41. Exemplary Ecosystem Initiatives - Natural Environment - FHWA ecosystems are interconnected communities of living things and the physical environment within which they interact. Preserving and enhancing ecosystems is http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/ecosystems/

Environment FHWA HEP Environment Natural Doing the Right Thing: Improving Transportation and Enhancing Ecosystems Exemplary Ecosystem Initiatives Flint River Ravines conservation area (Georgia DOT) It's about connections . It's about the future Ecosystems are interconnected communities of living things and the physical environment within which they interact. Preserving and enhancing ecosystems is critical to protecting our diverse biological resources and sustaining our communities and economies that rely on their products. The ecosystem approach looks at the present and beyond . It envisions future conditions under which ecological, economic, and social factors are integrated. In 2002 the FHWA identified ecosystem conservation as one of three performance objectives under the agency's "vital few" goal of Environmental Streamlining and Stewardship . As a hallmark demonstration of its commitment to this goal, FHWA agreed to identify a minimum of 30 exemplary ecosystem initiatives in at least 20 States or Federal Lands Highway divisions by September 2007. The agency also developed specific criteria for selecting the initiatives.

42. Ecosystems I. Ecosystem = a community of organisms interacting within a particular physical environment. Stated another way, an ecosystem is a community plus its http://arnica.csustan.edu/boty1050/Ecology/ecosystems.htm

Home Botany 1050 Introduction to Botany Spring 2007 ECOSYSTEM ECOLOGY I. Ecosystem = a community of organisms interacting within a particular physical environment. Stated another way, an ecosystem is a community plus its abiotic factors, e.g. soil, rain, temperatures, etc. A. Virtually all energy on earth comes from the sun, via photoautotrophs (primarily plants), and it is ultimately distributed throughout ecosystems. B. The autotrophs within the ecosystem are the primary producers , all other organisms are consumers 1. Consumers which eat plants are called herbivores 2. Consumers which eat animals are called carnivores 3. Organisms such as humans, which eat both plants and animals, are called omnivores Decomposers, which includes fungi and bacteria, obtain their energy by breaking down the remains or products of organisms Detritivores are decomposers which eat detritus - organic wastes and dead organisms II. Structure of ecosystems A. Ecosystems are arranged by trophic (feeding) levels between various producers, the autotrophs, and consumers, the heterotrophs: First trophic level - contains the autotrophs which build energy containing molecules a. They also absorb nitrogen, phosphorous, sulfur and other molecules necessary for life

43. Ecosystems ecosystems. Eco Home; ; About Eco; ; EcoWay; ; Programs LEARN MORE Learn More. Copyright 2006, ecosystems. Read Privacy Polity Terms and conditions. http://www.ecosystems.us/

Eco Home About Eco EcoWay Programs ... Consulting When your value is clear, results will follow: Increased close rates by 25% Increased average deal size by 18% Compression of sales cycle by 30% Reduction in price discounting by 20% Increased qualified leads by 40% Sales Sale Management Marketing Consulting - Prospecting - Account Consultation - Account Closing - Account Development - Define High Value Targets - Analyze Best Practices - Protect Best Customers - Retain Best Customers - Lead Generation - Value Messaging - Customer Retention - Build Brand - Assessments - Create Business Case - Consulting Engagements - Qualify Value Realization LEARN MORE LEARN MORE LEARN MORE LEARN MORE

44. Environmental News Network /topics/ecosystems. Click Here! /topics/ecosystems More in ecosystems. Recovering from a mass extinction. January 18, 2008 1006 AM University of http://www.enn.com/topics/ecosystems

