Hi. I live in Wisconsin and I have to describe how productivity (amount of biomass produced), diversity (variety of species), complexity (number of species in trophic levels and number of trophic levels), and resilience (remaining stable) affects my ecosystem. I really have no idea how productive, diverse, complex, or resilient Wisconsin is. Can someone please help?!
Wisconsin has several different ecosystems. Decide which one you want to cover andexplore it in more detail.
Since this is not my area of expertise, I searched Google under the key words "Wisconsin ecosystem" to get these possible sources:
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/habitat/rlandscp/wiscmap.htm
(Broken Link Removed)
http://ncrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/gtr/other/gtr-nc178/wiscmap.htm
http://www2.jsonline.com/alive/news/oct04/267104.asp?format=print
In the future, you can find the information you desire more quickly, if you use appropriate key words to do your own search.
I hope this helps. Thanks for asking.
thanks--i did do that--i always find it helpful to at least try and see if it is anyone's area of expertise
Of course! To understand the productivity, diversity, complexity, and resilience of an ecosystem in Wisconsin, we can look at some key factors and methods to assess these characteristics. Here's how you can go about it:
1. Productivity - The amount of biomass produced in an ecosystem can be measured using primary productivity. This refers to the rate at which plants and other primary producers convert energy from the sun into organic matter through photosynthesis. A higher primary productivity indicates a more productive ecosystem. You can find data on primary productivity in Wisconsin by researching scientific studies, government reports, or consulting with local experts or environmental agencies.
2. Diversity - Ecosystem diversity can be measured by assessing the variety of species present in an ecosystem. One commonly used metric is species richness, which counts the number of different species in a given area. You can gather information on species richness in Wisconsin by referring to field guides, academic research on flora and fauna, biodiversity databases, or reaching out to local conservation organizations or natural resource departments for relevant data.
3. Complexity - The complexity of an ecosystem can be determined by considering its trophic structure. Trophic levels indicate the feeding hierarchy within an ecosystem, starting from primary producers (plants) to primary consumers (herbivores), secondary consumers (carnivores/omnivores), and so on. A larger number of trophic levels and species within these levels suggest a more complex ecosystem. To find information on trophic levels and species diversity within them, you can explore scientific literature, ecological studies, or consult with ecologists or conservation biologists who specialize in Wisconsin ecosystems.
4. Resilience - Resilience refers to an ecosystem's ability to recover from disturbances or maintain stability in the face of environmental changes. Assessing ecosystem resilience may involve studying the impacts of past disturbances, monitoring key ecological indicators, and evaluating management practices. You can gather data by reviewing studies on ecological resilience in Wisconsin, consulting with local conservation agencies, or reaching out to researchers who work on ecosystem resilience in the region.
Remember, scientific studies, government reports, academic databases, and expert resources are valuable sources to acquire data and insights about the productivity, diversity, complexity, and resilience of an ecosystem in Wisconsin. Good luck with your research!