This document summarizes the findings of a field study of a small observation site ecosystem. It identifies the main autotrophs (plants) and heterotrophs (animals) present, including grass, clovers, guava, lemongrass, roses, ants, spiders, centipedes, beetles and cats. It also describes abiotic factors like weather and biotic interactions between species. Daily logs over a two week period record temperatures, precipitation, wind and observed organisms. The roles and origins of the different species are outlined.

1. Alexander Nguyen
Castro

2. 


The observation site consists of many diverse
autotrophs, and also consists of heterotrophs as
well.
Its size is quite small compared to other
ecosystems.
Its main heterotrophs are insects, arachnids,
and arthropods.

3. 
Here are the Autotrophs that I’ve encountered
during the field study:
Poacaea (grass)
 Trifolium (clovers)
 Psidium (guava)
 Cymbopogon (lemongrass)
 Rosa (rose)


4. 
Here are the Heterotrophs that I’ve encountered
during the field study:
Felis Domesticus (cat)
 Chilopoda (centipede)
 Araneae (spider)
 Formicidaea (ant)
 Coleoptera (beetle)


5. THE AUTOTROPHS





Poacaea is indigenous
Trifolium is indigenous
Psidium is invasive
Cymbopogon is invasive
Rosa is indigenous
THE HETEROTROPHS





Felis Domesticus is
invasive
Chilopoda is
indigenous
Araneae is indigenous
Formicidae is
indigenous
Coleoptera is
indigenous

6. 
Abiotic factors:
soil,weather,wind,sunlight,water,rocks,
temperature

Biotic factors:
Grass,clovers,ant,centipede,spider,cat
lemongrass,guava,beetle, and rose

7. 


Poacaea (grass) originated back in the Mesozoic
Era, it is described as a small and common
autotrophic plant, and its niche is to collect carbon
dioxide and water, then it’ll perform
photosynthesis to maintain itself.
Psidium (guava) originated back to Mexico and
Central America, it is described as tropical shrubs
and small trees, and its niche is to photosynthesize
and reproduce its offsprings.
Rosa (rose) originated back to 35 million years ago,
it is a very brightly coloured plant, and its niche is
to photosynthesize and reproduce.

8. 

Cymbopogon (lemongrass) originated in South
and Southeast Asia, it is described as a tall,
perennial grass, and its niche is to
photosynthesize to maintain itself.
Trifolium (clovers) originated in the Northern
Hemisphere, South America, and Africa, it is
described as a small, short-lived plant, and its
niche is to photosynthesize for structure and
energy.

9. 

Formicidae (Ant) originated about 150 million
years ago, they’re described as a tiny insect with a
thin waist, elbowed antenna, and a node-like
structure, its niche is to support the ant colony,
specifically the drones and the queen, supplying
with them resources and protection.
Chilopoda (centipede) originated 430 million years
ago, they’re described as an arthropodic creature
with many segments each containing legs, its niche
is to support itself and to reproduce to make
offsprings.

10. 


Araneae (spider) originated 400 million years ago,
they’re described as arthropods with eight legs,
and its niche is to kill other insects for energy, then
using that for reproduction and support.
Felis Domesticus (cat) originated about 34 million
years ago in Eurasia and Africa, they’re described
as small, carnivorous mammals, and its niche is to
locate food to support itself and reproduce.
Coleoptera (beetle) originated 300 million years
ago, they’re a type of insect with a pair of wings
and a hardened exterior shell, and its niche is to
consume plants to reproduce.

11. Dates
Temperature
Precipitation Wind speed Cloud
(Fahrenheit) (Inches)
(mph)
Cover
November 65 Degrees
16
0.04 inches
3.5 mph
Overcast
November
17
November
18
November
19
November
20
64 Degrees
0.04 inches
4.5 mph
Clear
64 Degrees
0.03 inches
3 mph
Clear
63 Degrees
0.04 inches
7 mph
Clear
64 Degrees
0.05 inches
0 mph
Overcast

12. Dates
November
21
November
22
November
27
November
28
November
29
Temperature
(Fahrenheit)
61 Degrees
Precipitation Wind speed Cloud
(Inches)
(mph)
Cover
0.3 inches
0 mph
Overcast
61 Degrees
0.05 inches
3.6 mph
Overcast
71 Degrees
0 inches
7 mph
Clear
66 Degrees
0 inches
4.5 mph
Overcast
63 Degrees
0.23 inches
0 mph
Overcast

13. Dates
Temperature Precipitation Wind speed Cloud
(Fahrenheit) (Inches)
(mph)
Cover
November
30
71 Degrees
0 inches
1 mph
Clear
December
1
December
2
December
3
73 Degrees
0 inches
4.5 mph
Clear
68 Degrees
0 inches
3.5 mph
Clear
58 Degrees
0 inches
6 mph
Clear

14. 