/topics/ecosystems /topics/ecosystems Commentary Senate Squandered Farm Policy Reform Opportunities ENN: Environmental News Network TOP STORIES WILDLIFE ... Ecosystems Sign Up for Free NewsLetter Email Address Turn Your Desktop Green Download EcoWidget Stay updated with the ENN RSS feed PARTNERS Editorial Affiliates Press Members Recommended Sites ENN Professional ... Editorial Affiliate Program ADVERTISE WITH ENN Editorial Calendar Advertising Rates ENN ARCHIVES News Archive ABOUT ENN Letter from the CEO History Editorial Philosophy Staff ... Contact ENN Featured Affiliate Worldwatch Institute View all the featured contributing content by this source /topics/ecosystems Ecosystems Antarctic Ice Loss Dangerously Fast January 24, 2008 09:53 AM - ENN New studies show that the Antarctic ice sheet is melting faster than previously anticipated. If this jump is indicative of a trend due to global warming the entire antarctic ecology could be threatened much sooner than expected. In a first-of-its-kind study, an international team led by Eric Rignot of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., and the University of California, Irvine, estimated changes in Antarctica's ice mass between 1996 and 2006 and mapped patterns of ice loss on a glacier-by-glacier basis. Read Full Article Read More from Sci/tech Topic ADVERTISEMENT /topics/ecosystems Starfish strike at coral kingdom January 16, 2008 09:06 AM -

45. ScienceDaily: Ecosystem News Ecology news. Learn about ecosystems at risk. Read current events articles on fragile ecosystems and what can be done to protect them. http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/earth_climate/ecosystems/

Ecosystem News Thursday, January 24, 2008 Print Email Bookmark Latest News Earth Science Atmosphere Atmosphere Climate Weather Chemistry ... Oceanography Environmental Issues Acid Rain Air Pollution Air Quality Drought ... Sustainability Environmental Science Biodiversity Coral Reefs Desert Ecology ... Wildfires Natural Disasters Earthquakes Landslides Natural Disasters Near-Earth Object Impacts Severe Weather El Nino and La Nina Floods Hurricanes and Cyclones Severe Weather ... Books RSS When Accounting For The Global Nitrogen Budget, Don't Forget Fish full story Big Island Has Most Live Coral Of Main Hawaiian Islands full story ... California Flood Risks Are 'Disaster Waiting To Happen,' Say Engineers Browse News Stories 1 to 10 of 820 stories view headlines only Water Floods Environmental Issues ... Farming Has Significantly Changed The Hydrology And Chemistry Of The Mississippi River January 24, 2008 full story Ecology Ecosystems Sustainability ... 'Nonlinear' Ecosystem Response Points To Environmental Solutions January 22, 2008 full story Extinction Ecology Endangered Animals ... Recovering From A Mass Extinction January 20, 2008 full story Fish Wild Animals Marine Biology ... Drought Length Influences Survival Of Fish In Stream Pools January 18, 2008

46. Community And Ecosystem Dynamics An ecosystem is a higher level of organization the community plus its physical environment. ecosystems include both the biological and physical components http://www.emc.maricopa.edu/faculty/farabee/BIOBK/BioBookcommecosys.html

COMMUNITY AND ECOSYSTEM DYNAMICS Table of Contents Definitions Community Structure Classification of Communities Community Density and Stability ... Back to Top A community is the set of all populations that inhabit a certain area. Communities can have different sizes and boundaries. These are often identified with some difficulty. An ecosystem is a higher level of organization the community plus its physical environment. Ecosystems include both the biological and physical components affecting the community/ecosystem. We can study ecosystems from a structural view of population distribution or from a functional view of energy flow and other processes. Back to Top Ecologists find that within a community many populations are not randomly distributed. This recognition that there was a pattern and process of spatial distribution of species was a major accomplishment of ecology. Two of the most important patterns are open community structure and the relative rarity of species within a community. Do species within a community have similar geographic range and density peaks? If they do, the community is said to be a

47. Science.gov Topic Ecosystems For User Category All Categories Chesapeake Bay Activities Information on USGS studies of Chesapeake Bay, the nations largest estuary, concerned with water quality, ecosystem history and http://www.science.gov/browse/w_131B.htm

Home Alerts Site Map Index ... Communications Science.gov Search Advanced Search Enables you to search 50 million pages in real time Browse topic: (Science.gov home) Ecosystems Narrower topics: Coasts Coral Reefs Deserts Estuaries ... W A AIRD: Aquatic Invasions Research Directory - A free database designed to promote information transfer, coordination, and collaborative research on the invasion of aquatic ecosystems. Access USGS - San Francisco Bay and Delta - Main page for accessing links for information and data on the San Francisco Bay estuary and its watershed with links to highlights, water, biology, wetlands, hazards, digital maps, geologic mapping, winds, bathymetry and overview of the Bay [Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)] Alaska Science Center - Biological Science Office - Homepage for programs of the Biological Science Office at the Alaska Science Center in Anchorage on birds, mammals, ecosystems and habitats, fish and fisheries, and other biological subjects [Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)] B Biological Resources of the USGS - Homepage for the Biological Resources Discipline of the USGS providing links to scientific programs, organization, and special features

