Riparian Zones Biodiversity Bufferzones Habitat
what does it all mean? Edge Effect ...
Eco Systems Corridors
Environmental Gobbledegook
All too often scientists and environmentalists will use unfamiliar or complicated words to explain the most simplest of things. This can leave us confused as to what is exactly being explained. When seeking advice from an environmentalist, here are some of the terms they will use.
Biodiversity
Biodiversity (biological diversity) refers to the variety of species and ecosystems in an area along with their ecological processes. There are three components of biodiversity:
• Ecosystem diversity • Species diversity • Genetic diversity
Ecosystem
The ecosystem refers to the interactions between elements such as flora, fauna and micro organisms and their environment (soil and water) all working together as a functional unit. Ecosystems can vary in size from very small to as large as the earth!
Habitat
A habitat is the necessary biological component that all living organisms need to survive and prosper. A habitat is the place where a particular species resides and/or grows. A successful habitat will contain the four fundamental elements: space, food, water and
Edge Effects
The edge effect refers to the contrasting environments occurring in an ecosystem. It is the boundary between habitats that may have different microclimate conditions. For example, the edge of a wood will receive more sunlight (and therefore higher temperatures) than areas in the middle of a wood that are more shaded. This leads to different specialised biota occurring on the edge than in the centre. The edge of a habitat is also an important site for many animals to feed.
Riparian Zones
Riparian zones include the shorelines of lakes and ponds, stream corridors and wetlands. Natural vegetation here is a functional component of ecosystem enhancement. The riparian zone is the area of land immediately bordering the waterbody, or the interface between the water and land. The plants growing on the waterbody margin are referred to as riparian vegetation. This vegetation can be anything from grassland to woodland or even non-vegetative areas. Riparian zones have numerous functions including:
EXPLORED!
shelter. When all these four components are available it ensures a healthy and diverse wildlife population.
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