Ecosystem Ecology

Ecosystems are also studied by ecologists. An ecosystem is the sum total of all living and nonliving components that organisms interact with. A good example of an ecosystem is the Serengeti. We have already talked about some of the animals that cheetahs interact with. Click here to see an example of food web that includes cheetahs. NOTE that this food web only represents a very small portion of the thousands of organisms found on the Serengeti.

Ecologists who study ecosystems are interested in many different areas of study. Which of the following questions do you think is most important in understanding the future of cheetahs? Why?

• What is the trophic structure of a cheetah's environs such as the Serengeti?
• What do the Laws of Thermodynamics have to do with cheetahs?
• What is the impact of human activities on species distribution and biodiversity?
• What are the impacts of humans on the primary production of ecosystems?
• What biogeochemical cycles are important for ecosystem function?
• What plant defense strategies are necessary for preservation of the cheetah food chain?