Ecology Reviewer: Ecosystems, Food Chains & Productivity

Ecology- is the study of the relationships between living Organisms , humans and their physical environment. Ecological level of organization; 1. Organism 2. Population 3\. Community 4\. Ecosystem 5\. Biosphere The earth's life support system (the four major components); 1. Lithospehere...

Ecology- is the study of the relationships between living Organisms , humans and their physical environment. Ecological level of organization; 1. Organism 2. Population 3\. Community 4\. Ecosystem 5\. Biosphere The earth's life support system (the four major components); 1. Lithospehere (land 2. Hydrosphere (water 3. Biosphere (living things 4. Atmosphere (air The earth system science; 1. Atmosphere 2. Geosphere 3. Biosphere 4. Hydrosphere Solar energy- Energy from the Sun enables photosynthesis in plants, which provides the oxygen we breathe and helps grow the food we eat. Nutrients cycle- Is a system where energy and matter are transferred between living organisms and non-living parts of the environment. Gravity- is the force that pulls objects to Earth. Without gravity, we would have no atmosphere. Food chains - linear sequence of organisms, nutrients and energy pass as one organism eats another. The major components of an ecosystem; 1. Biotic 2 Non-biotic Stages of food chains: 1. Primary producers -- autotrophs Example: Grass, algae, phytoplankton (they use sunlight to make food). 2. Primary consumers -- herbivores Grasshopper (eats grass). 3. Secondary consumers- carnivore Frog (eats the grasshopper). 4. Tertiary consumer Snake (eats the frog). 5\. Quaternary consumers Eagle (eats the snake). Food webs-transfer of energy within an ecosystem Ecological productivity - primary fixation of solar energy by plants Primary productivity - rate at which autotrophs (like plants and algae) produce organic matter through photosynthesis Secondary productivity - rate at which heterotrophs (like animals) convert consumed organic material Nutrient Cycle-rate at which heterotrophs (like animals) convert consumed organic material Biosphere includes components of earth. 1\. Plants 2 Animals 3\. Fungi 4\. Protists 5\. Bacteria 6\. Archaea Water cycle-Water in different phases moves through the atmosphere Cycle/Stages: 1\. Evaporation 2 Condensation 3\. Precipitation 4\. Infiltration 5\. Collection 5. Run off Conceptual Model- uses flow charts to show the interactions between living and nonliving components of the ecosystem. Mesocosm- is a controlled, outdoor or laboratory-based experimental system that replicates natural environments on a smaller scale. Microcosm- An artificial ecosystem simulating natural ecosystems under controlled conditions. Net Primary Productivity (NPP) is: NPP=GPP−R Net Secondary Productivity (NSP) is: NSP=A−R Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) is: GPP=NPP+R Gross Secondary Productivity (GSP) is: GSP=I−F