48. Chapter 8.  Ecosystems. From Strategic Plan Of The US Climate Change Science Pr ecosystems shape our societies and nations by providing essential renewable resources and other benefits. They sustain human life by providing the goods and http://www.climatescience.gov/Library/stratplan2003/final/ccspstratplan2003-chap

New Library About Events ... Final Report Chapter 8. Ecosystems Search Updated 11 October, 2003 Strategic Plan for the Climate Change Science Program Final Report, July 2003 This chapter also available as PDF file Authors of this Chapter Final Report also is available as single PDF file (8.8 Mb) See also Vision for the Program and Highlights of the Scientific Strategic Plan Authors, Reviewers, and Workshop Participants References Graphics and Photography Source ... [next section] CHAPTER 8. ECOSYSTEMS This chapter's contents... Question 8.1 : What are the most important feedbacks between ecological systems and global change (especially climate), and what are their quantitative relationships? Question 8.2 : What are the potential consequences of global change for ecological systems? Question 8.3 : What are the options for sustaining and improving ecological systems and related goods and services, given projected global changes? National and International Partnerships Ecosystems shape our societies and nations by providing essential renewable resources and other benefits. They sustain human life by providing the goods and services it depends on, including food, fiber, shelter, energy, biodiversity, clean air and water, recycling of elements, and cultural, spiritual, and aesthetic returns. Ecosystems also affect the climate system by exchanging large amounts of energy, momentum, and greenhouse gases with the atmosphere. The goal of the Ecosystems element of the U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) is to understand and be able to project the potential effects of global change on ecosystems, the goods and services ecosystems provide, and ecosystem links to the climate system (see

49. Washington Native Plant Society: Ecosystems Washington Native Plant Society s brief description of ecosystems in Washington State. http://www.wnps.org/ecosystems/eco_system_home.htm

About WNPS Home Annual Report ByLaws ... Policies Activities Conservation Ecosystems Education Landscaping Native Plant Lists Publications ... Photo Gallery Priorities Garry Oak Invasive Species Shrub Steppe Programs Growing Wild Ivy Out WNPS Stewards An Affiliate of Earthshare of Washington Home Ecosystems Ecosystems Alpine Ecosystem The harsh environment of the true alpine zone (about 5,500 feet and above) reduces most vegetation to "dwarf" status. Motane Ecosystem These are the mountain forests of Washington which lie roughly between 1,500 and 3,000 feet. Ponderosa Ecosystem The stately ponderosa pine inhabits the dry vegetation zones east of the Cascade crest. While ponderosa pine may dominate the vegetation, it is accompanied by a diverse array of other plants, depending on the site. Shrubsteppe Ecosystem Dryness characterizes the rainshadow east of the Cascade Mountains. The most obvious plants you see from the highways are the scrubby, shrubby combinations of sagebrush, rabbitbrush and buckwheat interspersed with bright yellow balsamroot, purple lupine, white phlox and bunchgrasses. Grazing Lands Forum 2007 Forum addressed livestock grazing on public lands (much of this land is shrubsteppe) in Washington.

50. Definition Of An Ecosystem An ecosystem is a complex set of relationships among the living resources, habitats, and residents of an area. It includes plants, trees, animals, fish, http://forest.mtu.edu/kidscorner/ecosystems/definition.html

Since ecosystems can be as small as a single tree or as large as entire forest, there are lots and lots of different ecosystems in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. When you want to talk about how a certain natural area functions together, you can call it a biome. A biome is a very specialized ecosystem that only exists in a certain area or climate. They are identified by factors like temperature, rainfall, soil type and altitude. For more information about ecosystems, check out some of the following links: Geography for Kids- http://www.geography4kids.com/files/land_ecosystem.html Exploring the Environment- http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/biomes.html Nation Geographic- Explore the Fantastic Forest- http://www.nationalgeographic.com/features/96/forest/index.html Return to Ecosystems of the Upper Peninsula Scientific Method Northwoods Seasons ... USDA Forest Service

