Untitled Document PDF - Ecology Notes

Holistic - Looking at entire/whole system Stewardship - Take responsibility for the management and care of the environment Population - The number of different types of species in an area Environment - All the interactions between the living and nonliving things on Earth Sustainable - Capable of bei...

Holistic - Looking at entire/whole system Stewardship - Take responsibility for the management and care of the environment Population - The number of different types of species in an area Environment - All the interactions between the living and nonliving things on Earth Sustainable - Capable of being maintained without exhausting natural resources Ecology - The study of how organisms interact with each other and the environment Biome - A Large geographical region with similar ecosystems Eight in Canada 6 terrestrial and 2 aquatic -Tundra - Considered a cold desert, this northernmost biome has no trees and only small shrubs -Boreal - The biome that produces most of our lumber from coniferous trees. Northern Ontario -Grasslands - This flat prairie biome produces most of our grains, including wheat, rye, oats, barley. -Temperate coniferous - The biome dominated by evergreen trees like pine, spruce, and fir, thrives in cooler climates and supports the timber industry. Western BC -Temperate deciduous - This biome features trees like oak, maple, and birch, which shed their leaves annually and thrive in regions with four distinct seasons. Southern Ontario -Mountain - Found at high altitudes, this biome has rugged terrain, thin air, and vegetation adapted to cold, windy conditions. -Freshwater - This biome encompasses rivers, lakes, and wetlands, providing habitats for species like fish, amphibians, and aquatic plants -Marine - Covering most of Earth, this saltwater biome includes oceans, coral reefs, and coastal areas, supporting diverse aquatic life. Ecosystem - a complex self regulating system in which biotic and abiotic factors interact Abiotic - non living Biotic - living Species - the same organism that can reproduce Population - how much of a species is living in an ecosystem Community - made up of populations of different species that live and interact in the same area Biosphere- makes up the earth/ where life exists -Atmosphere - Layer of gases surrounding earth -Hydrosphere - Earth’s solid outer surface -Lithosphere - All water on earth Nutrients: substances that an organism uses to build and repair the cells of its body Reservoir: any place where matter accumulates Three nutrient cycles - Water - Carbon - What is the major reservoir of carbon in this cycle? Ocean - Nitrogen - Nitrogen gas must be converted to Ammonia (NH3 ) by nitrogen fixation 30%- used for bodily functions 60%- passes out in waste Photosynthesis CO2 + H20 + sunlight = O2 + C6H1206 What pigment in plants facilitates photosynthesis? Chlorophyll Cellular respiration O2 + C6H1206 = CO2 + H20 + e Producers/ autotrophs- can produce food for themselves through photosynthesis (plants) Consumers- eats other organisms to obtain energy Primary consumers eat producers and therefore are herbivores ex. rabbit Secondary consumers eat primary consumers and therefore are carnivores ex. fox Tertiary consumers eat secondary consumers and therefore are carnivores ex. wolf Decomposer- feeds on dead and decaying organic matter and releases nutrients back into ecosystem, they use enzymes to break down matter (ex. fungi and bacteria)