Relationships Between Ecosystems and Populations

​An ecosystem change may lead to a decrease in populations as food and resources become scarce. The impacts may begin as plant and insect species start to die, and this impact will then travel through the food web, affecting many other populations.

Domino Affect In Nature

Human and Natural Changes

Volcanic Eruptions
Flood
Creation of a Dam
Creation of Farmland
Forest Fires

Mount St. Helen (edio vid)

​In 1980, the eruption of Mount St. Helens in Washington State devastated the environment around the volcano. Decades later, the environment is recovering.

Certain species are critical to the overall health of an ecosystem. These populations are called "keystone species."

Healthy Population = Healthy Ecosystem

Keystone Species

An ecosystem has limited resources to support a particular number of organisms as shown in the chart below. What will happen if the number of organisms in the ecosystem becomes 7000?

Numbers - GASP