1. Our Understanding of Ecosystems
Science 10

2. To Think About
How do sustainable ecosystems benefit all organisms on the Earth?
Why is it important to understand that ecosystems are connected?
Why is it important to reduce threats to biodiversity?

3. Ecosystem Services
The benefits sustainable ecosystems provide that are experienced by living organisms, including human beings

4. Forests Influences climate Acts as a sink for carbon dioxide
Reduces erosion in watersheds
Provides habitat

5. Watershed
An area of land over which the run-off drains into a body of water
Run-off increases by percent in clear cut areas
This means less rainwater/melted snow is retained and more erosion happens
Loss of nitrogen/other nutrients from soil

6. Wetlands Stores water and reduces risk of flooding
Habitat for many different species, some of which we eat
Protected environment for young creatures to grow
Rest stop for migrating birds
Plants that grow filter pollution and sediment

7. Insects
Majority of plants rely on animals to move pollen from one flower to another
Common pollinators are bees, beetles, other insects
Pollen also transferred by wind, birds, bats, mammals

8. Cross-Pollination
Male pollen from one flower fertilizes the female ovary of another flower of the same species
Significantly increases productivity of flower
Credited for providing about 1/3 of our food supply

9. Self-Pollination
A process in which a flower can pollinate itself or another flower on the same plant without outside aid

10. Colony Collapse Disorder
Recent phenomenon in which bees are mysteriously disappearing
Hive keepers are finding only frail bees and the queen left in hives after winter, or no bees at all

11. Colony Collapse Disorder
Several theories exist:
Pesticides may affect the ability of bees to find their way back to their hives
Parasites: Varra destructor mite attaches itself to the bee and feeds off the bee’s fluids
Honeybee trachael mite suffocates the bees
Transportation of colonies over long distances

12. Beauty and Spirituality
Indigenous Peoples have strong spiritual ties to the ecosystems they occupy
The Group of Seven were inspired by the north
Artistic expression of ecosystems