B4

• what are abiotic components to an ecosystem

  nonliving components
• what are biotic components to an ecosystem

  living organisms
• what are examples of abiotic components to an ecosystem

  Water, carbon dioxide, phosphates, nitrates, carbonates
• what are examples of biotic components to an ecosystem

  producers, consumers, decomposers
• what is the role of microorganisms

  - recycle essential elements (N, C, S, P)

  - has source of nutrients that carry out photosynthesis
• what is the carbon cycle

  the series of processes by which carbon compounds are interconverted in the environment, chiefly involving the incorporation of carbon dioxide into living tissue by photosynthesis and its return to the atmosphere through respiration, the decay of dead organisms, and the burning of fossil fuels
• what is the water cycle

  the cycle of processes by which water circulates between the earth's oceans, atmosphere, and land, involving precipitation as rain and snow, drainage in streams and rivers, and return to the atmosphere by evaporation and transpiration
• what is the affect of the carbon cycle on organisms

  maintains habitats
• what is the affect of the water cycle on organisms

  allows for fresh water
• how does temperature affect decomposition

  A warm temperature speeds up the rate of reaction in microbes, so the decay happens faster (by enzymes). Enzymes denature if the temperature gets too high
• how does water content affect decomposition

  Lack of water will slow or prevent decay Water is needed for transport and to support reactions inside microorganisms
• how does oxygen availability affect decomposition

  volume of available oxygen increases, the rate of decomposition also increases
• what does aerobic mean

  requires oxygen
• what does anaerobic mean


  does not require oxygen
• how does temperature affect communities

  altering species survival rates, shifting species distributions, and ultimately, creating mismatches in community interactions
• how does light intensity affect communities

  - light is required for photosynthesis

  - the greater the light availability the greater success of a plant

  - plants evolve to grow successfully in different light intensities

  - example, in areas of low light there are often plants with larger leaves.
• how does moisture levels affect communities

  If there is no water, there will be little to no life
• how does the PH of soil affect communities

  plant community composition, nutrient conditions and metal solubility and toxicity
• how does predators affect communities

  increase diversity in communities by preying on competitive dominant species or by reducing consumer pressure on foundation species
• how does food affect communities

  lack of food means more animals die
• what is interdependence

  Animals and plants depending on one another for food, shelter etc
• what is competition

  the struggle between organisms to survive as they attempt to use the same limited resources
• what is mutualism

  both species benefit
• what is parasitism

  One organism benefits and the other is harmed
• what is a producer

  An organism that makes its own food
• what is a consumer

  An organism that obtains energy by feeding on other organisms
• what are the pyramids of biomass

  Each bar on a pyramid of biomass shows the relative mass of living material at a trophic level. This always decreases as the trophic level increases, which is what gives the pyramid its shape
• how is a loss of biomass related to egestion

  undigested food passes through the organism and is egested as solid faeces
• how is a loss of biomass related to excretion

  water and urea are excreted in urine
• how is a loss of biomass related to respiration

  carbon dioxide and water are waste products of aerobic respiration
• how do you calculate the efficiency of biomass

  efficiency = biomass transferred to next level/biomass available at previous level x 100