51. SOFIA - South Florida Virtual Tour - Ecosystems This portion of the tour describes different ecosystems found in south Florida. http://sofia.usgs.gov/virtual_tour/ecosystems/index.html

South Florida Information Access - Virtual Tour Lake Okeechobee Jonathan Dickinson SP Blowing Rocks Fern Forest ... 10,000 Islands/Rookery Bay Ecosystems Glossary Photo Gallery About this site SOFIA Home South Florida is home to a variety of ecosystems. Small variations in elevation (in some cases, only inches), water salinity (a measure of salt content), soil type, and fire frequency dictate which landscape community will prevail. Below are descriptions and photographs of some of South Florida's unique ecosystems. We hope that you will see the beauty and significance of these natural areas and will understand the importance of their protection and restoration. A photo gallery is also available for this page. Coral Reefs Dunes Freshwater Marsh Freshwater Swamp ... Scrub Coral Reefs Star and staghorn coral found in the Florida Keys. For more information on this coral, visit The Florida Keys: What is happening to the reef tract and why? Photo courtesy of Eugene Shinn. [ larger image Over 30 different kinds of corals are found in Florida waters. Individual corals are interconnected colonies of soft, fleshy polyps that secrete complex shells made of calcium carbonate. These colonies can form branching corals or massive head corals depending on species. As the colonies compete for space, and as dead colonies are replaced, they grow on top of each other and build what we call a coral reef. Coral reefs provide habitat for thousands of species of plants and animals. Corals that grow in sunlit areas depend on tiny algae called zooxanthellae that live in their soft tissue. The zooxanthellae help provide oxygen and food for the polyps. Corals that live in deep water, where there is no sunlight, do not have zooxanthellae.

52. Ecosystems Ecosystem Components ecosystems consist of various nonliving, biotic, and living biotic components. The biotic components of an ecosystem include various http://www.naschools.net/teachers/ecosystems/ecosystems.htm

Thematic Links Unit North Attleborough Schools Created by Donna Cochrane Ecosystems Land Biomes Aquatic Biomes Succession ... Environmental Careers Ecosystems Ecosystem Components : Ecosystems consist of various non-living, biotic, and living biotic components. The biotic components of an ecosystem include various physical and chemical factors. Ecosystems of Our World : The Biomes (or ecosystems) of the world Back to Top Land Biomes Earth's Major Land Biomes : Major land biomes are listed with information regarding vegetation type, wildlife, and climate. Biomes for the beginner : All land and aquatic biomes are represented in this site. Advanced Study : Biomes are the major regional groupings of plants and animals discernible at a global scale. Their distribution patterns are strongly correlated with regional climate patterns and identified according to the climax vegetation type. Back to Top Aquatic Biomes Aquatic Biomes The largest part of the biosphere (the earth) is made up of aquatic biomes. It was here that life first arose, and here it evolved for almost three billion years, before plants and animals moved onto land. Fresh Water Biomes You'll find a wide variety of animal life in or around fresh water ecosystems.

53. Ecosystems Unit Directory Interactive examination of ecological concepts including natural selection, population balance, exchange cycles, and environmental protection. http://peer.tamu.edu/curriculum_modules/Ecosystems/index.htm

Students learn most from this module if they have first completed the Cells Are Us module and the Organ Systems module. This "Ecosystems" module has four units of instruction. Clicking on the unit titles will take you to the topic. You may go through the units in any sequence, but we suggest first exploring Unit 1, Natural Selection. This "Ecosystems" module has four instructional units. Students will examine key ecological concepts including natural selection, population balance, ecological exchange cycles, and environmental protection. Each module has a "Hazards" link that leads to a menu of study units on various environmental hazards (such as oil spills, farm runoff, insecticides, and so on). Famous Scientists: Click here if you want to review the short biographies of famous scientists mentioned in "Cells Are Us," "Organ Systems," and "Ecosystems." Toxic Hazards: Click here to see an index of common toxic hazards that are explained in the various instructional units.

