Jammin666
Soil Site
The soil texture of my site is Silt Clay Loam. This soil texture aids in the movement of water and nutrients to plant roots and other organisms in the soil by creating a network between soil particles that can hold a lot of water and nutrients that can be transported between soil particles. Within the area of my soil there is a large field of grass, some flowers, weeds, and trees. There are also earthworms and other insects living within the soil. There are also many microbes that I am unable to see but I am sure they are present. These organisms have a positive impact on the soil texture. Most of these organisms depend on the soil for water and nutrients. Some of the organisms, such as the earthworms, keep the soil texture optimal for holding water and nutrients for the microbes of the soil and the other organisms that depend upon these nutrients and water. Since there is such a large amount of plants that rely upon this soil for nutrients and water, the roots keep the soil intact to avoid erosion. There are not very many abiotic effects that are present to erode the soil. There could be an event of long drought that would kill the plants and rid the soil of a root system that keeps the soil intact. If that occured, erosion would be present on the steep hills of my site leading to the area next to the river where there is a sharp drop to the river. The soil would erode downhill to the eventual plateau of the river where the soil would be carried off. If this soil would be lost, there would be very little vegetation left and therefore a loss in nearly all organsisms that depend upon the plants for food or depend on the organisms that depend on the organisms that depend on the plants for food (predation). If the soil moved to a new area via the river, the soil would pile up on the banks of the river in new areas and cause a growth of plants along the banks of river in many different areas.
As an ecologist, it is important to think about soil texture since this really gives an idea of the amount of microbes present in an ecosystem, and how much vegetation should be present in an area that depends upon the soil texture as a holder of water and nutrients.
Soil Site
The soil texture of my site is Silt Clay Loam. This soil texture aids in the movement of water and nutrients to plant roots and other organisms in the soil by creating a network between soil particles that can hold a lot of water and nutrients that can be transported between soil particles. Within the area of my soil there is a large field of grass, some flowers, weeds, and trees. There are also earthworms and other insects living within the soil. There are also many microbes that I am unable to see but I am sure they are present. These organisms have a positive impact on the soil texture. Most of these organisms depend on the soil for water and nutrients. Some of the organisms, such as the earthworms, keep the soil texture optimal for holding water and nutrients for the microbes of the soil and the other organisms that depend upon these nutrients and water. Since there is such a large amount of plants that rely upon this soil for nutrients and water, the roots keep the soil intact to avoid erosion. There are not very many abiotic effects that are present to erode the soil. There could be an event of long drought that would kill the plants and rid the soil of a root system that keeps the soil intact. If that occured, erosion would be present on the steep hills of my site leading to the area next to the river where there is a sharp drop to the river. The soil would erode downhill to the eventual plateau of the river where the soil would be carried off. If this soil would be lost, there would be very little vegetation left and therefore a loss in nearly all organsisms that depend upon the plants for food or depend on the organisms that depend on the organisms that depend on the plants for food (predation). If the soil moved to a new area via the river, the soil would pile up on the banks of the river in new areas and cause a growth of plants along the banks of river in many different areas.
As an ecologist, it is important to think about soil texture since this really gives an idea of the amount of microbes present in an ecosystem, and how much vegetation should be present in an area that depends upon the soil texture as a holder of water and nutrients.