Understanding Ecosystems

Terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Abiotic and biotic components.

Climatic conditions dictate the amount of sunlight, temperature, and rainfall, shaping the ecosystem's characteristics.

<p>Natural ecosystems are untouched by human activity, while man-modified ecosystems are altered for agriculture or urban development.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The interactions between abiotic components like air and water and biotic components like plants and animals.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Human actions can lead to the extinction of species that rely on specific natural ecosystems.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Forests, such as a tropical rainforest.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Food chains illustrate the flow of energy and nutrients among different organisms in an ecosystem.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A keystone species is one that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance; its extinction can lead to significant changes in the ecosystem or even its collapse.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Deforestation for timber and pollution from industrial waste are two major human activities leading to species extinction.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Rapidly growing populations increase demand for resources, leading to overconsumption and strain on natural ecosystems.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>In modern times, resource utilization has become more unequal, with affluent individuals consuming a much larger share of resources compared to traditional societies.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Macro consumers, or large animals, act as primary consumers in the food chain, feeding on producers and transferring energy to higher trophic levels.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Inorganic aspects like carbon and nitrogen, and organic compounds such as proteins and carbohydrates.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Equitable distribution refers to a fair sharing of natural resources among all community members, which can mitigate pressures on ecosystems.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Energy cycles involve the flow of energy through producers, consumers, and decomposers, maintaining ecosystem dynamics and processes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen through photosynthesis, which helps regulate atmospheric gas levels.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The oxygen cycle is linked to the carbon cycle, as plants take in carbon dioxide for photosynthesis and release oxygen.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Nitrogen-fixing bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen into nitrates, which plants absorb for growth.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Energy is transferred from plants to herbivores and then to carnivores as organisms eat one another.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A food web is an interconnected network of multiple food chains, showing the complex feeding relationships in an ecosystem.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Green plants occupy the first trophic level because they are primary producers that convert sunlight into energy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Deforestation reduces the number of trees that can perform photosynthesis, thereby lowering oxygen levels in the atmosphere.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The energy cycle involves the conversion of solar energy into chemical energy by plants, which then flows through various trophic levels.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The two main components are the non-living (abiotic) and living (biotic) parts, which interact closely as the abiotic factors influence the biotic components' survival and behavior.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Producers are organisms, primarily plants, that produce their own food using sunlight, such as through photosynthesis.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>'Endemic species' are those that are native to a specific location and not found elsewhere, highlighting the uniqueness and biodiversity of particular ecosystems.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Decomposers are organisms like bacteria and fungi that break down dead organic material, returning nutrients to the soil, which is essential for plant growth.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Human activities, such as habitat destruction and pollution, disrupt ecosystems, leading to reduced populations of endemic species, which can result in their extinction.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The main biogeochemical cycles include the water cycle, carbon cycle, oxygen cycle, nitrogen cycle, and energy cycle; they are vital for sustaining ecosystem functions and life.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Herbivores are primary consumers that feed on producers (plants), while carnivores are secondary consumers that feed on other consumers (herbivores).</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Perturbation refers to disturbances caused by human activities that disrupt the balance of ecosystems, potentially leading to species extinction and habitat degradation.</p> Signup and view all the answers