Concept of the Ecosystem - MBBS II
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Questions and Answers

What are the four major components of Earth's life-support system?

  • Hydrosphere, Stratosphere, Troposphere, Mantle
  • Atmosphere, Exosphere, Lithosphere, Cryosphere
  • Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Thermosphere, Lithosphere
  • Biosphere, Atmosphere, Geosphere, Hydrosphere (correct)

    • Which layer of the atmosphere contains the ozone layer?

  • Stratosphere (correct)
  • Mesosphere
  • Troposphere
  • Exosphere

    • What is the primary feature of the Troposphere?

  • It contains all of Earth's weather systems.
  • It is the lowest atmospheric layer. (correct)
  • It includes the ozone layer.
  • It is the highest layer of the atmosphere.

    • Who proposed the concept of an ecosystem?

    <p>A.G. Tansley (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes an ecosystem?

    <p>A community of living organisms interacting with their non-living environment. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which component is NOT part of the geosphere?

    <p>Water (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the term 'lithosphere' refer to?

    <p>The crust and upper mantle of the Earth. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these layers of the atmosphere is the highest above Earth’s surface?

    <p>Thermosphere (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the two main components of an ecosystem?

    <p>Biotic and Abiotic Components (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which organisms produce their own food from inorganic compounds?

    <p>Autotrophs (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What effect does the limiting factor principle have on populations in an ecosystem?

    <p>Too much or too little of any abiotic factor can restrict growth. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is considered a biotic factor in an ecosystem?

    <p>Microorganisms (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is meant by the 'dynamic' nature of ecosystems?

    <p>They undergo changes and development over time. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the context of energy flow in ecosystems, which role do producers primarily serve?

    <p>They convert solar energy into chemical energy. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is an example of a secondary consumer?

    <p>Fox (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

    <p>They enhance nutrient cycling by breaking down organic matter. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key characteristic of an ecosystem?

    <p>It consists of both biotic and abiotic components. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which process is NOT involved in sustaining an ecosystem?

    <p>Predation within species (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is an example of a natural ecosystem?

    <p>Forest (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What defines a man-made ecosystem?

    <p>Ecosystems that result from human influence and control. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How is energy typically introduced into an ecosystem?

    <p>Primarily from the sun. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does a trophic level represent?

    <p>All organisms at the same feeding steps from the energy source. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of ecosystem includes lakes and rivers?

    <p>Aquatic ecosystem (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement about biotic and abiotic relationships is true?

    <p>Biotic and abiotic components are interconnected through nutrient cycles. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What primarily determines the type of habitat or living conditions for human populations?

    <p>Water and temperature (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is considered an abiotic component of the environment?

    <p>Soil (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the biological environment primarily consist of?

    <p>Plants and animals (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do socioeconomic and political factors relate to health?

    <p>They can influence morbidity patterns. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role do vectors such as mosquitoes and ticks play in the biological environment?

    <p>They are agents of infection. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which environment factor includes psychosocial influences on health?

    <p>Social component (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Earth's physical environment can be divided into which states of matter?

    <p>Solid, liquid, and gas (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a part of the biological environment?

    <p>Radiation (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role do quaternary consumers play in a food chain?

    <p>They prey on tertiary consumers and have no natural predators. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a category of abiotic components?

    <p>Biotic factors (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do abiotic factors influence the organisms in an ecosystem?

    <p>They determine the types of organisms that can survive in a particular area. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What essential process is sunlight primarily involved in for living organisms?

    <p>Photosynthesis (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main consequence of temperature extremes on living organisms?

    <p>They determine the type of organisms that can survive in that area. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following substances plays a critical role in cellular respiration?

    <p>Oxygen (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do saprotrophs primarily contribute to an ecosystem?

    <p>They recycle nutrients by decomposing organic matter. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What determines productivity in an ecosystem?

    <p>The rate of biomass production. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary role of decomposers in the energy flow process?

    <p>To break down dead organic material (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes nutrient cycling in an ecosystem?

    <p>Nutrients are recycled in various forms for reuse (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does energy flow through different trophic levels in an ecosystem?

    <p>Energy decreases as it moves through trophic levels (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to most of the energy as it moves through an ecosystem?

    <p>It is lost as heat (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of the hydrologic cycle in an ecosystem?

    <p>It is responsible for the movement of water (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What initiates the carbon cycle within an ecosystem?

    <p>The fixation of atmospheric CO2 through photosynthesis (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characterizes the dynamic nature of ecosystems?

    <p>Changes in one part affect other parts (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following correctly describes the role of abiotic components in ecosystems?

    <p>They assist in the synthesis of organic components (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Course Information

    • University: Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto
    • College: College of Health Sciences
    • Faculty: Faculty of Clinical Sciences
    • Department: Department of Community Health
    • Programme: MBBS
    • Level: UG II
    • Session: 2023/2024
    • Topic: Concept of the Ecosystem
    • Lecturer: Prof. A.U Ka'oje

    Outline

    • Introduction/definition of terms
    • Ecosystem and its fundamental characteristics
    • Important ecological concepts
    • Food chain, ecological pyramid, food web

    Lecture Expectations

    • Basic understanding of the ecosystem
    • Knowledge of different forms of ecosystems
    • Ability to describe food chains

    Introduction

    • System: regularly interacting and interdependent components forming a unified whole
    • Ecology: the study of how organisms interact with each other and their environment of matter and energy
    • Ecological niche: the combination of function and habitat for each species (approximately 1.5 million animal species and 0.5 million plant species on Earth)

