1.

DEFINITION of an ecosystem

It is well known that the origin of the term “ecosystem” is derived from the ancient Greek

and Latin languages, where the word “Eco” means house, which means that all the parts

are present together in a space. In contrast, the term “system” means that these parts

interact and affect each other. , an ecosystem expresses a biological community that

includes a group of biological, physical, and chemical factors in a specific location. That

constitutes its non-living environment; Such as a pond, a forest, or a grassland.

2. DESCRIPTION of the ecosystem

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Empty+Quarter

Now let's jump to a specific region in Saudi Arabia I picked to describe called Empty

Quarter as it is shown on the above graph enclosed by a closed red line:

the Empty Quarter desert in Saudi Arabia, where I spent a tranquil period with my father,

away from the city's noise, to describe it to you briefly.

This region is located in the south of Saudi Arabia. This region is considered one of the

largest deserts in the world. Its climate is arid, scorching in summer, and very cold in
winter, especially at night. Its plants are almost rare, and it belongs to the spiny family;

its animals are rare, and the rainfall in it does not exceed 10 cm per year. Some Bedouin

tribes are still Live in the outskirts of the Empty Quarter.

“Spanning the southern third of the Arabian Peninsula, the Rub’ al-Khali

is the world’s largest contiguous sand desert. It is also one of the driest

places on Earth”[ CITATION Kat18 \l 1033 ]

3. Describe and explain aspects of the ecosystem and how they

Relate to one another.

“A food web consists of all the food chains in a single ecosystem. Each living thing

in an ecosystem is part of multiple food chains. Each food chain is one possible

path that energy and nutrients may take as they move through the ecosystem. All

of the interconnected and overlapping food chains in an ecosystem make up a

food web.”[ CITATION Kim12 \l 1033 ]

a- Species that are a part of the ecosystem

There are not so much of animals in that desert and here I mention some

1- Hawk

2- Kit fox

3- Camel

4- Sand gazelle:

5- Honey badger
6- Jackal

7- Hyena

8- Snakes

9- Lizards

10- Scorpions

11- Tarantulas

12- Rats

13- Insects

14- Thorn acacias

15- Ocotillo

16- Creosote bushes…

17- Soil bacteria

 https://fac.ksu.edu.sa/sites/default/files/bot442_desert_ecology

b- Food web and relationships to plants

A group of living organisms lives in this region to interact with its environment in

multiple ways. It is essential to realize that every factor in the ecosystem depends on

another factor directly or indirectly. For example, any temperature change will affect the

plants that will grow in that area; either the animals that rely on these plants adapt to the

change, move to another ecosystem, or die.

Let's describe the above graph to see the interrelation between these species and its food

let's see what will happen if one of the above species, as shown on the above chart,

disappear let's take as an example the disappearance of the primary producers the
extinction of plants which is shown on the bottom of the chart in this case rats and lizards

would not find their nutrition so they will die which cause the death of snakes which her

food depend on rats and lizard afterward the disappearance and the migration of kit fox

and the hawk to another echo-system so the final image for that echo-system will be

terrible and empty of life

c- Adaptations

https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/z/camel-desert-10805557.jpg https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.VTYgoTh-QY-

Desert animals have a remarkable ability to adapt to high temperatures, and

this is because their bodies have an increased ability to thermo regulate; for

example, the kidneys of desert animals absorb more water to increase body

hydration. The fat cells of desert animals such as camels store water. Desert

mammals have short, hard fur, which is excellent for skin ventilation. Desert

animals have feet adapted to dunes and high temperatures; for example,
 camels have fleshy footpads, and desert reptiles have scaly toes. The camel,

the most famous desert animal, has long eyelashes that cover its eyes, and it

can close its nose to the wind so that dust does not enter its body. Desert

herbivores feed at night on water-rich plants, such as the Oryx. Many living

creatures live in the desert environment, and these creatures have many

characteristics that help them adapt to the desert environment.

B. Climate

Seasons

There are three seasons in the Empty Quarter.

The first semester is summer and runs from mid-April to the end of October.
The second season, which is winter, and extends from the end of October until
the end of mid-March
The third term, which is spring, extends from mid-March to mid-April

Weather patterns.

The Empty Quarter follows the pattern of the desert climate. The Empty Quarter

prevails in a continental climate, very hot in summer, extending for more than

six months, and very cold in winter, especially during the night. As for spring, it is

very short and does not last more than a month, and there is no autumn season

there—the weather in the Empty Quarter, whether harsh cold or harsh heat.

