Small scale ecosystems

• What is an ecosystem?

  A natural unit linking life-cycles of organisms
• What can the scale of an ecosystem range from?

  A goldfish bowl to the whole world
• What are the largest scale ecosystems called?

  Biomes
• What are the major biomes of the world?

  • Tropical forest
  • Boreal forest
  • Savanna
  • Tundra
  • Desert
  • Mountains
  • Chaparral
  • Polar ice
  • Temperate forest
  • Temperate grassland
• How can ecosystem components be categorized?

  Into biotic and abiotic components
• What are abiotic components?

  Non-living substances like climate and rocks
• What is soil composed of?

  Weathered rock fragments and decomposed organic matter
• What are biotic components of an ecosystem?

  Plants, animals, humans, and micro-organisms
• What are the characteristics of an open system in ecosystems?

  • Transfer of energy and matter
  • Linked by energy and nutrient flows
  • Inputs and outputs are present
• What do inputs and outputs in an ecosystem refer to?

  Energy and matter transfer in the ecosystem
• What is the structure of ecosystems?

  Ecosystems are organized into patterns like trophic levels
• What does the term 'monistic' refer to in ecosystems?

  Bringing man, plants, and animals together
• What is the balance in an ecosystem?

  A complex balance between physical and biological sides
• What are feedback loops in ecosystems?

  Relationships where outputs affect inputs
• What is negative feedback in ecosystems?

  It leads to stability in the ecosystem
• What is positive feedback in ecosystems?

  It leads to an upset of the balance
• What are the major flows required to keep an ecosystem functioning?

  • Energy flows
  • Nutrient flows
• What is the primary source of energy for ecosystems?

  The sun
• What is photosynthesis?

  Conversion of light energy into food energy
• Who are the producers in an ecosystem?

  Plants that perform photosynthesis
• What are the two types of biotic components in ecosystems?

  1. Autotrophs (producers)
  2. Heterotrophs (consumers)
• What are autotrophs?

  Self-feeding organisms that produce energy
• What are heterotrophs?

  Organisms that consume autotrophs for energy
• What are the types of consumers in ecosystems?

  • Herbivores (plant eaters)
  • Carnivores (animal eaters)
  • Omnivores (eat both)
• What role do decomposers play in ecosystems?

  They break down dead organic matter
• What is biomass in an ecosystem?

  • Total amount of living matter
  • Measured in kg/m²
• What is productivity in an ecosystem?

  Rate of production of organic matter
• What factors affect productivity in ecosystems?

  Light, temperature, water, nutrients, CO₂
• How does biomass differ between tropical rainforests and tundra ecosystems?

  • Tropical rainforests have higher biomass above ground
  • Tundra has more biomass below ground
• What is dead organic matter (DOM)?

  Decaying matter that exceeds living biomass
• What does a trophic pyramid illustrate?

  • Trophic levels of an ecosystem
  • Energy storage at each level
• What is the first trophic level in a trophic pyramid?

  Autotrophs (green plants)
• What is the second trophic level in a trophic pyramid?

  Herbivores (primary consumers)
• What is the third trophic level in a trophic pyramid?

  Carnivores (secondary consumers)
• What is the fourth trophic level in a trophic pyramid?

  Omnivores (tertiary consumers)
• What are the types of pyramids used to illustrate energy in ecosystems?

  • Pyramids of Energy
  • Pyramids of Number
  • Pyramids of Biomass
• What do pyramids of energy depict?

  Amount of energy at each trophic level
• What do pyramids of number illustrate?

  More individuals at lower trophic levels
• What is an inverted pyramid?

  • Fewer producers than primary consumers
  • Occurs when large plants feed many small herbivores
• What do pyramids of biomass measure?

  Amount of living organic material