Ecosystems 101

Study Notes

Components and Relationships in Ecosystems

An ecosystem is formed by a physical environment, living beings, and their relationships.
The biotope and biocenosis are the two fundamental parts of an ecosystem.
The biotope is the physical space and its characteristics, while the biocenosis is the set of living beings.
Abiotic and biotic factors are components of the biotope and biocenosis that condition the life of organisms.
Abiotic factors can be physical, such as temperature and rainfall, or chemical, such as soil composition and pH.
Tolerance limits are the values of parameters that allow survival in an ecosystem.
Biotic factors are living beings and their relationships with the physical environment.
Intraspecific relationships occur between organisms of the same species, such as competition and cooperation.
Interspecific relationships occur between organisms of different species, such as competition, predation, and mutualism.
Living beings present adaptations to both abiotic and biotic factors.
Energy and matter flow through ecosystems in food chains, food webs, and trophic pyramids.
The Sun is the main source of energy, which is transformed into chemical energy by plants and travels through organisms.

Ecosystems and Trophic Levels

There are three trophic levels: producers, consumers, and decomposers
Producers are autotrophic organisms that transform inorganic matter into organic matter using the energy of the sun
Consumers are heterotrophic organisms that feed on other living things
Primary consumers are herbivores that feed on producers or plants, while secondary consumers are carnivores or omnivores that feed on primary consumers
Decomposers are heterotrophic organisms that feed on the remains of living beings, transforming organic matter into inorganic matter
Food chains, food webs, and trophic pyramids are used to represent the trophic relationships in an ecosystem
Biomes are sets of terrestrial ecosystems that share similar climatic conditions and similar biocenoses
Biomes can be classified into cold climate zones, mild climate zones, and warm climate zones
The biodiversity of ecosystems in Spain is very high due to its geographical position, orography, and the existence of archipelagos
The main ecosystems in Spain include the Atlantic or deciduous forest, Mediterranean or sclerophyllous forest, dehesa, Mediterranean scrub, and marine and inland water aquatic ecosystems
The soil is an ecosystem that has a biotope and biocenosis, and is formed when the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere erode rocks
A mature soil contains different horizons such as horizon O that contains humus, horizon A that contains dark-colored humus, horizon B that contains light-colored salts, horizon C that contains bedrock fragments, and horizon R that is the unaltered bedrock

Trophic Levels, Food Chains, Trophic Pyramids, and Types of Ecosystems

There are three trophic levels in ecosystems: producers, consumers, and decomposers.
Producers are autotrophic organisms that transform inorganic into organic matter using the energy of the Sun.
Consumers are heterotrophic organisms that feed on other living things, including primary consumers (herbivores) and secondary consumers (carnivores or omnivores).
Decomposers feed on the remains of living beings, transforming organic matter into inorganic.
Food chains, food webs, and trophic pyramids are used to represent the trophic relationships of an ecosystem.
A food chain is the simplest representation, showing a linear sequence of organisms that eat each other.
A food web shows all possible food relationships between organisms in an ecosystem.
A trophic pyramid represents the trophic levels, with producers at the base, followed by primary consumers, secondary consumers, and so on.
There are three types of trophic pyramids: based on the number of individuals, biomass, or amount of energy in each level.
Biomes are a set of terrestrial ecosystems that share similar climatic conditions and similar biocenoses.
The main ecosystems in Spain include the Atlantic or deciduous forest, Mediterranean or sclerophyllous forest, dehesa, Mediterranean scrub, and marine and inland water aquatic ecosystems.
Inland water aquatic ecosystems include wetlands, lakes and lagoons, and rivers, streams, and springs, and they are normally freshwater.

Description

Test your knowledge on the components and relationships in ecosystems with this quiz! From the biotope and biocenosis to abiotic and biotic factors, explore the fundamental parts of ecosystems and how they condition the life of organisms. Learn about tolerance limits, adaptations, and the flow of energy and matter through food chains, webs, and trophic pyramids. Challenge yourself with questions on intraspecific and interspecific relationships and see how much you know about the intricate workings of ecosystems.