Module 9: Ecology

• ecology: study of how organisms interact with their environment, concerned with distribution and abundance of organisms
• what are the main ocean producers?

  phytoplankton, bacteria and algae
• what are the consumers of phytoplankton?

  grazers: protists and invertebrates
• what is the consumer of bacteria and algae?

  viruses
• what is the main forest producer?

  plants
• what are the main forest consumers?

  grazers and decomposers (fire, fungi and bacteria)
• what are the major products under aerobic conditions?

  H2O and CO2
• what are the major products under anaerobic conditions with sulfate present?

  H2S, H2O and CO2
• what are the major products under anaerobic conditions without sulfate present?

  CH4 and H2O