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Questions and Answers
Which of the following is NOT a component of an ecosystem?
Which classification of inorganic components is required in large quantities?
What is classified as an abiotic component of an ecosystem?
What term describes organisms that can capture solar energy and convert it into food?
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Which of the following represents an artificial ecosystem?
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Which abiotic factor can significantly affect the growth of organisms in an ecosystem?
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What distinguishes micronutrients from macronutrients?
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Decomposers play a crucial role in which of the following processes?
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What is defined as the basic functional unit of the biosphere?
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Which of the following components does NOT make up the three physical components of the earth?
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Which type of ecosystem operates independently under natural conditions?
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What are the two classifications of aquatic ecosystems?
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Which gas is found in the atmosphere in smaller amounts compared to nitrogen and oxygen?
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Which is an example of a terrestrial ecosystem?
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Which component of the earth is described as the supply of water in various forms?
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What term describes the gaseous envelope surrounding the Earth's surface?
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Study Notes
Environment and Ecosystems
- Environment refers to the physical, chemical, and biotic conditions affecting living organisms.
- Organisms require favorable environmental conditions to thrive.
- Habitat is the location where an organism lives; a community includes different species in a habitat, while an ecosystem encompasses the community and its environment.
- The biosphere is a thin layer on Earth supporting life, consisting of diverse organisms that depend on each other and physical components.
- Major physical components of Earth are the atmosphere (air), lithosphere (land), and hydrosphere (water).
Types of Ecosystems
- Earth is perceived as a giant ecosystem, termed the biosphere or ecosphere.
- Ecosystems are categorized into natural ecosystems, which occur naturally, and artificial ecosystems, which are human-made.
Natural Ecosystem
- Operates independently under natural conditions.
- Dependent on solar radiation, providing resources like food and medicine (e.g., forests, oceans).
- Classified into two groups based on habitat: Terrestrial and Aquatic ecosystems.
Terrestrial Ecosystem
- Includes forests, deserts, and grasslands.
Aquatic Ecosystem
- Further divided into:
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Freshwater or Limnetic Ecosystem:
- Lentic: Water is stationary (e.g., ponds, lakes).
- Lotic: Freshwater flows (e.g., rivers, streams).
- Saltwater or Marine Ecosystem: Includes seas, oceans, coral reefs, and estuaries.
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Freshwater or Limnetic Ecosystem:
Artificial Ecosystem
- Created and managed by humans.
- Dependent on solar energy (e.g., agricultural fields) or fossil fuels (e.g., urban areas).
- Types include croplands (e.g., rice fields) and aquariums.
Components of the Ecosystem
- Ecosystems are characterized by abiotic (non-living) and biotic (living) components.
Abiotic Components
- Physical Components: Include climatic factors like light, temperature, humidity, precipitation, pressure, and soil profile; these influence organism growth.
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Chemical Components: Subdivided into:
- Inorganic Components: Essential nutrients (e.g., carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus) required in macronutrients (large quantities) and micronutrients (small amounts).
- Organic Components: Complex molecules (carbohydrates, proteins, lipids) that form the biomass and connect biotic and abiotic elements.
Biotic Components
- Comprise all living organisms that require energy and materials for growth and maintenance.
- Divided into three categories:
- Producers: Plants that capture solar energy and synthesize food, also known as autotrophs.
- Consumers: Organisms that depend on producers for energy and nutrients.
- Decomposers: Organisms that break down dead organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.
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Description
Test your knowledge on environmental science and ecosystems with this quiz. Explore key concepts including habitats, communities, and the biosphere. Understand how various conditions influence living organisms and their ecosystems.
