Ecosystem Concept Annalise Martinez SCI/256 April 15, 2013 Elizabeth Stevens

Ecosystem Components Paper An Ecosystem is “an ecological community and its local, non-biological community. An ecosystem is the minimum system that includes and sustains life. It must include at least an autotroph, a decomposer, a liquid medium, a source and sink of energy, and all the chemical elements required by the autotroph and the decomposer” (Botkin & Keller, 2011, chapter 1.1). Texas has many ecosystems throughout the state from the panhandle to the Gulf Coast. Living along the Gulf Coast an ecosystem close to my community would be Galveston Bay. Galveston Bay as an Ecosystem Galveston Bay is a semi-enclosed body of water where fresh water from rivers and bayous mixes with salt water from the Gulf of Mexico and this is known as an estuary. According to "Galveston Bay Estuary Program" (2003-2004),” Estuaries are one of the planet's most productive and important ecosystems. Estuaries like Galveston Bay are "nature's nurseries." The bay nurtures juvenile shrimp, oysters, crabs, and fin fish. Without a well-functioning estuary, there would be little local seafood in restaurants, recreational and commercial fishing would decline dramatically” (why are estuaries important). Human Effects on Watershed According to Sage and Gallaway (2002), “man often dramatically influences the bay, either by influencing the natural pattern of bay inputs, or by disrupting its habitats. Changes in inputs include discharging pollutants into the bay or altering the natural patterns