Bahamian Pine Forests

Location

Pine Forests

Specific Organism:

Bahama Woodstar

Pine Forest Characteristics:

Pine forests can only be found in the northern islands of the Bahamas (Grand Bahama, Abaco, Andros, and New Providence.)

By: Chloe Tuinman

Pine forests contain various plants such as hardwood trees and shrubs, palms, grasses, etc. The most common animals that pine trees host are ants, bees, iguanas;lizards, bahamian boa, etc.

Ecosystem Definition

Small species of hummingbird about 3 to 4 inches in length.

Abilities: Hummingbirds are the smallest type of bird with some of the biggest brains. They not only fly forward, left and right, backward and upside down.

Diet: They eat nectar in flowers and insects. - Male wood stars have violet feathers on their head and throat.

Habitat: You can find them in gardens, scrub, forest edges, clearings, and pine forests.

A community of organisms that interact to

sustain their environment.

Biotic and Abiotic Factors

Biotic Factors: A biotic factor is a living organism that cooperates with abiotic factors to sustain the environment.

Plants:

Producers - All plants - (All plants are consumers, because they produce their own food!)

Animals:

Producers - Bees, Wasps, etc. - They are producers, because they help plant life thrive.

Consumers - Raccoon, Wild Boar, Bahamian Boa, Lizards, etc. - They are consumers, because they eat most of the organisms in that ecosystem.

Decomposers - Woodpeckers, Hummingbirds, Bahama Parrots, etc.

Abiotic Factors:

Soil - Helps the plants grow and thrive, also home for certain insects.

Sunlight - Also helps plants grow.

Water - Homes for certain marine animals, helps plants survive, helps animals drink.

Biotic and Abiotic Interactions

Keystone Species

Food Web

Biotic:

1. Insects need trees for habitats to survive. - This is an important interaction, because without some insects, plants wouldn't be able to survive.

2. Hummingbirds and bees need flowers nectar to eat. - This is an important interaction, because without these animals, plants wouldn't be able to survive also.

Abiotic:

1. Fish need water to survive and raccoons need the water to drink. - This is an important interaction, because it helps fish and raccoons survive.

2. Worms need soil for vegetation to live. - This is an important interaction, because without worms, most air and water wouldn't be able to get to the plants.

Definition - A keystone species is a "dominant" or important organism in that ecosystem. If something happens to its species, the whole ecosystem will fall apart due to its importance.

In my ecosystem, a keystone species can be bees, because they interact with plants to help them survive throughout the ecosystem.

A food web is a cycle of food chains in different ecosystems.

(I couldn't find a bahamian pine food web so I used this one.)

In my food web, the sun helps plants grow which the primary and secondary consumers eat. The primary consumers both get eaten by the secondary (humans) and tertiary consumers.

Fun Facts:

What Makes It Special To Me and Others

Negative Human Impacts:

1. Pine nuts have been consumed by humans since ancient Greek and Roman times.

2. Pine trees provide a habitat and food source for wildlife and purify the air.

3. Pine timber is used in construction, furniture, paneling and flooring. Pines also are used for the manufacture of turpentine, rosin, pulp and paper.

4. Different types of pine trees are used for various christmas trees.

5. The oldest known species of pine tree lived until the age of 4,800 years.

• Pollution
• Deforestation
• Climate Change
• Species Extinction

What makes my ecosystem special to me is how interesting it is to study and find out how important it really is. The Abaco field trip made me more interested in it and how special it is.

It is important to other people, because it is known as an important part of Bahamian history.

How we Can Make

a Positive Impact:

• Host more clean - ups
• Enforce more government protection to pine forests
• Recycle
• Use renewable energy

Bibliography #1:

Bibliography #2:

Websites:

1. John Thompson. (2008). Pine Forest. Retrieved From:

https://bnt.bs/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/pineforest-1.pdf

2. N.A. (2017). Pine Forest of the Bahamas. Retrived From:

http://thebahamianphotographer.com/life-in-the-bahamas/pine-forest-of-the-bahamas/

3. N.A. (2016). Bahama Woodstar. Retrieved From:

https://bnt.bs/birds/bahama-woodstar/

4. Mark Biskeborn. (2011). 10 Ways To Improve The Environment. Retrieved From: https://patch.com/california/encino/10-ways-to-improve-the-environment

5. N.A. (2017). Pine Facts. Retrieved From: http://www.softschools.com/facts/plants/pinefacts/538/