6 Questions
What are the two main components of an ecosystem?
Biotic components (living organisms such as producers and consumers) and abiotic components (non-living factors such as light, temperature, and water)
Describe the direction of energy flow in an ecosystem.
Energy flows in a one-way direction from sunlight to producers, then to consumers, and finally to other consumers.
What are the four main types of ecosystems?
Terrestrial, freshwater, marine, and other ecosystems
What are provisioning services in an ecosystem?
Provisioning services are the products obtained from ecosystems, such as food, water, timber, and medicine.
What is the difference between primary and secondary succession?
Primary succession occurs in newly formed habitats, while secondary succession occurs in habitats that have been disturbed.
What is an example of a human-induced disturbance in an ecosystem?
Deforestation is an example of a human-induced disturbance in an ecosystem.
Study Notes
Ecosystems
Definition and Components
- An ecosystem is a community of living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components interacting with each other in a specific environment.
- Biotic components:
- Producers (plants, algae, phytoplankton)
- Consumers (herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, decomposers)
- Abiotic components:
- Light, temperature, water, soil, air, nutrients
Energy Flow and Nutrient Cycles
- Energy flows through ecosystems in a one-way direction:
- Sunlight → Producers (photosynthesis)
- Producers → Consumers (herbivores)
- Consumers → Other consumers (carnivores, omnivores)
- Nutrient cycles: carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, water, and nutrients are recycled through ecosystems
Types of Ecosystems
- Terrestrial ecosystems:
- Forests, grasslands, deserts, tundras
- Freshwater ecosystems:
- Rivers, lakes, wetlands
- Marine ecosystems:
- Coral reefs, estuaries, open ocean
- Other ecosystems:
- Arctic and alpine tundras, caves, deep-sea vents
Ecosystem Services
- Provisioning services:
- Food, water, timber, medicine
- Regulating services:
- Climate regulation, air and water purification, pest control
- Cultural services:
- Recreation, tourism, spiritual values
- Supporting services:
- Soil formation, nutrient cycling, primary production
Ecosystem Disturbances and Succession
- Disturbances:
- Natural (fires, floods, hurricanes)
- Human-induced (deforestation, pollution, climate change)
- Succession:
- Primary succession: colonization of new habitat
- Secondary succession: recolonization of disturbed habitat
Ecosystems
- An ecosystem is a community of living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components interacting in a specific environment.
Biotic Components
- Producers: plants, algae, phytoplankton
- Consumers: herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, decomposers
Abiotic Components
- Light
- Temperature
- Water
- Soil
- Air
- Nutrients
Energy Flow and Nutrient Cycles
- Energy flows through ecosystems in a one-way direction:
- Sunlight → Producers (photosynthesis)
- Producers → Consumers (herbivores)
- Consumers → Other consumers (carnivores, omnivores)
- Nutrient cycles: carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, water, and nutrients are recycled through ecosystems
Types of Ecosystems
- Terrestrial ecosystems:
- Forests
- Grasslands
- Deserts
- Tundras
- Freshwater ecosystems:
- Rivers
- Lakes
- Wetlands
- Marine ecosystems:
- Coral reefs
- Estuaries
- Open ocean
- Other ecosystems:
- Arctic and alpine tundras
- Caves
- Deep-sea vents
Ecosystem Services
- Provisioning services:
- Food
- Water
- Timber
- Medicine
- Regulating services:
- Climate regulation
- Air and water purification
- Pest control
- Cultural services:
- Recreation
- Tourism
- Spiritual values
- Supporting services:
- Soil formation
- Nutrient cycling
- Primary production
Ecosystem Disturbances and Succession
- Disturbances:
- Natural: fires, floods, hurricanes
- Human-induced: deforestation, pollution, climate change
- Succession:
- Primary succession: colonization of new habitat
- Secondary succession: recolonization of disturbed habitat
Learn about the biotic and abiotic components of ecosystems, and how energy flows through them in a one-way direction. Understand the role of producers, consumers, and decomposers in ecosystems.
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