Ecosystem Food Chains

Study Notes

A series of organisms that eat other organisms, with each level being consumed by the next
Energy flows from one level to the next, with some energy being lost as heat
Typically consists of:
- Producers (plants, algae): convert sunlight into energy
- Primary consumers (herbivores): eat producers
- Secondary consumers (carnivores): eat primary consumers
- Tertiary consumers (top predators): eat secondary consumers
- Decomposers (bacteria, fungi): break down dead organisms

The delicate balance between the different components of an ecosystem
Maintained through:
- Predation: regulates population sizes
- Competition: limits resource availability
- Symbiosis: mutually beneficial relationships
- Adaptation: species evolve to fit their environment
Imbalance can lead to:
- Population explosions or crashes
- Extinction
- Disruption of nutrient cycles

Living organisms that make up an ecosystem
Includes:
- Producers (plants, algae)
- Consumers (herbivores, carnivores, omnivores)
- Decomposers (bacteria, fungi)
- Microorganisms (bacteria, viruses)

Terrestrial ecosystems:
- Forests
- Grasslands
- Deserts
- Tundras
Freshwater ecosystems:
- Rivers
- Lakes
- Wetlands
- Ponds
Marine ecosystems:
- Coral reefs
- Estuaries
- Open ocean
- Deep-sea trenches
Artificial ecosystems:
- Agricultural systems
- Urban ecosystems
- Landfills
- Sewage systems

A sequence of organisms that eat other organisms, with each level being consumed by the next, and energy flowing from one level to the next, losing some as heat
Typically consists of producers (plants, algae), primary consumers (herbivores), secondary consumers (carnivores), tertiary consumers (top predators), and decomposers (bacteria, fungi)
Producers convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis
Primary consumers eat producers, secondary consumers eat primary consumers, and tertiary consumers eat secondary consumers
Decomposers break down dead organisms, recycling nutrients

Delicate balance between ecosystem components, maintained through predation, competition, symbiosis, and adaptation
Predation regulates population sizes, competition limits resource availability, symbiosis provides mutual benefits, and adaptation helps species fit their environment
Imbalance leads to population explosions or crashes, extinction, and disruption of nutrient cycles

Living organisms, including producers (plants, algae), consumers (herbivores, carnivores, omnivores), decomposers (bacteria, fungi), and microorganisms (bacteria, viruses)

Non-living factors, including light, temperature, water, soil, air, nutrients, and pH

Terrestrial ecosystems: forests, grasslands, deserts, tundras
Freshwater ecosystems: rivers, lakes, wetlands, ponds
Marine ecosystems: coral reefs, estuaries, open ocean, deep-sea trenches
Artificial ecosystems: agricultural systems, urban ecosystems, landfills, sewage systems