Ecosystems: Components and Definition

Questions and Answers

Carnivores and herbivores

Decomposers and parasites

Plants, algae, and some bacteria (correct)

Predators and scavengers

Air

Temperature

Fungi (correct)

Water

Nutrient cycling

Chemical transformation

Water cycling

Energy flow (correct)

Mutualism Signup and view all the answers

Freshwater ecosystems Signup and view all the answers

They release nutrients back into the soil Signup and view all the answers

Ice sheets Signup and view all the answers

Resource competition Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

An ecosystem is a community of living and non-living components that interact with each other in a specific environment.
It includes biotic factors (living organisms) and abiotic factors (non-living components).

Biotic factors:
- Producers (plants, algae, and some bacteria): convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis.
- Consumers (herbivores, carnivores, omnivores): obtain energy by consuming other organisms.
- Decomposers (bacteria, fungi): break down dead organic matter into simple nutrients.
Abiotic factors:
- Light
- Temperature
- Water
- Soil
- Air
- Nutrients (e.g., nitrogen, phosphorus)

Energy flow:
- Energy from sunlight is converted into chemical energy through photosynthesis.
- Energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next through consumption.
Nutrient cycling:
- Nutrients are absorbed by producers from the soil.
- Nutrients are passed from one trophic level to the next through consumption.
- Decomposers release nutrients back into the soil.
Water cycling:
- Water is absorbed by producers from the soil.
- Water is lost through transpiration, evaporation, and runoff.
- Water is cycled back into the ecosystem through precipitation.

Symbiotic relationships:
- Mutualism (e.g., clownfish and sea anemone)
- Commensalism (e.g., remora fish and shark)
- Parasitism (e.g., tapeworm and host)
Predation:
- Predator-prey relationships
Competition:
- Resource competition (e.g., for light, water, nutrients)

Ecosystem comprises living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components interacting in a specific environment.

Biotic Factors:
- Producers (e.g., plants, algae): Utilize photosynthesis to convert sunlight into energy.
- Consumers: Obtain energy by consuming other organisms, categorized as herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores.
- Decomposers (e.g., bacteria, fungi): Break down dead organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.
Abiotic Factors:
- Include essential elements such as light, temperature, water, soil, air, and nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus.

Energy Flow:
- Sunlight energy transforms into chemical energy via photosynthesis, forming the base for food chains.
- Energy is passed through trophic levels from producers to consumers.
Nutrient Cycling:
- Nutrients are absorbed by producers from the soil, facilitating growth.
- Through consumption, nutrients move through various trophic levels and are released back into the soil by decomposers.
Water Cycling:
- Producers extract water from the soil, with processes like transpiration releasing it back into the atmosphere.
- Water is reintroduced to the ecosystem through precipitation, maintaining the water cycle.

Terrestrial Ecosystems:
- Include forests, grasslands, and deserts, each with distinct flora and fauna.
Freshwater Ecosystems:
- Contain rivers, lakes, and wetlands, characterized by varying water levels and biodiversity.
Marine Ecosystems:
- Encompass coral reefs, estuaries, and the open ocean, hosting diverse aquatic life.
Arctic/Antarctic Ecosystems:
- Feature tundra and ice sheets, adapted to extreme cold and unique conditions.

Symbiotic Relationships:
- Mutualism: Both species gain benefits (e.g., clownfish and sea anemone).
- Commensalism: One species benefits without affecting the other (e.g., remora fish on shark).
- Parasitism: One species benefits at the cost of another (e.g., tapeworm in a host).
Predation:
- Reflects predator-prey dynamics, influencing population control and ecological balance.
Competition:
- Species compete for limited resources such as light, water, and nutrients, impacting survival and growth.