There were no heterotrophs encountered
on this day, as the heterotrophs were
probably sheltering for heat, as the day
wasn’t warm enough for them.
There was an overcast in the sky, which
reduced the amount of sunlight
concentration for the autotrophs.

15. 

There were no heterotrophs, due to heat
insuffiency, however, the soil was moist
around the ecosystem, due to earlier
precipitation.
The sky was also clear of clouds, so the
autotrophs could receive more sunlight
compared to yesterday.

16. 

There were ants scaling around the wall
in the ecosystem, most likely searching
food for their queen or for themselves.
The clear sky allowed more sunlight for
the autotrophs in the ecosystem.

17. 


I encountered a cat running through the
ecosystem, possibly to search for food.
I have also encountered a spider hiding
under a stone, possibly for shelter or it is
a hotspot to prey for insects.
The wind speed was quite high during
this day.

18. 

The first day of my observation to not
have any sort of wind movement.
I’ve encountered two cats throughout
my ecosystem, one is different, while
the other one is from yesterday.

19. 

Like yesterday, there was no sort of
wind movement.
I’ve encountered another different cat
that is in the vicinity of the ecosystem.

20. 

There was some noticeable wind
movement, breaking the lack of wind
streak.
I’ve encountered a centipede scaling a
wall in the ecosystem, possibly to locate
food or shelter.

21. 


The temperature rose significantly
higher, allowing the heterotrophs to able
to roam more freely.
I’ve encountered another centipede, as
the temperature got warmer, more
organisms start to appear.
I’ve also encountered another cat, sitting
at the ecosystem.

22. 

The wind speed decreased a little bit.
Another cat showed up at the ecosystem,
possibly due to the higher temperatures
of the atmosphere.

23. 

The temperature decreased a bit again,
which will result in less heterotrophs
appearing.
I’ve encountered more ants scaling the
wall again.

24. 


The temperature rose exponentially.
The ecosystem surface was moist,
precipitation probably occurred earlier.
There were ants present again, but not
any other heterotroph.

25. 

The temperature was a bit warmer than
yesterday, and the wind speed also
increased.
I encountered another cat in my
ecosystem.

26. 

The temperature and the wind speed
both decreased compared to yesterday.
There were no heterotrophs present in
the ecosystem.

27. 

The temperature plummeted
significantly, and the wind speed also
increased exponentially.
There were no heterotrophs present at
the ecosystem.

28. Temperature
Precipitation
November 16
65F
0.04 inches
November 17
64F
0.04 inches
November 18
64F
0.03 inches
November 19
63F
0.04 inches
November 20
64F
0.05 inches
November 21
61F
0.3 inches
November 22
61F
.05 inches
November 27
71F
0 inches
November 28
66F
0 inches
November 29
63F
.23 inches
November 30
71F
0 inches
December 1
73F
0 inches
December 2
68F
0 inches
December 3
58F
0 inches

29. 


In 10 years, the global temperature will have
increased slightly, and precipitation might still be
constant compared to the climatogram.
In 50 years, the temperature will increase much
higher, and precipitation will be significantly
different.
In 100 years, the temperature will fluctuate, and
precipitation will be extremely different, and not
similar to the climatogram at all.

30. 


The precipitation supplied the autotrophs with
water, which then they’re able to undergo
photosynthesis and grow.
The temperature affected the heterotrophs, if it were
too cold, a small amount of heterotrophs would be
present.
The precipitation affected the ecosystem by
supplying the soil with water, allowing surface
plants to grow, and the wind blew the plants’ spores
to develop somewhere else.

31. Cat
Guava
Ant
Beetle
Spider
Centipede

32. Cat
Spider
Ant
Guava

33. Cat
Spider
Beetle
Guava

34. Cat
Centipede
Spider
Ant
Guava

35. Cats
Secondary
consumers
Primary
consumers
Spiders &
Centipedes
Ants & Beetles
Producers
Grass,lemongrass,guava,roses, &
clovers

36. 


The sources of pollution include carbon emission
from vehicular automobiles, and excess heat being
released from a duct pipe, connecting to my house.
The impacts of carbon emission are that the
emission will contaminate the air, and the
autotrophs will use contaminated carbon dioxide
for photosynthesis, resulting in mutations.
The impact of the duct pipe is increase of
temperature, where it might kill organisms if
they’re not adapted to that kind of temperature.

37. 


Pollution has increased very much since
human intervention, in forms of littering,
carbon emission, and smoking.
Autotrophs can survive more easily now, as
humans can water their plants, which is
difficult to obtain naturally in an ecosystem
without much precipitation.
The invasive arrival of plants by humans can
help an ecosystem grow, as more energy is
available to the consumers.

38. 



I would prevent littering from the ecosystem at
all times.
I would prohibit the establishment of factories
around the ecosystem, to prevent air pollutants
coming from the factories.
I would prohibit smoking, as nicotine is
harmful to many organisms, and to humans.
I would prohibit the introduction of native
species into the ecosystem, as it might wipe out
the inhabitants of the ecosystem.