54. Rhode Island Sea Grant College Program: Sustainable Coastal Communities And Ecos The Sustainable Coastal Communities ecosystems (SUCCESS) Extension Program, located at the University of Rhode Island s Coastal Resources Center, http://seagrant.gso.uri.edu/ecosystems/index.html

Coastal Resources Center , implements ecosystem-based management and governance of coastal ecosystems. The SUCCESS Extension Program uses interdisciplinary approaches to coastal ecosystems science, government, and education. SUCCESS projects include: Helping urban communities manage coastal resources through regional planning Assisting coastal communities with natural disaster preparedness Working with state leaders to develop a plan for protecting statewide marine resources Building the capacity of community leaders to use smart growth planning techniques Working on ecology of marina ecosystems Staff: Jennifer McCann , Extension Leader for Coastal Programs Austin Becker , Cosatal Management Extension Specialist Sue Kennedy , Coastal Management Extension Specialist Kathryn Manning , Scientific Research Grant Assistant Amber Neville , Coastal Program Coordinator Pam Rubinoff , Coastal Management Extension Specialist Greenwich Bay Metro Bay SAMP Northeast Coastal Community Development Sustainable Coastal Communities Toolkit ... staff Rhode Island Sea Grant University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography

55. Conservation & Science: Aquatic Ecosystems - National Zoo| FONZ Several National Zoo scientists are studying species in aquatic ecosystems. Brought to you by the National Zoo FONZ. http://nationalzoo.si.edu/ConservationAndScience/AquaticEcosystems/

Visit Hours Getting to the Zoo Zoo Map ... Bibliography Related Resources Ocean Living ZooGoer : Struggling Against the Current, Wild Salmon in the Pacific Northwest Scientific Publications Our understanding of aquatic ecosystems, especially the marine environment, is poorer than that of most terrestrial systems. Human activity has had a major detrimental impact on these environments. Several National Zoo scientists are studying species in aquatic ecosystems. The focus of these studies involves research on the ecology (behavioral and nutritional), reproduction, health, and husbandry of marine vertebrate species with a particular emphasis on conservation. This work is part of a broader Smithsonian Marine Science Network that has four main research emphases: ecology, systematics, evolutionary biology, and geology.

56. Search By Ecosystem Assessing the Relationship Between Land Use and Coastal Ecosystem Health in Assessments of Ecosystem Condition and Stressor Impacts at NERRs sites http://www8.nos.noaa.gov/nccos/npe/ecosystems.aspx

@import url( css/npdprint.css ); @import url( css/npd.css ); @import url( css/normal.css ); To Skip Navigation NCCOS Home About Project Explorer Advanced Search Location Stressors Ecosystems Select Project by Ecosystem: Coral Reefs National Marine Sanctuaries Estuaries Coastal Oceans All Centers CSCOR CCEHBR CCFHR CCMA NCCOS HQ HML CCMAH CCEHBR-Oxford CCFHR-Kasitsna Projects in FY , returned Records Project Title Lead Scientist Center FY Year Completion Date A synthesis of climate-forced variability on mesoscale structure in the Coastal Gulf of Alaska with direct comparisons to the California Current System Schwing, Franklin CSCOR Acoustic Tracking of Fish Movements in Coral Reef Ecosystems Monaco, Mark CCMA Ongoing Analysis of Sources of Primary Production Supporting Fisheries in Marine Protected Areas and Coastal Ecosystems Currin, Carolyn CCFHR Ongoing Application of Underwater Acoustics and GIS to Estimate Fish Abundance, Spawning Activity, and Marine Mammal Activity within Protected and Sensitive Coastal Areas Kracker, Laura CCEHBR Ongoing ARC: Morphological, Physiological, Genomic, and Proteomic Responses to Environmental Stressors in Small Fish Models

57. People & Ecosystems | World Resources Institute Introductory documents on understanding and conserving biodiversity. http://www.wri.org/ecosystems