Temperature range and variation

This year, the summer in it was terrible, as the temperature sometimes reached

a boiling point of 70 degrees Celsius. In comparison, the maximum temperatures

in summer ranged from 40 to 50 degrees Celsius, while the lowest temperatures

in winter reached 12 degrees below zero.

Rainfall

The percentage of rain in the desert environment is the least amount of rain

compared to the rest of the vital habitats in Saudi Arabia, where the average

precipitation does not exceed 150 mm annually.

Wind

The desert nature makes the Empty Quarter in Saudi Arabia one of the world's

most giant dust storms and air plankton sources. Most of its days witness

sandstorms, so we sometimes see a change in the locations of some dunes.

The winds in the region are northerly, heading from the northeast to the

southwest direction and the southwest monsoons.

The wind speed sometimes reaches its maximum in winter, where the rate

reaches 80 km/h.

Humidity

The vast distance of the Empty Quarter, which sometimes reaches hundreds of

kilometers from any source of marine water, river, or lake, makes it a dry area

with no moisture at all in its atmosphere.

The humidity sometimes reaches its maximum during rainfall season, where the

rate reaches 2 percent.

Extreme events:

In a place where you can only see the wind and the dunes, everything was calm. I

drank a cup of Nescafe in my father's office, where he works supervising a project

linking Saudi Arabia to the Sultanate of Oman and passes through the desert of

the Empty Quarter. One of the employees came in and asked us to go out and see.

Then we were in front of a red cloud. It seemed to be coming towards us from the

north. The wind started to get stronger, and the cloud was approaching, and the

sky was getting dark. My father asked all the employees to go into their offices

until the storm ended. My father and I went outside after an hour and a half from

the office. Still, the surprise was that I did not see my father's car parked in the

parking lot far About thirty meters away from the office, and it seemed to me that

a dune had covered the place and covered most of the company's cars. It took four

hours to restore the situation to normal after the civil defense men accomplished

the task. That happened three years ago, and I still keep exciting pictures during

the storm and sand pictures. That completely covered my dad's car

C. Plants (flora)

Species that are a part of the ecosystem

Due to the challenging climatic conditions in the Empty Quarter, the spread of

plants is limited and limited to certain types; there are sandy plants and rare trees

on the border areas, and thirty-seven species of plants have been counted there.

Only ten species were of importance as vegetation in the area.

https://s.yimg.com/fz/api/res/1.2

Calligonum crinitum,

2-the endemic saltbush 

3- Cornulaca arabica 

4- Haloxylon persicum.

5-Cyperus conglomeratus,

6- Dipterygium glaucum,
http://www.jpb-imagine.com/uaeflor/ruwayyah/limeum/limeum.html

7- Limeum arabicum,

8- Zygophyllum mandavillei 

Adaptations:

The most critical ways that plants use to adapt in the desert are as follows.

It takes its water needs by extending its roots into the ground.

They prevent water in their leaves from evaporating by forming a layer of wax on

top of those leaves.

Leaves protect themselves as much as possible by rolling their papers on

themselves.

And it exposes its ends only to the sun.

It works to store enough water in its leaves, such as prickly pear and Aloe Vera.

D. Geological Features

Soil/substrate types
One of the distinct geological features of the Empty Quarter is the sabkha
scattered in the north, northeast and east of the Empty Quarter, which was a part
submerged in the waters of the Gulf during the fourth time (Pleistocene), which
consisted of salt, gypsum and evaporates.
And along the desert, there are many traces of calcium carbonate, gypsum, marl,
and clay, and traces of shallow lakes were found thousands of years ago.

Terrain (mountains, plains, valleys, etc.)

It has dunes that rise about 300 meters and are constantly moving, making the

place have no fixed features, and there are also salt flats in some areas, such as the

"Umm Samim" area on the eastern edge of the desert.

Continental orientation

The Empty Quarter is the expansive desert in the southeastern interior of the

Arabian Peninsula,
Rock structures

One of the distinct geological features of the Empty Quarter is the sabkha
scattered in the north, northeast and east of the Empty Quarter, which was a part
submerged in the waters of the Gulf during the fourth time (Pleistocene), which
consisted of salt, gypsum and evaporates.

Hemispheric orientation
https://mapcarta.com/Empty_Quarter

The Empty Quarter is bounded on the north by the Arabian Sea, on the south by

the Arabian Peninsula, on the east by the Persian Gulf, and west by the Arabian

Sea.

