You will create a systems diagram of an ecosystem of your choice accompanied by a written narrative
describing the system in detail. To go about this assignment:
a. select an ecological system… agricultural fields… wetlands.. local parks… your favorite area to hike… family
farm/ranch… any ecological system you can visit.. take pictures on your visit.
b. make a list of detailed list biotic and abiotic components in that system.
c. make a list of interactions among those biotic and abiotic components
d. make a list of controls of the interactions between the biotic and abiotic components
e. draw a diagram of the system… components connected by interactions and controls. (see examples below)
f. write a narrative explaining the systems diagram… including a section on what might happen in the system if
there were a disturbance such as fire or invasive species.
It is critical that you include many of the concepts conveyed in the first 4 weeks of this course… use the correct
terminology. Matter of fact, I highly recommend you go through each week and note how all the concepts relate
to your selected ecosystem.