Ecosystems and Their Components
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Questions and Answers

Agricultural systems are solely focused on crop cultivation.

False (B)

Agro Economy Ecosystem includes economic, environmental, and social components involved in agriculture.

True (A)

Decomposers and detritivores are important for recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.

True (A)

Omnivores only eat plants.

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

Energy is consistently distributed at each level of the food chain in a perfect manner.

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

The aquarium ecosystem is primarily used for recreation and decoration.

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

Hydrology ecosystems are examples of artificial ecosystems created for sustainable water recovery.

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

Food chains represent a linear flow of energy and nutrients between organisms.

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

A natural ecosystem does not require the intervention of humans.

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

The grazing food chain starts with detritus feeding organisms.

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

Microconsumers are large consumers such as herbivores and carnivores.

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

Decomposers are organisms that absorb nutrients from the environment without breaking down organic matter.

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

Energy flow in an ecosystem is based on the laws of thermodynamics.

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

Water is vital for all living organisms and plays a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem health.

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

Producers are able to make their own food and are known as heterotrophs.

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

The pyramid of energy only illustrates the amount of sunlight available in an ecosystem.

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

Soil temperature and moisture levels are irrelevant to the health of the ecosystem.

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

The units of energy at each trophic level decrease by a factor of 10.

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

Detritus food chains start with living plants.

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

Air is considered an abiotic component that influences the distribution of organisms in an ecosystem.

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

The nutrient cycle refers to a linear pathway of nutrient absorption without recycling.

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

Ecological pyramids illustrate the distribution of energy among different trophic levels.

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

The pyramid of biomass is a graphical representation of the biomass present at different trophic levels.

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

Temperature has no effect on the metabolic rates of organisms in an ecosystem.

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

In an ecological representation, the pyramid of numbers illustrates the total number of organisms at each trophic level.

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

Nitrogen fixation refers to the process of converting nitrogen gas (N2) into ammonia (NH3) through biological means only.

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

Hyperparasites and producers are both found at the base of the pyramid of numbers.

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

The advantage of the pyramid of numbers includes providing a simple overview of changes in an ecosystem over time.

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

Industrial nitrogen fixation is a natural phenomenon that occurs without human intervention.

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

Evaporation is the process where water vapor turns into liquid water.

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

Producers are responsible for forming the base of the food chain by converting sunlight into organic compounds.

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

Herbivores are placed above producers in the pyramid of numbers.

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

All organisms, regardless of their size, are included in the pyramid of numbers, which can sometimes lead to inverted pyramids.

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

Climate does not affect the water cycle as it operates independently of environmental factors.

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

Juvenile or immature forms of organisms are fully accounted for in the pyramid of numbers.

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

Decomposers play a role in returning nutrients back into soil and water.

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

Topography has no effect on the timing and magnitude of evapotranspiration.

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

Precipitation results from water-laden clouds falling back to the Earth's surface.

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

Human activity has no impact on water flow and quality in the water cycle.

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

Water is essential for all life processes and supports growth and development.

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

Phosphorus is present in the atmosphere as a major component of the phosphorus cycle.

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

Plants absorb phosphorus from the soil and water through their roots.

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

The phosphorus cycle includes geological uplift that moves phosphorus-rich sediments from land to the ocean.

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

Decomposition of microorganisms plays a role in returning phosphorus to its inorganic form.

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

Excess phosphorus in water systems due to human activities can lead to harmful algal blooms.

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

Calcium phosphate is not a common form of phosphorus found in rocks.

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

Animals obtain phosphorus solely by drinking water.

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

Phosphorus is essential for the formation of DNA, RNA, and ATP.

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

Flashcards

Natural Ecosystem

A self-sustaining system where living and non-living things interact naturally without human intervention.

Grazing Food Chain

A food chain where energy flows from plants to herbivores to carnivores.

Detritus Food Chain

A food chain that begins with dead organic matter, like decomposing leaves.

