as photosynthesis. It consists of using energy, carbon dioxide, and water to make glucose. This process keeps plants living and feeding others. Producers are not only plants, but algae and some types of bacteria are also included in this group.  The secondary group, consumers, benefit the most from this group.

Consumers are not able to make their own food so they get it from plants or other producers. There are three types of consumers that make up the largest part of the food chain; herbivores, omnivores, carnivores. Herbivores only eat vegetation, carnivores only eat meat, while omnivores eat both vegetation and meat. Consumers can both be prey and predator depending on the animal.

Decomposers are known for dieting on dead animals and plants. They clean up the floor of the habitat, feed themselves, and release nutrients into the ground. The most common decomposers are fungi, mold, and bugs. Although these creatures are not pretty to look at, without them the earth would be covered in trash and the producers would not be able to get the nutrients they need.

The circle that these roles create is very important but very fragile. Human actions can create chaos among creatures in every type of habitat. One type of negative action is hunting. Hunting can help keep control of some populations but it can get to be too much. For example, if hunting got to be too much for deer, and they became extinct, coyotes and wolves would have to give up their larger meals and move on to more of the smaller meals, such as small rodents. By this action the race of the small rodents could be in endangered. Cutting down trees can also cause a risk to many animals. Prey will find lack of protection and will be forced to either move to find more or be found by predators.

The food chain has always been a key factor in the balance of an ecosystem. Each level can obtain something and provide something for another. With this cycle it is able to control the population and keep it at a reasonable size. Each ecosystem has different types of food chains with different types of animals, but they all provide the sense of balance that they need to live and keep their species alive.  

Tree

Author's Note: In this piece I wanted to think about something that I have never really understood or looked at before. I feel as though trees are all around us but we never really look at them. I believe that, like humans, trees have there own identity. As people we have different layers that make us special, but once you take away those layers you find the desire to do something in everyone. That something would be to succeed even in a motive as broad as life itself.

I come across a green forest abundant with life. I sit and close my eyes, breathing in the rich air. My hands grasp the ground and hold on to this moment. My hands rests upon something cool. I lift it up and try to determine the specimen that I hold. My hands graze over the flesh and take in the delicate features. It reminds my of paper with little grooves in it. Almost like the valleys of a finger print. Like it has its own identity. I then round the edges and feel a slight prick as I move along.  Finally I open my eyes to see a green teardrop shape with a stem. My mind immediately comes up with the word leaf. I smile to myself in amusement and close my eyes once again.

 I then reach out to the side of me and skim the skin of something rough and harsh. I press on it and I feel little pokes all over the face of my hand. I then remove it and feel the residue of the hide grip my hand. I then knead my head together and feel then fall off one by one. I then go back to the harsh feeling and remove a piece of the shell into my hands. Parts of it fall apart but the heart stays strong against the brute force of my hand. As I drop the freshly made carcass I open my eyes and eye the brown stiff barrel that looks to be shedding. The words trunk and bark fall into my head.

I then move backwards and take in the matter in front of me. Tree effortlessly traces into my head. The bottom is dull and protected, like it hides the answer to life within it. But the top ranges in colors that fly freely through the wind. It looks vulnerable and weak but still strong in a way. After analyzing the full object I decide that I prefer the top of it and admire the open attitude that radiates off of it. However I do admirer the bottom also because with out that strong essence, everything would fall apart.

  

Author's Note: I just finished the book "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time". For this piece I am writing from the point of view of Christopher. Christopher understands things differently from the way that we understand things. I wanted to try to capture the way that he thinks and tie it to this story. In this piece I am working on transitions.

I woke up today on my left side, which meant that it will be a good day today. Whenever I wake up on my back it will be a bad day. My father told me that I don't have to decide on what type of day it will be right away, but I like having things planned out so there are no surprises. I don't like surprises.

I started my daily routine in the bathroom to get ready. I then went to my bedroom to finish up. Afterwards I went down the steps while counting each one. As I reached 12 my left foot found the ground of the bottom floor. I walked into the kitchen and prepared for my breakfast. Today was March 5, an odd number day,  so I'll eat a banana and eggs. On even number days I eat bacon and toast. I peeled my banana and sat down. My father then came down the stairs in a clumsy manor. We both exchanged greetings and then silence took over. I like silence. It lets me think without other people confusing me. If there are too many people talking I close my eyes and sit down. Mother taught me how to do this when I was four. It helps me relax and concentrate on one thing. 

Today is a weekend so I have no school. I like school because I like learning new things. My teacher is trying to get me to talk more about what I learn, but I don't understand why. I like keeping my ideas and thoughts to myself because other people have different thoughts and I don't agree with them. I think that my thoughts are more accurate because I put more thought into certain subjects unlike other people.

Today I am home alone because father has to go to work. I watch TV from 9:00am-1:00pm. I stay on animal planet the whole time because I like to learn new things about animals. Yesterday I learned that male seahorses have babies instead of females.

Father came through the door at 5:00pm. He brought home pizza hut. He took out a piece for me and set it on my plate. I looked at the sausage and picked off every piece. My father watches me and laughs to him self. I do not understand why this is funny. I refuse to eat things that are grey. It is a dirty color and I don't want to eat dirt.

After my two slices of pizza, without sausage, I headed upstairs for bed. Every night I go to bed at 6:00pm so I won't be tired in the morning.  I started my routine in the bathroom again and ended it in my bedroom, but before I got in bed I fed my pet fish. I had two tiny goldfish. Father says that its amazing that they are still alive, but I know that's its because I keep track what they eat, when they eat, and how much they eat. I said goodnight to both of them and climbed into the left side of the bed and closed my eyes.