Hamilton Harbour - Fundamental Ecosystem Components

Prepared by Ryan Gregory & Jabus Tyerman

The term "ecosystem" was coined by the English plant ecologist A.G. Tansley, who believed that the associations among different organisms and between these organisms and the physical factors of their surroundings represented a "fundamental ecological system".

This ecological system consists of numerous components, both biotic and abiotic. The biotic components consist of the numerous plant, animal (both vertebrate and invertebrate), and other species which inhabit a common area.

The abiotic components of an ecosystem are somewhat more complex. These involve the energy and nutrients which cycle through the ecosystem, as well as the physical characteristics of the particular habitat.

Hamilton Harbour and Cootes Paradise (located in Hamilton, Ontario) represent complex aquatic and marshland habitats which are home to a variety of species.