Ecosystems Basics

Ecosystems

Definition

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

Components

• Biotic factors: living components, such as plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms.
• Abiotic factors: non-living components, such as light, temperature, water, soil, and air.

Types of Ecosystems

• Terrestrial ecosystems: forests, grasslands, deserts, and tundras.
• Freshwater ecosystems: rivers, lakes, and wetlands.
• Marine ecosystems: coral reefs, estuaries, and open ocean.

Energy Flow

• Producers: organisms that convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis (e.g., plants).
• Consumers: organisms that obtain energy by consuming other organisms (e.g., animals).
• Decomposers: organisms that break down organic matter (e.g., bacteria, fungi).

Cell Biology

Cell Structure

• Plasma membrane: a semi-permeable membrane that separates the cell from its environment.
• Cytoplasm: a jelly-like substance inside the cell membrane, containing organelles and solutes.
• Nucleus: the control center of the cell, containing DNA.
• Organelles: specialized structures within the cell, such as mitochondria, ribosomes, and lysosomes.

Cell Functions

• Metabolism: the process of converting energy and nutrients into cellular components.
• Protein synthesis: the process of creating proteins from amino acids.
• Cell division: the process of a cell dividing into two daughter cells.

Cell Transport

• Passive transport: movement of molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration (e.g., diffusion, osmosis).
• Active transport: movement of molecules from an area of low concentration to an area of high concentration, requiring energy.

Ecosystems

• Ecosystems consist of living and non-living components interacting with each other in a specific environment.

Components

• Biotic factors include plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms.
• Abiotic factors include light, temperature, water, soil, and air.

Types of Ecosystems

• Terrestrial ecosystems include forests, grasslands, deserts, and tundras.
• Freshwater ecosystems include rivers, lakes, and wetlands.
• Marine ecosystems include coral reefs, estuaries, and open ocean.

Energy Flow

• Producers convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis, such as plants.
• Consumers obtain energy by consuming other organisms, such as animals.
• Decomposers break down organic matter, such as bacteria and fungi.

Cell Biology

Cell Structure

• The plasma membrane is a semi-permeable membrane that separates the cell from its environment.
• Cytoplasm is a jelly-like substance inside the cell membrane, containing organelles and solutes.
• The nucleus is the control center of the cell, containing DNA.
• Organelles are specialized structures within the cell, such as mitochondria, ribosomes, and lysosomes.

Cell Functions

• Metabolism involves converting energy and nutrients into cellular components.
• Protein synthesis involves creating proteins from amino acids.
• Cell division involves the process of a cell dividing into two daughter cells.

Cell Transport

• Passive transport involves the movement of molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration, such as diffusion and osmosis.
• Active transport involves the movement of molecules from an area of low concentration to an area of high concentration, requiring energy.