    Ecologists Study Connections in Nature

    • Levels of organization:
      • Population
      • Genetic diversity
      • Community
      • Ecosystem
      • Biosphere

    Biosphere

    • Parts of Earth's air, water, and soil where life exists

    Ecosystem

    • A community of different species interacting with each other and their nonliving environment

    Community

    • Populations of different species living in a particular place and potentially interacting with each other

    Population

    • A group of individuals of the same species living in a particular place

    Organism

    • An individual living being

    Cell

    • The fundamental structural and functional unit of life

    Molecule

    • Chemical combination of two or more atoms

    Atom

    • Smallest unit of an element exhibiting chemical properties

    Earth's Life-Support System

    • Four major components:
      • Atmosphere
      • Troposphere: lowest atmospheric layer; 4-11 miles high (depending on latitude)
      • Stratosphere: ozone layer
      • Hydrosphere
      • Geosphere
      • Biosphere

    General Structure of Earth

    • Biosphere (living organisms)
    • Atmosphere (air)
    • Crust (soil and rock)
    • Hydrosphere (water)
    • Lithosphere (crust, mantle, core)

    What is an Ecosystem?

    • A community of living organisms (plants, animals, microbes) interacting with their nonliving environment

    Life on Earth

    • Sustained through interactions of many organisms functioning together through physical and chemical environments
    • Humans are integral to ecosystems
    • Ecosystems sustain life, consist of species and a fluid medium (air, water)
    • Ecosystems cycle chemical elements and flow energy
    • Biotic and abiotic parts are linked by nutrient cycles and energy flow

    Ecosystem Components (Biotic and Abiotic)

    • Living parts (biotic): plants, animals, microbes
    • Non-living parts (abiotic): water, soil, air, light, temperature

    Ecosystem Structure

    • Ecosystems consist of biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components.
    • The biotic and abiotic components are interrelated in an ecosystem
    • It is an open system where energy and components can flow throughout the boundaries

    Biotic Components

    • Autotrophs: produce their own food (e.g., plants)
    • Heterotrophs: consume other organisms for food (e.g., herbivores, carnivores, decomposers)

    Abiotic Components

    • Physical, chemical factors, conditions (e.g., soil, climate, water, temperature)
    • Inorganic substances like carbon, nitrogen, etc
    • Organic compounds like proteins and carbohydrates

    Functional Components/Units of Ecosystems

    • Productivity: rate of biomass production
    • Energy flow: sequential process of energy transfer between trophic levels (producers -> consumers -> decomposers)
    • Decomposition: breakdown of dead organic material; major site = topsoil
    • Nutrient cycling: consumption and recycling of nutrients in various forms

    Functions of Ecosystem

    • Regulates ecological processes, supports life systems, and ensures stability
    • Cycles nutrients between biotic & abiotic components
    • Balances trophic levels
    • Cycles minerals
    • Abiotic components support organic compound synthesis; energy exchange

    Ecosystem Dynamics

    • Ecosystems are always in motion/dynamic
    • Changes in one part of the ecosystem often cause changes elsewhere.
    • Several important cycles affected by human activity include: hydrologic cycle, carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle, phosphorous cycle, and energy flow.

    Energy Flow in an Ecosystem

    • Energy flows through ecosystems in food chains and webs.
    • Amount of chemical energy decreases at each succeeding feeding level
    • Energy transfers are in part degraded as heat (second law of thermodynamics)

    Important Ecological Concepts

    • Food chain: linkage of who feeds whom. The sun is the ultimate energy source for plants, followed by energy transfer to consumers. Energy & nutrients travel along the food chain through various organisms. Decomposition plays a key role, breaking down matter to elements that support the cycle.
    • Examples: grass - grasshopper - mouse - snake - eagle.
    • Food web: a network of interconnected food chains

    Trophic Levels

    • Trophic level is the organism's position in the food chain or web
    • Producers (autotrophs) form the base
    • Consumers (herbivores, carnivores) are divided into levels based on their trophic level in the food web.
    • Decomposers break down dead organisms

    Ecological Pyramid

    • Graphical representation of the number, energy, and biomass of trophic levels in an ecosystem.
    • Most ecosystems have huge numbers of tiny organisms at the base (e.g., plankton). Top levels in the pyramid have relatively few, large individuals.

    Food Web

    • A network of interlinked food chains.
    • Plants lay the foundation of all food chains.
    • In a marine environment, phytoplankton is the primary producer

    Environment

    • Derived from French word "environia" meaning to surround
    • Sum total of living and nonliving conditions surrounding something at a given time and space
    • Abiotic factors (physical): air, water, soil
    • Biotic factors (living): plants, animals, microorganisms

    Components of Environment

    • Physical environment (abiotic): air, water, temperature, light, noise, etc. key factors influencing living beings
    • Divided into atmosphere (gas), hydrosphere (liquid), and lithosphere (solid).
    • Biological environment (biotic): plants, animals, microorganisms. Impacted by factors like disease, food availability

    Social Component

    • Complex of psychosocial factors influencing individual & community health
    • As important as physical & biological components to health, morbidity & disease, (e.g. comparing rural & urban health, developing vs developed countries)
    • Socioeconomic & political factors are crucial determinants for health

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    Concept of the Ecosystem 2023/2024 PDF

    Description

    Dive into the essentials of ecosystem theory with this quiz designed for MBBS II students. Explore fundamental characteristics of ecosystems, important ecological concepts, and the intricacies of food chains, ecological pyramids, and food webs. This assessment will enhance your basic understanding of ecological interactions and niches.

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