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Abiotic Factors
Ecosystems contain many factors that systematically determine the downfall, rise, and stability of an ecosystem. In an ocean ecosystem, abiotic factors that may affect it include but are not limited to:sunlight, temperature, moisture, wind or water currents, soil type, and nutrient availability. These abiotic factors are crucial to the survival of many of the biotic factors inhibiting the ecosystem. They may control the increase or decrease of a certain species population. -
Burning Of Fossil Fuels
Humans have been known to burn fossils, each individual leaving behind their own footprint. This carbon footprint is what contributes to the rising temperatures in the atmosphere. The burning of fossil fuels includes driving cars, building factories, etc...The rise is caused by the fossil fuels emitting air pollutants that are harmful to both the environment and public health into the air. -
Increase CO2
The fossils fuels emit multiple gases, one being carbon dioxide. With lots of emissions comes lots more CO2. Most carbon dioxide gets trapped inside the earth's atmosphere due to the greenhouse effect. Meaning, more gas is being kept in the atmosphere than gas slipping through into space. -
Dissolved Carbon Dioxide decreased pH of the ocean causing acidification
The increase in air temperature directly correlated with an increase of CO2 levels in the ocean. The ocean absorbs excess heat from the atmosphere. The top few meters of the ocean stores as much heat as Earth's entire atmosphere. So, as the planet warms, it's the ocean that gets most of the extra energy. The more carbon the lower the pH levels become. Meaning, the ocean is becoming more acidic, hence the term ocean acidification. -
Ocean acidification damaged corals and other calcifiers weakening their shells, preventing their growth, and causing them to die.
Due to the increased ocean acidity, corals populations are becoming more at risk. The carbon weakens their shells, making them more susceptible to being prey. As the predators continue to feed on them more easily, the coral population starts to deteriorate. As this process continues, the corals will continuously decline, which in turn will disrupt the balance of nature. -
Summary
The timeline shows how one factor can affect something in such a way of a chain reaction. So, when one thing is affected, it will go on to affect another and so on. Just like coral, coyotes may be steered off from their natural habitat due to other factors. A limiting factor may be causing them to come into our city. They seek the resources they need to survive, resources that their ecosystem may no longer be able to provide them with.