Ecosystem Structure

The organization of both living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components within an ecosystem.

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Producers

Organisms that make their own food through processes like photosynthesis.

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Consumers

Organisms that obtain energy by consuming other organisms.

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Energy Flow in Ecosystem

The movement of energy from one trophic level to another, based on the laws of thermodynamics.

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Ecological Pyramids

Diagrams that show the relationships between organisms at different trophic levels in an ecosystem.

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Decomposers

Microorganisms that break down dead organic matter, returning nutrients back to the environment.

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Importance of Decomposers

Decomposers play a vital role in nutrient cycling, supporting food webs and maintaining ecosystem balance.

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Pyramid of Energy

A graphical representation of energy flow through different trophic levels in an ecosystem, showing a 10% energy transfer efficiency.

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Pyramid of Biomass

A graphical representation of biomass (total living material) at each trophic level in an ecosystem.

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Nutrient Cycling

The continuous movement of nutrients through an ecosystem, involving absorption, transfer, release, and re-absorption.

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What are the 4 Types of Nutrient Cycles?

There are four primary nutrient cycles: carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and water.

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Abiotic Components

Non-living factors within an ecosystem that influence life, such as water, sunlight, soil, temperature, and air.

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Importance of Abiotic Components

Abiotic components create the habitat and influence the distribution, survival, growth, and reproduction of living organisms.

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Food Chain

A series of organisms that eat each other, allowing energy and nutrients to flow from one to the next.

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Trophic Level

The position an organism occupies in a food chain, based on its eating habits.

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Energy Transfer Efficiency

The percentage of energy that transfers from one trophic level to the next.

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Omnivores

Organisms that eat both plants and animals.

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Agro-Economy Ecosystem

A complex system involving all the economic, environmental, and social aspects of agricultural production.

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Livestock Ecosystem

A system designed to raise animals for food, fiber, or other purposes.

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Pyramid of Numbers

A graphical representation that shows the total number of organisms at each trophic level in an ecosystem.

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Inverted Pyramid of Numbers

A pyramid of numbers where the number of organisms at lower trophic levels is smaller than the number of organisms at higher trophic levels.

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Spindle-Shaped Pyramid of Numbers

A pyramid of numbers where the number of organisms decreases as you move up through the trophic levels, but not in a perfectly pyramid-shaped way.

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Nitrogen Fixation

The process of converting atmospheric nitrogen (N2), which is unusable for living organisms, into a usable form, such as ammonia (NH3).

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Atmospheric Nitrogen Fixation

A natural process where energy from lightning breaks down nitrogen in the atmosphere into nitrogen oxides, which can then be used by plants.

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Industrial Nitrogen Fixation

A man-made process that uses ammonia to convert nitrogen into a usable form.

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Biological Nitrogen Fixation

A process where certain bacteria, such as Rhizobium and blue-green algae, convert unusable nitrogen into usable forms.

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Water Cycle

The continuous movement of water from the Earth's surface to the atmosphere and back again through evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection.

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Phosphorus Symbol

The chemical symbol for phosphorus is 'P', and its atomic number is 15.

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Why is Phosphorus Important?

Phosphorus is a key nutrient that living organisms need for energy production, cell structure, and DNA/RNA formation.

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Evaporation

The process where liquid water on the Earth's surface changes into water vapor and rises into the atmosphere.

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What is the Phosphate group?

A phosphate group is a chemical unit containing phosphorus, oxygen, and often a negative charge. It's essential for molecules like DNA, RNA, and ATP.

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Condensation

The process where water vapor in the atmosphere cools and changes back into liquid water, forming clouds.

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Precipitation

Water falling back to Earth from the atmosphere in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail.

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Phosphorus Cycle: Rocks

Weathering breaks down rocks containing phosphate minerals, releasing phosphorus into the soil and water.

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Collection

The process where precipitation gathers in bodies of water like rivers, lakes, and oceans, or soaks into the ground.

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Phosphorus Cycle: Plants

Plants absorb phosphorus from the soil and water through their roots.

