Ecosystems and Trophic Structure Quiz

Ecosystems

• An ecosystem is a community of living and non-living components that interact with each other in a specific environment.

Trophic Structure

• The trophic structure of an ecosystem refers to the feeding relationships between organisms in an ecosystem.
• Organisms are divided into different trophic levels based on their position in the food chain.
• Producers (autotrophs) form the base of the trophic structure, followed by primary consumers (herbivores), secondary consumers (carnivores), and tertiary consumers (apex predators).

Trophic Levels

• Producers (autotrophs) convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis.
• Primary consumers (herbivores) feed on producers.
• Secondary consumers (carnivores) feed on primary consumers.
• Tertiary consumers (apex predators) feed on secondary consumers.

Food Chains

• There are not more links in most food chains because energy is lost as it is transferred between trophic levels.
• This energy loss limits the number of trophic levels in an ecosystem.

Energy Source

• The ultimate source of energy in most ecosystems is sunlight.

Productivity

• Productivity refers to the rate of biomass production in an ecosystem.
• Limits to productivity include factors such as light, temperature, water, and nutrients.
• Terrestrial ecosystems with high productivity include tropical rainforests and coral reefs.
• Aquatic ecosystems with high productivity include phytoplankton and estuaries.
• Terrestrial ecosystems with low productivity include deserts and tundras.
• Aquatic ecosystems with low productivity include deep-sea vents and arctic lakes.

Energy Loss

• Energy is lost as it is transferred between trophic levels due to metabolic processes and heat loss.

Biogeochemical Cycles

• Biogeochemical cycles refer to the movement of nutrients and elements through ecosystems.
• The carbon cycle involves the exchange of carbon between the atmosphere, oceans, and land.
• The nitrogen cycle involves the conversion of nitrogen between its various forms, including nitrogen fixation, ammonification, and denitrification.

Human Impact

• Humans impact ecosystems by altering biogeochemical cycles through activities such as deforestation, fertilizer use, and burning fossil fuels.

Earth's Heating

• The earth is heated by the sun through radiation and conduction.

Air Circulation

• The basic patterns of air circulation include convection, wind patterns, and ocean currents.
• These patterns function due to differences in temperature and pressure between regions.

Local Climate Patterns

• Local effects on basic climate patterns include altitude, latitude, and proximity to large bodies of water.
• These factors influence the distribution of heat and precipitation around the globe.

Biomes

• Biomes can be identified based on their physical characteristics, including temperature, precipitation, and vegetation.
• Examples of biomes include deserts, grasslands, tropical rainforests, and tundras.

Liebig's Law

• Liebig's Law of the Minimum states that the growth of an organism is limited by the scarcest essential resource.
• This law applies to ecosystems, where the availability of certain resources can limit productivity and growth.