@import "/sites/default/files/css/7ee1c0373770a4bf6f2363cd59211bf6.css"; @import "/sites/default/themes/wri_main/print.css"; World Resources Institute WRI's goal is to protect the global climate system from further harm due to emissions of greenhouse gases and help humanity and the natural world adapt to unavoidable climate change. International Action U.S. Action WRI's Governance goal is to guarantee public access to information and decisions regarding natural resources and the environment. Access Initiative (TAI) Electricity Governance (EGI) Access Commitments (PP10) International Financial Flows ... New Ventures WRI's People and Ecosystems goal is to reverse rapid degradation of ecosystems and assure their capacity to provide humans with needed goods and services. Climate Governance Markets People Email Address: About WRI Staff Publications Stories ... A WRI's goal is to reverse rapid degradation of ecosystems and assure their capacity to provide humans with needed goods and services. Stories Overview Staff Projects Stories By Karen Bennett January 17, 2008

58. Ecosystems: Wetland Web Resources For Students The Role of Wetlands in an Ecosystem Wetlands prevent flooding by holding water much like a sponge. By doing so, wetlands help keep river levels normal and http://www.cdli.ca/CITE/ecowetlands.htm

Gander Academy Ecosystems: Wetlands Introduction Classification Purpose and Value Wetlands and Wildlife ... Wetland Regions of Canada Introduction Wetlands: An Introduction "Wetlands" is the collective term for marshes, swamps, bogs, and similar areas. Wetlands are found in flat vegetated areas, in depressions on the landscape, and between water and dry land along the edges of streams, rivers, lakes, and coastlines. What Are Wetlands The term "wetlands" encompasses a wide variety of aquatic habitats. Swamps, marshes, bogs, prairie potholes, flood plains, and fen - these are all names for ecosystems known as wetlands. The Wonder of Wetlands Wetlands are where earth and water meet. They are almost as old as the planet itself, and are home to some of the richest biodiversity on Earth. They are to be found all over the world from the tropics to the frozen plains and are as crucial to the planet 's well-being as any other finely balanced part of nature. Wetlands Wetland, geographic area with characteristics of both dry land and water. Wetlands typically occur in low-lying areas at the edges of lakes, ponds, streams, and rivers, or in coastal areas protected from waves. They are found in a variety of climates on every continent except Antarctica. Wetlands There is clear water up to your ankles and a dragonfly zips past your head as you watch some ducks fly off the water - welcome to the soggy world of the wetland!

59. Freshwater Ecosystems: Revitalizing Educational Programs In Limnology Committee on Inland Aquatic ecosystems. QH104.F72 1996 574.5 2632 071173—dc20 9625348 Cover art by Edith Socolow, Gloucester, Massachusetts. http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=5146&page=R1

60. Grade Six Science - Ecosystems This is the concept of the ecosystem. The whole earth can be seen as one ecosystem, or ecosphere. Alternatively, it can be viewed as a series of linked http://www.sasked.gov.sk.ca/docs/midlsci/gr6ucmsc.html

Science 6 Core Unit: Ecosystems Unit overview Life on earth derives from a complex interdependence among biotic and abiotic components. This is the concept of the ecosystem. The whole earth can be seen as one ecosystem, or ecosphere. Alternatively, it can be viewed as a series of linked subsystems. Species and the spaces they inhabit are equally important. We can not separate and priorize the components because in fact, the components have no meaning apart from the whole. Components such as land, water, and air are not resources as much as they are the source of life. Often, the view that something is worth saving if it has economic or aesthetic value to humans is expressed. An example is "Rainforests should be saved because we haven't explored them completely yet, and there may be many valuable drugs or interesting creatures yet to be discovered." Rainforests should be preserved because they are a part of the system in which life has developed, and we anticipate that removing part of the system will have a negative effect on the whole system. Humans are an important component of the ecosphere but do we have a legitimate claim to primacy in the system? In addition to developing an understanding of what the ecosystem is, students must become directly involved in helping to restore and protect it. Whether it be by cleaning up litter around the school, developing a recycling project, or writing to politicians about environmental issues, action to help improve the environment is essential or nothing, in effect, has been learned. What will drive this action is a love of the land. Love of the land is best developed out on the land. If students can be given opportunities to develop such a love during this unit, the understanding and action will follow.

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