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Phosphorus Cycle: Animals

Animals obtain phosphorus by consuming plants or other animals that have consumed plants.

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Phosphorus Cycle: Decomposition

Microorganisms decompose dead organisms, breaking down phosphorus-containing compounds and releasing them back into the soil and water.

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Human Impact: Excess Phosphorus

Human activities, such as using fertilizers and transporting goods, can add excess phosphorus to water systems, leading to harmful algal blooms.

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Study Notes

Ecosystems

  • Ecosystems include all living organisms (biotic factors) and their physical environment (abiotic factors).
  • They provide stable climates, breathable air, and resources like food and materials, as well as protection.
  • Biotic factors include living things like plants, animals, fungi, protists, archaea, and bacteria.
  • Abiotic factors are non-living components such as chemicals, physical conditions, and resources that affect living organisms.
  • Major abiotic factors include temperature, air, water, sunlight, humidity, and soil conditions.
  • Terrestrial ecosystems are land-based communities, such as forests, grasslands, tundra, and deserts.
  • Aquatic ecosystems are water-based communities, including freshwater and marine ecosystems.
  • Freshwater ecosystems are bodies of water with low salt content, such as lakes, ponds, rivers, and wetlands.
  • Marine ecosystems are saltwater environments, such as oceans and seas.

Estuaries, Mangroves, and Wetlands

  • Estuaries are where freshwater mixes with saltwater.
  • They support many marine species and protect coastal areas.
  • Mangroves are coastal forests in tropical and subtropical regions.
  • Mangroves have unique adaptations like prop roots and pneumatophores.
  • They are biodiversity hotspots, absorbing carbon dioxide and supporting various species.
  • Wetlands are covered by water or saturated with water, either seasonally or permanently, and have a variety of forms.

Types of Ecosystems

  • Terrestrial ecosystems include forests, grasslands, tundra, and deserts.
  • Aquatic ecosystems include freshwater and marine ecosystems.
  • Marine ecosystems include coral reefs, which are underwater structures formed by coral skeletons, protecting coastlines.
  • Freshwater ecosystems include ponds, lakes, rivers, and wetlands.

Artificial Ecosystems

  • Artificial ecosystems are man-made ecosystems such as botanical gardens, orchards, aquariums, zoos, and urban areas.
  • They are not self-sustaining and need human intervention.
  • Urban areas are artificial ecosystems combining natural and human elements.

Food Chains and Trophic Levels

  • A food chain depicts the transfer of energy and nutrients between organisms.
  • Trophic levels represent the feeding positions in a food chain.
  • Producers are at the bottom, followed by primary consumers (herbivores), secondary consumers (carnivores), and tertiary consumers (apex predators).
  • Decomposers break down dead matter and recycle nutrients.
  • Grazing food chains begin with producers, while detritus food chains start with dead organic matter.

Nutrient Cycling

  • Nutrient cycles are cyclic pathways where nutrients pass through different components of the environment.
  • Four major cycles are the carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and water cycles.
  • The carbon cycle involves the exchange of carbon between the atmosphere, oceans, land, and living organisms.
  • The nitrogen cycle converts inert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms for living organisms.
  • The phosphorus cycle moves phosphorus through soil, water, plants, and animals.
  • The water cycle involves the movement of water between the Earth's surface and atmosphere.

Ecological Pyramids

  • Ecological pyramids are graphical representations of the relationship between organisms in different trophic levels.
  • These include pyramids of energy, biomass, and numbers.
  • Pyramids of energy illustrate the flow of energy from one trophic level to the next.
  • Pyramid of biomass shows the total biomass present at each level.
  • Pyramid of numbers shows populations in different trophic levels.

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Ecosystem PDF

Description

This quiz explores ecosystems, focusing on biotic and abiotic factors, and their significance. It delves into various terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, including freshwater and marine environments. Test your knowledge of the intricate relationships between living organisms and their physical surroundings.

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