The latitude of Empty- Quarter is 24.774265, and the longitude

is 46.738586. 
 E. Other
Indicate how humans have are positively and/or negatively
affecting the ecosystem.
Like the rest of the sandy deserts, the Empty Quarter is characterized by a harsh
natural environment devoid of human settlement activity. But this has not
prevented human presence from time to time, given that it is brimming with a vast
wealth of oil, natural gas, radioactive minerals, glass sand, and solar energy.
The Empty Quarter has become a profitable destination for companies that
explore oil and the many minerals found in the desert. Their presence in that
virgin area has caused many wild plants to be destroyed and many animals to flee.
What made matters worse was that the Saudi state built a long road that cut the
desert into eastern and western halves, which caused catastrophic accidents and
the death of many desert animals when crossing that road. This project had
negative repercussions on the ecosystem of that desert, especially on wild animals
and the extinction of some plants.

Part B – Lab Activity 3

pros cons
Improve the economy Increasing the problem of air’s pollution

Causing depression to people who love the

nature.
Increase the terrorism movement to this region Destroying part of the ecosystem

Connecting two countries Saudi & Oman with Causing disturbance and depression for the

each other main resident of that region as it split their

community
Open new jobs opportunities Cost huge amount of money
2- Compromises or alternatives

https://www.dreamstime.com/concrete-bridge-crossing-pond-public-park-concrete-bridge-crossing-

pond-public-park

It seems that it is not impossible, although the process requires re-studying again and

considering possible alternatives that satisfy all parties. From my point of view, it is

possible to build an upper bridge over that lake and establish its bases on its edges. Thus,

we have preserved the pond, a source of entertainment and enjoyment for the people

Region.

3- Decisions involving the environment are difficult

 https://wallpapercave.com/pond-wallpaper

It is not easy to answer this question, but let me imagine my reaction if someone wanted

to destroy my back garden under the pretext of building a road. So now, if it comes to

two groups, one of which supports the idea of building a road, and the other opposes it? It

will create a charged atmosphere between these two groups and will escalate the crisis.

Environmental matters at the global level are the most complex and considered the most

dangerous, not only to our health but perhaps their consequences would be worse in the

future.

It is an issue that concerns the essence of our lives and the future of our generations.

Have we thought about them, and what do we will inherit them? A healthy environment

is beneficial to us and our ages, and opposition groups that believe differently think only

of themselves and their situational interests.

When the discussion reaches the issue of the environment, and the voice becomes louder.

The unity of the debate becomes more audible, the mind must have a role in it, and the

conflict should not be a power struggle, but rather it must be under the slogan “The world

is for us all,” and take a more comprehensive look at the issue.

The decision in this matter is difficult, but we must consider the interest of our society

and not individual interest.

I am inclined to say that an environment without lakes, trees, and ponds would be a

disaster for its inhabitants and challenging to restore as it was.

Part C– Lab Activity 4

1- Compare the data in the three areas. How did the house finch

populations change?

The three colored lines, red, blue, and green, shown on the graph, represent three

stages of infection movement rate

The first red line, in 1994, the house finch population shows a significant decrease

after the infection rate touched 20 percent.

The blue line started in 1995; the house finch population begins to stabilize, with

a slight minimal decrease rate.

 the last green line begins with 1996; the case is different than other previous

years after the infection rate reached 20 percent, in contrast showing a growth

rate of population, the house finch population begins to grow,

2- Why did the house finch abundance stabilize in 1995 and 1996?

Two main factors make the house finch abundance stabilize in 1995 and 1996

 The population growth rate, which means the number of house finch birth equal to

the house finch death

 Emigration in the period between 1995 and 1996 there was maybe several house

finch who left their community to another location approximately equal to the

number of birth

3- Explain whether or not the parasite Mycoplasma galisepthicum is

effective in limiting the size of house finch populations

The parasites are biotic factors considered a density-dependent factor that depends on

population density. So the increase in disease outbreaks of disease mainly occurs when a

population density is large, so when the population of house finch is high, the spread of

parasites becomes more aggressively between house finch and causes a limit in its

individuals.
References
Hansen, K. (2018). Rain Soaks the Empty Quarter. Retrieved from Spanning the southern third of
the Arabian Peninsula, the Rub’ al-Khali is the world’s largest contiguous sand desert. It
is also one of the driest places on Earth

Rutledge, K. (2012, Nov. 7). Food Web. Retrieved from National Geographic:
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/food-web/