(P.australis) and Wild Tamarisk (Tamarix usneoides) increasing and posing a negative effect on safsaf willow, Kaapse wilger or Cape Willow (Salix mucronata). Similarities between Terrestrial and Aquatic eco systems In both terrestrial and aquatic environments the ecosystems include communities made up of a • diversity of species, within both terrestrial and aquatic communities there are populations at the different trophic levels of • the ecosystem, There is a great deal of reciprocal interdependence that exists between species in both the ecosystems • of the terrestrial and aquatic environments, In terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems that are without interruption, equilibrium is attained, i.e. • exceptionally few major changes are noticed over a period of time, In both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems stratification also known as vertical zonation takes place. • Differences between Terrestrial and Aquatic systems The fact that aquatic ecosystem environments are very rich in nutrients makes it possible for them to • support more live than the corresponding terrestrial ecosystems environment. The minute wandering photosynthetic organisms of the oceans, known collectively as phytoplankton are taken to be the main photosynthesizers, or primary producers, of the earth, In aquatic ecosystem environments their tendency to remain stable are much more stable than the • corresponding terrestrial environments, due to the fact that it is only affected by smaller fluctuations in temperature and other variables than terrestrial environment, aquatic organisms are hardly ever open to the elements of desiccation whereas the terrestrial • organisms are over and over again exposed to desiccation and are normally comparatively resistant to drying out, oxygen due to their less availability is every now and then a limiting factor an aquatic habitats but • this is hardly ever the case in terrestrial habitats, light can be a limiting factor in a few aquatic habitats and ecosystems, but in the majority of • terrestrial ecosystem environments, there is hardly ever a limiting factor of light,
(P.australis) and Wild Tamarisk (Tamarix usneoides) increasing and posing a negative effect on safsaf willow, Kaapse wilger or Cape Willow (Salix mucronata). Similarities between Terrestrial and Aquatic eco systems • In both terrestrial and aquatic environments the ecosystems include communities made up of a diversity of species, • within both terrestrial and aquatic communities there are populations at the different trophic levels of the ecosystem, • There is a great deal of reciprocal interdependence that exists between species in both the ecosystems of the terrestrial and aquatic environments, • In terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems that are without interruption, equilibrium is attained, i.e. exceptionally few major changes are noticed over a period of time, • In both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems stratification also known as vertical zonation takes place. Differences between Terrestrial and Aquatic systems • The fact that aquatic ecosystem environments are very rich in nutrients makes it possible for them to support more live than the corresponding terrestrial ecosystems environment. The minute wandering photosynthetic organisms of the oceans, known collectively as phytoplankton are taken to be the main photosynthesizers, or primary producers, of the earth, • In aquatic ecosystem environments their tendency to remain stable are much more stable than the corresponding terrestrial environments, due to the fact that it is only affected by smaller fluctuations in temperature and other variables than terrestrial environment, • aquatic organisms are hardly ever open to the elements of desiccation whereas the terrestrial organisms are over and over again exposed to desiccation and are normally comparatively resistant to drying out, • oxygen due to their less availability is every now and then a limiting factor an aquatic habitats but this is hardly ever the case in terrestrial habitats, • light can be a limiting factor in a few aquatic habitats and ecosystems, but in the majority of terrestrial ecosystem environments, there is hardly ever a limiting factor of light,
introduction_to_ecology_b.docx