Objectives
This section will help you to:
A sign points out the growth of the invasive plant Bush Honeysuckle, seen in the background, at Randor Lake State Park in Nashville, Tennessee. The same plant impacts parks in Indiana. (C. Thomas)
- define ecosystem, succession, and invasive species;
- identify basic types of ecosystems;
- define biodiversity and recognize how humans in general have increased or decreased biodiversity;
- explain how energy and matter flow through an ecosystem;
- relate the description of an ecosystem to a system (from Chapter 1);
- recognize the components and processes of the carbon cycle, phosphorus cycle, and nitrogen cycle;
- describe how ecosystems change (succession), specifically in Indiana and Indianapolis;
- describe how ecosystems can become imbalanced or damaged;
- summarize how the Center for Earth and Environmental Science is improving ecosystems;
- discuss the geopolitical issues surrounding ecosystem management (from readings and online content); and,
- describe invasive species, identify examples of invasive species and describe how invasive species can damage ecosystems.
If you would like a guide to help you to achieve these learning objectives for this module, please click here for an “Objective Guide.”