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Questions and Answers
What is a characteristic feature of deciduous forests regarding seasons?
What is a characteristic feature of deciduous forests regarding seasons?
Which organisms are primarily involved in the decomposition process in deciduous forests?
Which organisms are primarily involved in the decomposition process in deciduous forests?
Which of the following challenges is unique to urban landscapes in plant communities?
Which of the following challenges is unique to urban landscapes in plant communities?
How do aquatic biomes differ from each other primarily?
How do aquatic biomes differ from each other primarily?
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Which nutrient sources are significant for coral reefs?
Which nutrient sources are significant for coral reefs?
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What is the primary source of high primary production in coral reefs?
What is the primary source of high primary production in coral reefs?
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Which types of organisms are primarily considered consumers in coral reefs?
Which types of organisms are primarily considered consumers in coral reefs?
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What characterizes rivers and streams in comparison to lakes and ponds?
What characterizes rivers and streams in comparison to lakes and ponds?
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In freshwater streams, which organisms are important producers?
In freshwater streams, which organisms are important producers?
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What is one way the carbon cycle overlaps between aquatic and terrestrial environments in rivers and streams?
What is one way the carbon cycle overlaps between aquatic and terrestrial environments in rivers and streams?
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What is the main role of primary producers in an ecosystem?
What is the main role of primary producers in an ecosystem?
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Which of the following correctly states the significance of the carbon cycle in ecosystems?
Which of the following correctly states the significance of the carbon cycle in ecosystems?
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What happens to carbon dioxide (CO2) during plant respiration and decomposition?
What happens to carbon dioxide (CO2) during plant respiration and decomposition?
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Why does energy not cycle through an ecosystem?
Why does energy not cycle through an ecosystem?
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What primarily limits the amount of biomass at higher trophic levels in a food web?
What primarily limits the amount of biomass at higher trophic levels in a food web?
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Which of the following are considered primary consumers?
Which of the following are considered primary consumers?
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Which characteristics are typically seen in carnivorous animals?
Which characteristics are typically seen in carnivorous animals?
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What factor contributes to the adaptations seen in plants across different climates?
What factor contributes to the adaptations seen in plants across different climates?
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Study Notes
Element Cycling
- Element cycling moves and transforms abiotic and biotic elements
- Includes inputs, outputs, and internal cycling in an ecosystem
- Obeys the first law of thermodynamics: matter cannot be created or destroyed
Carbon Cycle
- Interconnected network of biological and physical processes
- Organisms move carbon between themselves and their surroundings
- Demonstrates functioning and persistence of ecosystems over time
Primary Producers
- Base of the food web
- Provide organic carbon to other organisms
- Examples: Cyanobacteria, eukaryotic algae, plants
Primary Consumers
- Consume primary producers
- Examples: Herbivores, grazers
- Consumed by secondary consumers or carnivores/scavengers
Decomposers/Detritivores
- Break down remains of other organisms into basic compounds
- Examples: Fungi, earthworms
Energy Flow
- Energy does not cycle through an ecosystem
- New energy must be continuously harvested
- A trophic pyramid (energy pyramid) forms because energy transfer is not 100% efficient
- Energy is lost through heat and work
- Biomass decreases from one trophic level to the next
Plants and Adaptations
- Plants have independently evolved adaptations (e.g., leaf shape, color changes) to adapt to climates
- Plants provide physical structure to each terrestrial biome
Aquatic Biomes
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Tropical Reefs:
- Reflect climate, nutrient and oxygen availability, and sunlight penetration depth
- Depth often exposes benthos
- Marine biome
-
Freshwater Streams:
- Water chemistries vary with terrain and nutrient levels
- Moving water, often well-oxygenated
- River/stream ecosystems overlap with terrestrial environments
- Both aquatic biomes have various producers and consumers
- Nutrient levels in reefs can be low, but primary production is high and tied to producers
Terrestrial Biomes
-
Temperate Deciduous Forests:
- Moderate climate, hardwood deciduous trees, four distinct seasons
- Nutrient-rich soils from annual leaf fall
- High biodiversity (birds, small mammals)
Urban Landscapes
- Full of life despite human impact
- Major primary producers: vascular plants
- Major primary consumers: mammals, birds, and insects
Biogeochemical Cycles
- Coral reefs receive nutrients from freshwater, rain runoff, and open ocean
- Coral reefs are a hotspot of life (high diversity and density)
Trophic Levels/Food Chains/Consumer Groups
- Consumers include corals, anemones, fish, crustaceans, bivalves, gastropods, worms, echinoderms, and various visiting vertebrates.
- Animals (terrestrial and aquatic) eat each other, take prey from streams, and animals' waste and remains can enter water.
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Description
Explore the fundamental concepts of element cycling, the carbon cycle, and the roles of primary producers and consumers in ecosystems. This quiz delves into how energy flows and how matter is recycled within various biological and physical processes. Test your understanding of these essential ecological principles!