Ecosystem Dynamics

Ecosystem Overview

• Ecosystems consist of living organisms and nonliving things.
• Nonliving elements include water, soil, air, temperature, minerals, and light (sun).

Interactions in Ecosystems

• Living organisms, such as plants, utilize nonliving components for photosynthesis to create food.
• Energy flows through ecosystems: from plants to animals, between animals, and returns to soil upon the death of organisms.
• The sun is the primary source of energy in ecosystems.

Energy Flow and Food Chain

• Example of energy transfer:
  • Plants absorb sunlight to make food.
  • Primary consumers (herbivores) like mice or rabbits eat plants.
  • Secondary consumers (carnivores) such as snakes eat these primary consumers.
  • Tertiary consumers, including hawks and eagles, eat other animals, including snakes.
• When a hawk dies, its energy is returned to the soil.

Types of Living Organisms

• Living organisms are categorized based on feeding methods:
  • Producers:
    • Plants that manufacture their own food using sunlight (photosynthesis).
    • Produce glucose which is energy-rich.
  • Consumers:
    • Organisms that eat plants and/or other animals for energy.
    • Classified into three types: primary (herbivores), secondary, and tertiary consumers.
  • Decomposers:
    • Tiny organisms like fungi and bacteria that break down dead matter into nutrients.
    • Decomposition enriches soil fertility by returning small nutrient-rich particles to the soil.

Nutrient Cycle in Ecosystems

• Decomposed matter increases soil fertility, facilitating growth for new plants.
• Nutrients from decomposed organisms benefit the soil, enhancing its viability for future plant life.

Additional Notes

• Activities requiring high energy include exercise and hard work, while those needing low energy include sleeping and resting.
• Plants are unique as they are the only living organisms capable of producing their own food (manufacturing).

This quiz explores the interactions between living organisms and nonliving components within an ecosystem. It covers essential elements such as water, soil, and sunlight, and how they contribute to processes like photosynthesis. Test your knowledge on how these interactions maintain ecological balance.